Mercedes Lackey Ejected From Nebula Conference For Using Racial Slur

[Dausuul]

I agree that an apology from Ms. Lackey would be appropriate. But a full-throated apology from the Nebula conference would also be very much in order. This was a gross overreaction--the response from the person to whom the term was actually addressed is telling.

 

[Myrdin Potter]

The was not Delaney that had the issue, it was another panelist who had the problem and went to Twitter about it after the panel.

 

[John R Davis]

The was not Delaney that had the issue, it was another panelist who had the problem and went to Twitter about it after the panel.

Befended, as I said.

 

[MGibster]

It’s terminology that’s on the cusp. It does have a history as a mild slur* that was also used non-pejoratively within the community, but it isn’t an unequivocally racist term. I would personally NOT like it tossed in my direction, and it’s use is gradually sliding out of favor in polite circles. And that decline has been ongoing for many decades.

Like Negro, I typically wouldn't use colored unless describing something in its historical context such as the Bureau of Colored Troops or Negro league baseball. I would never describe someone today as a Negro or colored person though. And while I've used "people of color" in recent years, I try to avoid it because it makes me a little uncomfortable because to my ear it's very close to calling someone colored.

I was expecting the N word that was in a child nursery rhyme here in the 80's seeing it used was probably the Blazing Saddles movie also in the 80's.

Blazing Saddles was released in theaters way back in 1974.

 

[delericho]

Befended, as I said.

Given that the other panelist was also a person of colour, I don't think she was offended on behalf of the author being referenced. She objected to the use of that term on her own account - at least, that's the impression I got from her Twitter thread.

 

[payn]

I hope Lackey has a chance to apologize to folks and get this sorted out.

Also, this was a public forum so its not up to one person to say if this is offensive or not. Nebula Conference has every right to say this isn't allowed at their functions. How many times has this been sorted out behind the scenes and then a conference gets bombarded by folks for not taking action on their policies? It may seem like a harsh reaction, but its going to flush that language right out of the conference in the future.

 

[Blue]

Befended, as I said.

Sorry, I can't find a definition for that even on urban dictionary. Can you help me understand?

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I hope Lackey has a chance to apologize to folks and get this sorted out.

Also, this was a public forum so its not up to one person to say if this is offensive or not. Nebula Conference has every right to say this isn't allowed at their functions. How many times has this been sorted out behind the scenes and then a conference gets bombarded by folks for not taking action on their policies? It may seem like a harsh reaction, but its going to flush that language right out of the conference in the future.

I am going to disagree with this.

Words (with their shifting connotations and denotations) can be tricky. Especially as you get older. And even moreso when there is the possibility of misspeaking in public.

We see this regularly as usages change and get misunderstood or discarded. For example, whether it is more proper to refer to someone as a Native American or Indian (which is a divisive issue for some within the community). Or in the instant case, the evolution of the term from one word (as in the College Fund) to colored (NAACP) to black to African-American to black to the broader "POC" (which is both overly broad and unwieldy at times). Or the evolution that many of us have seen from the "inclusive" homosexual and then gay (to include various sexualities) to the more delineated LGBTQA+. Or even usages like Hispanic or Latino/Latina which is now sometimes Latinx, and which is also not always correct because of the varying meanings of those terms. Or, to use something we've discussed many times here, the shift in the usage of term Oriental over time.

In short, it can be difficult. It's difficult for even people that try their best to keep up with best practices and usage, and it can be insanely difficult for people that are older- if you don't believe me, just talk to someone over 60 for a while and see how often they refer to their children by the wrong name.

Here, Mercedes Lackey was being honored at the Nebula Awards. She was receiving the lifetime award this year- the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award. During a panel, she was discussing her admiration of another, great writer (Samuel Delaney, a prior winner of the award). Importantly, she spoke of her admiration of Delaney.

