Race Matters

I have recently heard of this situation and I needed to investigate a little more about Dr. Laura because I've noticed that many TV/Radio personalities have shows but lack credentials.

I like to look at people's backgrounds and education because I believe this gives them credibility. For example,the educational background of some of the "conservative" talk show hosts and found some interesting information. For example,the fact that Sean Hannity dropped out of college and so did Glenn Beck but somehow they are now the voice of reason to millions of Americans.

Dr. Laura is also labeled as a "conservative" talk radio host which for some reason in the last couple of months this only means that her target audience is probably not that diverse. She graduated with a Ph.D in Physiology in 1974, she didn't graduate with a Ph.D in Psychology. She graduated in 1974, ten years after the civil rights movement at a time where I'm sure (assuming) having ethnic classes in college was not a common practice. Dr. Laura sounded very ignorant about the subject.

She managed to put in a comment about President Obama, she said that most "Black" people voted for Obama simply because he was black without giving much thought. Again, offending the African American voter, as if African American voters couldn't evaluate the quality of the candidates from both sides, insulting an entire group of people by making assumptions. If I recall correctly, Jessie Jackson also run for President and so did Reverend Al Sharpton but they didn't make it to the ballots.

I agree that using the "N" word was not the only issue but of course it's the one that made the news. Now, she kept saying that why was it okay for an African American males could call themselves "N" but someone out of their race couldn't. I don't think she understand that there is a difference between the "N" word used by an out-group member versus usage by an in-group member. Now, had she been a trained Psychologists she would know the difference because these are basic Social Psych terms. In addition, there is a difference on the way the word is pronounced by in-groups vs. out-groups as well.

Now, you don't have to have a PH.D in Psychology to understand that when a person complaints about something that is bothering them, it doesn't matter what the listener thinks at that moment what matters is the way it makes the other person feels. This is also basic Psych, which I'm sure most of us take as part of our General Ed in college. Dr. Laura went on to judge this person by calling her hypersensitive, well some of us have issues that are close to our hearts, should we all be labeled hypersensitive? Then she went on to talk about how hypersensitive people should not marry out of their race as if racists remarks should be expected in doing so.

It was obvious that Dr. Laura has racial issues and needs serious help.

Dr. Banks bravo! What a calm, balanced perspective on Dr. Schlesinger's moment of channeling Don Imus. She either gained or lost clients seeking comrades with similar blinders, which makes it a zero sum non game changer and why have therapists at all if they leave us where we were in the first place?

Thank for you this, Dr. Banks! You've really captured the core issues with "Dr. Laura's" rampage. Black people and other racial/ethnic minority groups are often accused of being hypersensitive about race but I think Dr. Laura's response is a manifestation of racial hypersensitivity that is often ignored - the anger, passion and blind insistence that we not continue to acknowledge racial realities.

Re: Counseling 101 ... I think Dr. Laura may have missed that lesson in her training as Physiologist or her doctoral work with insulin levels in rats.

Thank you Dr. Banks for not only focussing on Dr. Laura using the "N" word but how horrible she was to the caller. The media is once again being destracted by the words and not the attitudes behind the words. That caller could have been one word away from suicide and that call could have been her life line (but we see how that turned out). i would like for them to see how the caller is doing now and if she would like to talk to someone more qualified with COMPASSION!

The real issue here is not Dr. Laura's rant specifically, but the tolerance of black's use of the "N" word and the persecution of anyone else who mimics them.

Why the double standard? In fact, anyone who complains about a non-black's use of the "N" word loses all credibility with me, instantly.

If you want people to quit using the "N" word then black's need to set the example, not everyone else.

This was an extremely disturbing, but not surprising response from Dr. Laura. However, I stopped listening to Laura approximately 7 years ago, and if Jade has been listening to her, she would have known (not guessed) that this would be Laura's position. She has made no secrets regarding how she feels about issues of ethnicity. I am a black woman married to a Jewish man for 21 years, and I guess I should not have married outside of my race, because we are both hypersensitive about the "N" word.

(By the way, if she had earned her Ph.D. she would have known that any anthropologist will provide evidence that their is only one race)
However, Laura has been officially outed as many others after Obama was elected. She has had many tirades and has hung up on many callers when she has had an opportunity to push her political agenda. I am pleased that it's out there. Now her sponsors will
have to make some serious decisions regarding their support of this forum.
Respectfully

I think "Dr. Laura" needs to be stopped, her ignorance has gone way past the boundaries. She thinks her outspokenness is cute and this is largely the result of media and fans who help encourage her verbosity.
We must remember that she is not a PSYCHOLOGIST, nor is she a mental health professional (she has minor certification in marriage and family issues).

