There has been a lot of controversy over Jeremy Clarkson, UK presenter and newspaper journalist, saying the "N" word when reciting the poem "Eeny Meeny Miny Mo". I have watched the video and whether he actually says it or not is not clear as he was mumbling.
Clarkson recently released a video apologising for the mistake and he claims that he was trying his best to conceal the word that is in the original poem. He has said that they did the shot in 3 takes. In the first two he tried to mumble the word and make it incoherent and in the final take he replaced it with "teacher". He has told anyone who will listen that he is extremely sorry for any offense he has cause and assured us that it wasn't meant to sound like he was saying it at all. His apology has been pretty quick and he has dealt with the issue very well.
My problem comes in a different form.
I am appalled that Clarkson is receiving so much hatred for something that he may or may not have done when rappers and celebrities use this word so often that it might as well be a part of their dictionary. Yes it is slightly different coming from a middle-aged white man, but if the term is considered offensive then why use it at all?
There is a lot of horrible terms that probably shouldn't be used, but are. "Chav" as previously discussed is one of them, but you don't see working class people calling each other chavs because it isn't nice. By using the "n" word on each other, black people are giving an excuse for the word to stay in circuit. I know a few people will think I have no right to say that as I, myself, am a white female, but I would 100% argue that language i one of the harshest realities against equality and by getting rid, or at least trying to lessen the use of, the words with negative connotations we can start thinking about everything else.
Clarkson has apologised, so know I believe we can move on from it.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment and ask any questions.
Until next time,
Stephanie
