View co-host Whoopi Goldberg on Monday took a surprisingly strong stand against political correctness and what she saw as the hyphenating of America. Discussing diversity in Hollywood, she explained, “I went from being colored to being a Negro to being black to African-American. I figured I would land on African-American.”
She forcefully argued, “Every time... you hyphenate American, anytime you put something in front of it, it's like you're not a real American. Well, I'm a whole lot of all American!” To her liberal critics, Goldberg preemptively declared, “This is my country and I'm American! You know, save your tweets and save your hate mail because you know in this case I don't care.”
Co-host Sarah Haines wondered, “So, I should just call you black?” Goldberg retorted, “You should just call me Whoopi!” The comic took on critics who want her to always use African-American:
GOLDBERG: Well, they're very upset. They say, “You just don't want to be black.” No! It's not something you can change. I am black, but I, as an American, you don't really call lots of white folks white Americans. You don't call them that. You don't call them Italian-Americans, you don't do that.
A transcript of the exchange.
The View
2/1/16
11:04SARAH HAINES: Can I ask for clarification, too, and Whoopi, you're the only one at the table to answer this. I've heard that you don't say the term African-American. you just call people black now.
JOY BEHAR: White people can’t keep up with this.
HAINES: I can’t either. That’s why I’m asking. I’m going to my African American expert.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: I can't keep up with it either. You know, I went from being colored to being a negro to being black to African-American. So, I just figured I would land on African-American. And you know what, save your tweets! Save your tweets because here's the deal, here's the deal. You know, people get all up in arms. You know, I know I'm black. I've been black from the moment I was born. I'm very clear about it.
BEHAR: What do they tweet?
GOLDBERG: Well, they're very upset. They say, “You just don't want to be black.” No! It's not something you can change. I am black, but I, as an American, you don't really call lots of white folks white Americans. You don't call them that. You don't call them Italian-Americans, you don't do that.
BEHAR: We still do a little of that.
GOLDBERG: Some people do, but it’s not how you’re addressed. I don’t address you as an Italian American! I don’t!
FARIS: I mean, I’m half Lebanese. I don’t necessarily consider myself an Arab-American. I’m an American. But I have Arab roots.
GOLDBERG: I'm the same way. And every time you put, you hyphenate American, anytime you put something in front of it, it's like you're not a real American. Well, I'm a whole lot of all American! This is my country and I'm American. You know, save your tweets and save your hate mail because you know on this case I don't care.
HAINES: So I should just call you black?
GOLDBERG: You should just call me Whoopi!
