Ice Cube Calls Bill Maher Using the N-Word a Teachable Moment
Bill Maher has been a hot topic for the last week over his use of the N-word during a tasteless joke on his show. This week's episode had a totally different tone, as he invited Ice Cube on to discuss the incident.
Maher apologized to Cube, who accepted the apology, before giving his stance on the matter. "It's a word that has been used against us," said Cube. "It's like a knife. You can use it as a weapon or you can use it as a tool. It's been used as a weapon against us by white people. We not gon' let that happen again."
He added, "I like your show. I like you. But I think this is a teachable moment, not just to you but to the people who are watching right now."
Last week, Killer Mike caught some flack for his response to the incident, which some people didn't feel was angry enough. “That’s Pretty Fucking Funny coming from a comedian white or black,” he responded on Twitter, after hearing what the fuss was about. “I just wish others will stop using that lame ass mom ‘N Word’ as a sub.”
He added, “The word is Nigger and it’s a powerful word for bad and it’s offspring Nigga has been a power filled word used by those once oppressed…black have BIGGER things than NIGGER to concern ourselves with: Black Banks, Gentrification, Economics & Trade Education. Love, My Nigga.”
The Run The Jewels rapper later said he would punch Maher if the host said the word in front of him, but agreed that it is Maher's First Amendment right to say whatever he pleases.
Check out Cube's appearance on Real Time below.
See Twitter Reactions to Killer Mike's Response to Bill Maher’s Use of N-Word