Paul Mooney on Michael Richards: He Cured Me of Using the N-Word
Comedian Paul Mooney Vows to Never Use the N-word Again During Jesse Jackson Press Conference
Born in Louisiana and reared in Oakland, Calif., Paul Mooney's Wikipedia page states "that Mooney ran away from home as a youth, and became a ringmaster with the Charles Gody Circus." It also says that Paul Mooney "considers himself the first black ringmaster."
A regular guest on Dave Chappelle'sThe Chappelle Show, Paul Mooney seemed an odd inclusion in Jesse Jackson's press conference held yesterday. Mooney first graced the Comedy Central show in sketches called Ask a Black Dude and Mooney on Movies.
Later, Mooney replaced those characters with Negrodamus, the African American version of Nostradamus, as whom Mooney provided impromptu "answers to life's most unsolvable mysteries" such as "Why do white people love Wayne Brady?" which Mooney posited: "Because Wayne Brady makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcolm X."
Paul Mooney planned to return to Dave Chappelle's show and resurrect his role as Negrodamus during the Chappelle's Show third season, before Dave pulled up stakes and left the show.
But yesterday, Paul Mooney was right alongside Jesse Jackson and other black leaders as Jackson urged all entertainers of any ethnicity and culture - including rappers - to stop using the N-word altogether.
"I've used it and abused it, and I never thought I'd say this…" Paul Mooney was quoted as saying, calling Michael Richards his "Dr. Phil," going on to say that Richards' rant "cured" Paul Mooney of uttering the N-word.
Quite the 180 degree turnaround for Paul Mooney, who wrote in his promotional material: "Well, white folks, you shouldn't have ever made up the word...I say nigga 100 times every morning; it makes my teeth white."
The comic legend Paul Mooney may be also familiar to those who've followed Paul since the days during which Paul Mooney wrote for the late Richard Pryor, as well as for the TV show "In Living Color," starring the Wayans brothers. Mooney himself is father to twin sons, Darryl and Dwayne Mooney, who are also both comedians.
Both Paul Mooney, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and other African-American leaders urged rap stars, hip-hop artists and the general public to cease and desist from using the offensive word, endorsing an NAACP campaign to "just say 'no' to the N-word."
"We're not trying to penalize anyone," Waters said, "but don't use the N-word, no matter who you are, whether you're black, white, young or old." Jackson agreed: "This word is a symbol of degradation and the actions that flow from it."
Published by Paula Neal Mooney
Paula Neal Mooney has been published in various national magazines, such as Writer's Digest and other parenting publications. She has been writing online since 2005, and focuses on the areas of Christiani... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentI think that Michael Richards is a huge ass! Not necessarily a racist. I read where he attacked a female comedian by calling her the c -word. It seems to me that he wanted to attack those guys in the same way. Find the most vile name he could call them ...and he did. If they were handicapped, he would have called them names that are demeaning to handicapped people.
As a person of color, I think people should move on and accept his apology, I also think that he should make a mends with the people he directed his hatred towards. Again I don't think he's a racist, I have yet to see any evidence of this. It was also said that he once attacked a Jewish man with racial slurs, and Richards is Jewish himself.
I always thought african americans used the n word to make a stand saying "I will not let one hateful word empower you and your stupidity"
Sorry, the confederate flag's racist. Heritage my ass, it represents slavery and it's got no place in the public eye (I've got no problem with it being on your truck, just realize you're being a jerkoff)
very interesting article. Thank you.
I think that without censorship even being a factor, white people who use the N-word exhibit a lack of personal integrity and no class. The word makes me cringe, and even without being censored I would never use it. I know it seems like a double standard that black people use it, but hillbilly Bubba with the confederate flag on his truck and "tobacci" teeth is who made the word hateful.
Yeah, normally, I don't use the n-word. It's amazing how much controversy it caused by me using it on my blog mainly to quote Kramer!
Hi Paula,
Good article. The biography about Paul Mooney is interesting. But I can't help wondering your views? My views are torn. On one hand I thing The N word should be banned from the lexicon forever it is a digusting, repugnant word that should never be used with a "A" or "R" ending on the other I can't help but feel this is censorship, violating our freedom of speech. I guess as writers we have to pay close attention that the media doesn't keep us from saying anything else. Anyhoo... hehe . See ya.
Interesting read! Thanks Paula!
Cool - good take!