CNN's Lemon: Slavery Behind Spanking Culture

On Wednesday’s broadcast of “CNN Tonight,” co-host Don Lemon suggested the so-called spanking culture that exists in black community was a product of the days of slavery.

The discussion stemmed from the controversy surrounding NFL running back Adrian Peterson and the allegations of child abuse he is facing.

Partial transcript as follows:

LEMON: My initial reaction was, “As a kid, this is how I was treated. I saw the evidence for at least from my own personal – you know, from my own experience is this.”  But I think we need to reexamine that, especially for me as an African-American because the question is where did you learn that from? Was that learned from the slave master? Getting the switch? Being beaten?

CUOMO: How is that a rationale? … I keep hearing this. “Well, maybe it was passed down from slave culture.” Why would that be a rationale to continue a practice like this? Isn’t that the last thing you would want to continue?

LEMON: Because some people have to go and get the whip.

CAMEROTA: Why not break that cycle?

(h/t Mediaite)

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