Therefore, she is not trained to work effectively with individuals, especially an individual from a culturally diverse group. She is too touchy and needs to be corrected. Her apology is not enough; she was clearly unprofessional and her behaivior was a terrible example for developing individuals within the field of counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health.

HYPERSENSITIVITY? Essentially, I think she's become a firm example of the detrimental effects of one not culturally competent.

Before she is allowed to go any further, someone over her needs to require that she seek out continuing education on diversity and the new cultural movement among academics and aspiring mental health professionals today. Her job should be postponed until she meets the criteria (through continuing education) of cultural competence. While she may not be a mental health professional, she is in the forefront as if she is and this requires the appropriate training.

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I am aware Dr. Laura did not receive her PhD in a counseling field. However, I feel as if she should be held accountable for some of the basics as she takes calls on the air. Having her take continuing ed credits is an interesting requirement.

@Robert Jones- I would reiterate that the post is not about the n-word. There was much more that was problematic with Dr. Laura's rant. Personally, I agree it should not be used by anyone. However, I believe getting sidetracked in that debate actually draws attention away from what is most wrong with Dr. Laura's comments.

These days, too many people entrust their judgment and analyses on talk show hosts and stop thinking critically. I concluded a while ago that Dr. Laura, like Dr. Phil and many others, was a poser and incompetent from the first few times I listened to her. From the excerpt this past week, just listen to the tone of her voice and you can pick up on the baggage and arrogance.

"
Cultural competence is not only a key aspect of psychology, but it is becoming a necessity for navigating our increasingly diverse society. Knowing our blind spots is key when it comes to sensitive topics such as race. And Dr. Laura appears to have some baggage to process before she is quick to invalidate another person's experience of racial discrimination.
"

this is the most offensive thing ever. know our blind spots, with sensitive topics? why do blacks get so much special treatment, but other minorities (especially the fairly unknown ones) get none?

could it be, *gasp* that special treatment of any kind is wrong, since no one can know everything? no one can pander to everyone's sensitivities. at some point, you have to learn that you cannot expect everyone you meet to know everything about your background, and how to avoid painful topics.

liberal guilt never ceases to amaze me. you turn a blind eye to many new minorities, especially among whites, yet obsess over being "sensitive" over *past* history of a few *favored* groups.

tell me, why was I denied a good public education? why do liberals fight against charter schools and vouchers, which might have lessened the burden of my parents having to homeschool me by themselves?

how am I not discriminated against, by those who profess to fight it? I'm a walking statistical outlier, in so many ways. liberal power-mongering, one-size-fits-all policies have put huge obstacles in my life.

you can see why I look down on people like the author, who whines about being sensitive to things that happened decades ago. of course, only nonwhites and nonasians are allowed any of this special treatment.

blacks: do what you want, live your dreams, be happy and focus on the positive. you can always succeed, it's just a matter of how much failure you can tolerate, for how many years (it's very unpleasant, but focusing on the positive helps get through it). you are all capable of great success in life, like every human being. don't believe any of the shit people like this author spews out.

especially, don't give in to privileged, wealthy, powerful people, who tell you it's too hard, there are too many obstacles. they don't understand that prosperity comes from you, not money, not random luck. human beings are the ultimate source of all wealth.

@Joe; You've got some wise words that everybody needs to read, not just blacks. Looking into my heritage I can say that the oppressed weren't all black and oppressors weren't all white (as implied by others).

Dr Laura doesn't have a Phd? That is a good thing in my eyes. Academia is not the only world and while it should be honored in some instances (research etc), it is out of its scope in issues that involve coping with real life.

Her opinions are slanted to the right? Does that mean the opinions of the majority of the industry is slanted to the left?

Whether the "n" word is rightfully or wrongfully included in the "too offensive", I think it should be avoided but I don't think the government should regulate it. However, it is a matter of respect for those who see it as intolerable. I feel the same about the "f" word.

As someone who rarely, but occasionally gives into rage, I understand her embarrassment. She did the honorable thing by stepping out of the picture and taking responsibility for her mistake.

Overall, she was insensitive and unprofessional and needs to be reprimanded for that.

I would say "Dr." Laura is driving people away from therapy. Who would pay good money for that kind of "advice"? The doctor reminds me of a character from the novel Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. Somebody who gives out bad advice to serve their own needs.

As a psychologist, it would be interesting to know who listens to her show and why.