Original subtitles

At this point in the show, which was taped a week ago, John and Yoko got into

something which ABC feels may develop into, in their words, a highly

controversial issue.

It revolves around the song, Woman is the Nigger of the World, and the obvious

fact that some members of our black audience will or may be offended by the

of that word.

In the next segment, John Lennon gives his reasons for writing the song and for

using the word. I permitted this insertion into the show that I'm doing

the only alternative to a full deletion by ABC of the segment.

Watch it. Let us know what you think.

Just quickly, it's interesting that the support for this is growing and does not

just represent what you might call one kind of person or something. This is a

telegram that should interest you. Immigration and Naturalization Services

addressed to.

It would be an outrage and a tragedy for this country if John Lennon and Yoko

Ono are deported. Their strong anti -drug stand and their clear, eloquent

commitment to nonviolence and to participation in action for constructive

change are messages badly needed in America today, particularly for our

He goes on to say about the personal tragedy that Mrs.

Lennon is forced into by choosing between her husband and her child.

I join thousands of other concerned Americans in asking you to take

action enabling John Lennon and Yoko Ono to remain in this country.

Signed, Leonard Woodcock, President, United Auto Workers.

Right on, Leonard.

Do the song or tell me that.

Okay.

Just one other reason we want to be here is because we really dig it. We dig

America. We always have. She loves it, and she's converted me to be one of

New York fanatics.

Okay, do you want to talk about this? Yeah,

you know, I hate it when I leave New York now.

Anyway, yes, you have a record here that bears some explanation because there's

a bit of...

halfling going on as to whether or not it can be sung or not.

Yeah, there's always every other record I seem to have a halfling with. Well,

this is a song about the women's problem. It was written by Yoko and I.

And the song is called Woman is the Nigger of the World.

And obviously there was a few people that reacted strangely to it, but

they were white and male.

But that's not... Now, I'll tell you the story of how it came about.

In 1969, I put it on the cover of the single so that it helps explain it a

Yoko did an interview with a woman about the woman's problem, and I didn't have

anything to do with it. And then I noticed the cover. It was called Nova.

an English woman's magazine like McCall's or something like that.

And the first time I heard about it was a story on the cover of McCall's like

that. And it sort of said, she, woman is the nigger of the world.

Well, at the time, I was more of a chauvinist than I am now. And I must

was saying, well, come on, what about this and what about that? And I argued a

lot. And then, as like everybody else, we talked more and more about it. In the

last two years, it became more of a thing, and I had to...

you know find out about myself and my attitude to women and this phrase of

kept coming to my head woman is the nigger of the world woman is the nigger

said come on Yoko look this is it you've said it here I agree with you now I

think she is she's the slave of the slaves that's what Connolly said the

Irishman and so we sat down together and we wrote

we tried to write together the whole story as best we could in a three or

minute song.

And it's called Woman is the Nigger of the World. And then, luckily for me,

because a lot of stations were saying, well, we're not going to play this

because it says nigger and a white man shouldn't say it. All my black friends

feel I have quite a right to say it because they understand it. And then,

strangely enough, the chairman of the Black Caucus, that great guy,

Ron Dellums, Democrat California says here. He came out with this, which is

fantastic. If you define niggers as someone whose lifestyle is defined by

others, whose opportunities are defined by others, whose role in society is

defined by others, then good news. You don't have to be black to be a nigger in

this society.

Most of the people in America are niggers.

I didn't say that.

Oh, my goodness.

We'll never get enough.

I think the word nigger has changed.

It does not have the same meaning as it used to. And I think he put it very

succinctly there. And I really believe women have the worst... Whatever it is,

however badly or poor people are, it's the woman that takes it when they get

home from work.

Well, now, would you... I'd love to. Would you two menaces to society do your

number? Thank you. Yes, we'd love to.

Woman is the nigga of the world.

Yes, she is.

Think about it.

Woman is the nigga of the world.

Think about it.

Do something about it.

We make her paint her face and dance.

If she won't be a slave, we say that she don't love.

If she's real, we say she's trying to be a man.

While putting her down, we pretend so hard that she's above us.

Woman is the nigga of the world.

Yes,

she is. If you don't believe me, take a look at the one you're with.

We tell her home is the only place she should be.

Then we complain that she's too unworthy to be our friend.

Thank you.

Every day on TV.

I wonder why she has no guts to come to dance.

When she's young, we kill her will to be free.

While telling her not to be so smart, we put her down to finish the job.