Reza AslanVerified account

here's the thing. I don't see any connection between black people and apes. If I did perhaps I'd find it offensive...

There's been a documented history of whites use of pejoratives directed towards blacks since Jim Crowe.

if I called a white man a gorilla. Would that be racist?

do you not know the history of people of color being called monkeys & gorillas??

I'm aware of it. I'm also aware of the history of black people being called lazy. Is the word "lazy" now racist?

Do you really think the teacher was not using that term in a racist manner?

the use of "shockingly racist" is without a doubt exaggerated. The word gorilla can be used to describe anyone

I've been called a monkey a couple of times & believe me it wasn't used in a good way at all!

I didn't say being called a gorilla was at all a positive. I just said it wasn't necessarily a racial slur.

There is no grey area here. It is a slur of the most racist nature. To argue otherwise is willful obstinacy

Um, reported on Friday, fired on Monday. How much quicker could they have done it?

Um, 24 hours later?

On a weekend? Have a word! @rezaaslan

Yep, on a weekend!

That's not how hiring and firing practices work in the real world. @rezaaslan

Lmfao, you'd be surprised!

You must work in retail. Normal rules don't apply there. @rezaaslan