Actor Tim Allen became a hot topic Sunday, July 28, as Melissa Harris-Perry and her panel discussed Allen's statement in a June 2013 interview with Tampa Bay Times about using the "N-word" in the comedy language. MSNBC political analyst Michael Eric Dyson slammed the 60-year-old comedian for "wanting back in" the word that white people created to overcome the African-American race.

Photo credit: Twitter/@wis10

Tim Allen argued that banning the white people to say the word itself was a damaging practice and white comedians should be allowed to say the "N-word." The actor stated: "If I have no intent, if I show no intent, if I clearly am not a racist, then how can 'n*****' be bad coming out of my mouth?"

"I do a movie with Martin Lawrence and pretty soon they're referring to me, 'hey, my n*****'s up.' So I'm the n***** if I'm around you guys but 7 feet away, if I said n*****, it's not right," Mr Allen further maintained about being unfair.

Photo credit: YouTube

Even though Melissa Harris-Perry praised Tim Allen for expressing "some thoughtfulness" about the issue, the panel still had a debate over Allen's bold statement. "Look, y'all invented the n-word. We didn't invent it. We just co-opted it. We hijacked it. We did a carjacking on that word a few decades ago, and now you're mad because we've made more sexy use of it-some denigration as well. And now you want back in? No, you can't have back in," Mr Dyson stated.

"He says it's confusing to me. It ain't confusing! Here's a general rule of thumb to follow when using the n-word for white people. Never. When you do that, then you understand you can't do it," Mr Dyson added.

Jonathan Rosa, the assistant anthropology professor at UMass Amherst, strongly opposed to Tim Allen's argument that saying the "N-word" would lessen the racially prejudiced intention. "If Tim Allen wants to carve out a space for himself in which he can use language however he wants, go for it and try it out and see if that works, and see how it's received, right?" Rosa stated.

More Articles to Read:

Living Barbie Doll: Valeria Lukyanova Featured in a Documentary Film 'My Life Online: Space Barbie' [PHOTOS] - [READ]

Hacker Barnaby Jack Dies: 5 Things to Know About the Computer Hacker and Programmer [PHOTOS] - [READ]

Prince Harry: 5 Reasons Why He is a Cool Uncle to Royal Baby George Alexander Louis [PHOTOS] - [READ]

RELATED STORIES