The Nuclear Bomb of Racial Epithets

Legal scholar Randall Kennedy explores the devastating power of racist epithets.

Daniel famously engaged in nine duels during his career and earned himself the name “Nigger John.” However, after selling The Examiner he decided to travel overseas, becoming America’s first ambassador to Turin when he arrived there in 1854.

Early Life and Education

Daniel reported that, on his first day as an extra, Wayans used racist slurs against him and made disparaging references to Cleveland Brown from cartoons; Daniel claimed it created an unacceptable working environment.

Wayans stated in his declaration that he took photographs of Daniel without his knowledge and posted them online with the caption: “This nigga looks like Cleveland Brown.” Both Wayans and Pressly testified that these internet posts only made reference to Daniel’s physical resemblance with Cleveland, not any implied similarities in personality traits or behavior between themselves and Daniel.

Legal scholar Randall Kennedy examines the controversies surrounding the word “nigger.” He explores its complex history in American culture and proposes that different rules should apply depending on how it’s spoken.

Professional Career

Daniel claimed Wayans made numerous unfavorable remarks regarding his appearance and likened him to an unflattering cartoon character while on set, leading him to experience nightmares and fear when going out into public places. These statements caused Daniel immense distress.

Daniel filed his declaration alleging that Wayans called him an offensive epithet and mocked his hairstyle and weight, including mocking an Afro hairstyle he favored and mocked it further with jokes likening Daniel to Cleveland Brown from an animated series.

Daniel’s complaint fails to meet the requirements for a hostile work environment claim, due to its lack of details on how these insults affected his ability to perform his job. Furthermore, other declarants on set such as Pressly and Alvarez did not observe any detrimental impact to Daniel’s job performance.

Achievement and Honors

Daniel’s declaration remains vague on whether or not the racial harassment impacted his work for the movie on that particular day; none of the declarants who observed Daniel on set–Wayans, Pressly or Alvarez–testify to that effect.

Wayans was accused of calling Daniel an “nigga,” making disparaging comments about his hairstyle (calling it an “Afro”), mocking him physically for his physical features and making comparisons between Daniel and Cleveland Brown, whom Wayans believed they shared resemblance, on whom Wayans posted an online picture snarkily mocking both parties and ultimately posting this on his Twitter account – all actions which caused a trial court judge to strike this claim against Wayans as appropriate.

Personal Life

Daniel claims in his declaration that Wayans insulted and mocked his “big Afro,” calling him nigger while waiting off camera to receive acting directions, as well as calling him black fat ass and disparagingly mocking his weight.

Wayans, Pressly and Alvarez were witnesses who saw Daniel on set that day; yet none noted any effect from using “Race” that adversely impacted his ability to perform his scene. Their silence casts serious doubt over whether Daniel can prevail with his claim of racial harassment.

Additionally, the Internet posting featuring Daniel alongside Cleveland Brown cartoon figure was simply meant as a literal depiction of his appearance, not any inference that they shared any fictional traits.

Net Worth

Daniel alleges that while working on the set of A Haunted House 2, Wayans — whom he claims to be producer, cowriter and star — called him an abusive name such as “nigga,” mocked his Afro hairstyle and made comparisons between himself and an unflattering character from Family Guy as well as treating him in demeaning and abusive manner. Daniel claims this caused severe distress; as well as lost sleep and anxiety about going out into public places.