Posted on 05/04/2015 11:58:35 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
Controversy over the use of the word “thug” in the wake of the Baltimore riots continued Sunday with former CNN host Soledad O’Brien weighing in to claim the word has racial overtones.
“I can’t think of a situation where there’s ever been a headline or someone has called a white young person who’s in the middle of a violent protest, demonstration, whatever, a thug,” she told guest host Frank Sesno on “Reliable Sources.” “We use it all the time when we’re talking about people in the inner city.”
Sesno pointed out that no racial connotation s given in the dictionary definition of the word and that the word was also used by President Obama and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
“Doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have a specific agenda in how they’re using it,” she said. “Richard Sherman who — plays for the Seattle Seahawks, he really said like, listen ‘it’s the new n-word,’ and I think that’s true.”
She added that the word “thug” doesn’t accurately describe events.
“I think there’s violent protesters, I think there’s peaceful protesters, I think there’s drunk protesters, I think there’s angry protesters. I think when you look specifically about how the word ‘riot’ is used, and the word ‘thug’ is used, it’s always used around people of color, specifically in an inner-city context,” she said.
“I can only comment on how I think journalists should think about a word that actually doesn’t have a lot of nuance and isn’t specific, but somehow seems to be used a lot when you’re talking about African-Americans.”
O’Brien repeated her comments on Twitter and was met with both support and opposition.
So we can’t draw pictures of Muhammad and we can’t say “thug”? I thought “journalists” were supposed to be pro-first amendment?
The “T-word”?
BTW, if the "n-word" is so bad, why is it used so freely by those who should be offended by it?
CAN.
ALL.
KISS.
MY.
BUTT.
I am sick and tired of having my language dictated to me by liberals. It is a perfectly legitimate word in use for centuries by people of all races to describe people of all races. And they want to say it is racist?
Not going down that road.
Speaking of Soledad, I’ve heard tell that it’s a haven for thugs.
Well, she was correct on one point...."I can't think"
I would bet a trillion dollars during the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, lots of trustfundians protesting were called thugs...by the media
Pretty much my obliquely stated point. She’s too sensitive because of her name and the tendency of the LSM to exhibit thuggish behavior.
Sorry Princess but “Thug” IS NOT the new “N” word. Grow up an get a life. If life is too hard for you, I recommend that you just stay home and bake cookies.
It’s weird but I’ve ALWAYS thought of CNN “journalists” being the “new ‘N’ word”.
The Left are free-speech Nazis who themselves constantly butcher the language to conform to their world view.
blackniggerthug blackniggerthug blackniggerthug
There, whole new word. You can substitute color as needed
I rather like the term “community organizer” to describe the people who burn down their neighborhoods.
It kind of fits in a perverse sort of way.
$h!t flinging monkeys is already taken, so I’ll stick with thugs. I don’t want to disrespect the monkeys by relating them to thugs.
My thought exactly. She sounds like a journalistic thug. Thug is as thug does.
Someone needs to get out into the real world a little more often.
You got that right, Soledad.
I vote NO. If the word "THUG" offends you, then don't act that way. It's that simple!
Based on your picture, I assume that a “thug” is a homosexual guy with arthritis in his hands ...
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