*Once again, CNN’s Don Lemon hosted a discussion on the n-word…this time in light of the scandal involving Oklahoma University’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The topic: Who can use the term without consequences and repercussions?
The discussion included CNN’s conservative commentator Ben Ferguson, CNN commentator Marc Lamont Hill and rapper Trinidad James, whose hit song, “All Gold Everything,” is heard playing in the background as SAE’s house mother — known as Mom B. — was caught on a Vine video repeating the n-word seven times on camera.
The woman, Beauton Gilbow, was bombarded with claims that she’s just as racist as the fraternity members who were caught singing a racist song on a bus earlier this month.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Ferguson told James Monday on CNN Tonight. “I think you know that we should probably get rid of the n-word, but in reality, I think many rappers are afraid they will lose out on money and sales and street cred if they don’t stop using the word.”
“I’m making money off of doing music and being creative, sir,” James responded. “I’m not making money just because I use the n-word. Nobody goes to buy an album because it’s full of the n-word.”
To which Ferguson responded: “Trinidad, you wouldn’t be on this show tonight if it wasn’t for using the n-word in your rap music. Let’s be honest.”
In a previous interview with CNN, James said he was willing to give the house mom a pass — though he said he didn’t condone her use of the word.
But when Ferguson said Monday the rapper was only on the show for his use of the word, the third panelist — Hill — quickly jumped in.
“He wouldn’t be on the show if a white woman hadn’t said the n-word on a tape,” he said. “White people have been saying the [n-word] long before Trinidad was born.”
Watch clips below:
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