Did she misspeak? Did she stumble over her words while reaching for "POC?" Did she simply have a moment and end up regretfully using a word that was common in her youth? The only thing for certain is that there was certainly no ill intent given the context of her statement regarding the great Delaney, and no use of a racial slur (as opposed to an outdated term that we no longer commonly use).

But what happened? For this, on the year that she was given the highest lifetime award, the same one that put her in the same category as Samuel Delaney, Ursula K. LeGuin, Ray Bradbury, and C. J. Cherryh, she was removed from the Nebula Conference and all her panels.

In my opinion, this was not handled appropriately. Mercedes Lackey used a poor choice of words- something I am sure she would have explained (and, most likely, apologized for). But the action of the organizers of the Nebular Conference was over-the-top and uncalled for. Both because they publicized her removal and tarred her with using a "racial slur" (thus leaving it to many people to assume the worst) and also because they tarnished what should have been the culmination of a lifetime of experience.

Again, this is IMO. This could have been, and should have been, handled differently.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

I’m not an expert on incusionary language but should we be repeating the offending word every other response like it’s going out of style?

 

[payn]

I am going to disagree with this.

Words (with their shifting connotations and denotations) can be tricky. Especially as you get older. And even moreso when there is the possibility of misspeaking in public.

We see this regularly as usages change and get misunderstood or discarded. For example, whether it is more proper to refer to someone as a Native American or Indian (which is a divisive issue for some within the community). Or in the instant case, the evolution of the term from one word (as in the College Fund) to colored (NAACP) to black to African-American to black to the broader "POC" (which is both overly broad and unwieldy at times). Or the evolution that many of us have seen from the "inclusive" homosexual and then gay (to include various sexualities) to the more delineated LGBTQA+. Or even usages like Hispanic or Latino/Latina which is now sometimes Latinx, and which is also not always correct because of the varying meanings of those terms. Or, to use something we've discussed many times here, the shift in the usage of term Oriental over time.

In short, it can be difficult. It's difficult for even people that try their best to keep up with best practices and usage, and it can be insanely difficult for people that are older- if you don't believe me, just talk to someone over 60 for a while and see how often they refer to their children by the wrong name.

Here, Mercedes Lackey was being honored at the Nebula Awards. She was receiving the lifetime award this year- the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award. During a panel, she was discussing her admiration of another, great writer (Samuel Delaney, a prior winner of the award). Importantly, she spoke of her admiration of Delaney.

Did she misspeak? Did she stumble over her words while reaching for "POC?" Did she simply have a moment and end up regretfully using a word that was common in her youth? The only thing for certain is that there was certainly no ill intent given the context of her statement regarding the great Delaney, and no use of a racial slur (as opposed to an outdated term that we no longer commonly use).

But what happened? For this, on the year that she was given the highest lifetime award, the same one that put her in the same category as Samuel Delaney, Ursula K. LeGuin, Ray Bradbury, and C. J. Cherryh, she was removed from the Nebula Conference and all her panels.

In my opinion, this was not handled appropriately. Mercedes Lackey used a poor choice of words- something I am sure she would have explained (and, most likely, apologized for). But the action of the organizers of the Nebular Conference was over-the-top and uncalled for. Both because they publicized her removal and tarred her with using a "racial slur" (thus leaving it to many people to assume the worst) and also because they tarnished what should have been the culmination of a lifetime of experience.

Again, this is IMO. This could have been, and should have been, handled differently.

I do appreciate the context of the incident. I could be convinced that total removal is a punishment too far. I also respect the Nebula Conference for their choice in how to handle it. To often folks are allowed to use outdated language under the guise of "they are old" and I don't find it to be an acceptable excuse. Also, it doesn't matter if Lackey was up for an award, how many times have folks allowed terrible behavior to go on because of somebody's legacy? That is also an unacceptable excuse. Not sure what the best answer is, but I am glad Nebula Conference has decided to put some standards in place. This isn't about who finds it offensive or who doesn't, its about how an organization chooses to uphold their moderation policies.