When a controversy emerges, The View is there to react.
Stacey Dash made some controversial comments Wednesday when she said on TV that there shouldn't be a Black History Month or a network like BET because they're a "double standard."
"We have to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration," she explained on Fox News' Fox & Friends. "And if we don't want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the Image Awards where you're only awarded if you're Black. If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It's a double standard."
Later, she added, "Just like there shouldn't be a Black History Month. You know? We're Americans. Period. That's it."
The ladies of The View brought up said comments Thursday morning, and while most of the co-hosts slammed the Clueless actress, Paula Faris played the devil's advocate throughout the debate. "There's White History Month every other month," said Joy Behar, "so Black History Month is there to spotlight the history."
Sunny Hostin read through Dash's extensive résumé, which included many accolades from the NAACP and a recurring role on the BET series, The Game. "I just think it's incredible that she would give up whatever values she had in the first place to pander to an audience that are angry and scared of people that don't look like them," Hostin added.
But Faris tried to see Dash's side. "I think it's great to celebrate our differences and what makes us unique…but I think you have to look—racial tensions are at an all time high," Faris noted. "Is it subconsciously, whether we realize it or not, creating a divide amongst us and pitting one group against the next?"
That's when Whoopi Goldberg got involved. She asked Faris what she knew black history and when she revealed she gained most of her knowledge from school and taking it upon herself to learn, Goldberg explained to her why it's important to pay tribute to black history.
It got tense.
"It's not taught. As it pertains to America," Goldberg said. "American history holds all of us but we're not all treated like Americans. One of the reasons there is a BET is because networks wouldn't take a lot of the shows that have an all-black cast."
Hostin supplemented Goldberg's thoughts by saying she didn't learn about black history in school, either. "When I was at school I knew nothing about my history," she said. "I wasn't taught about my history and so we have that so there's an awareness so people can learn information and their history."