I'd be willing to bet that "slur" was put there by Ms. Brown herself.

I too have a bi-racial (black and native american) adopted 8 yr old daughter and definately feel for this family. We live in a small Northern Ontario town which is predominately white (as am I) and "isms" of all kinds are alive and well here. What breaks my heart is that her generation should never have to hear that word or worry about the color of their skin but here we are. As her father said its 2007.

I demand AL SHARPTON GET ON THE COUCH

He is a bigger racist then Kramer, Mel Gibson, and Don Imus all put together.

The whole world knows it, but the MSM denies it.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT his fake sense of morality, and neither should any other free-thinking american.

His racism is chains. He enslaves his own community through hatred, fear, and veiled threats.

It's more amazing that this young girl never heard the "n" word before via rap music or in a random street conversation among other black youths. There are those that consider this word completely taboo in some contexts and allowable in others.

Here is an instance where it likely cannot even be proved who left this comment or why and these people are looking for some sort of personal apology, refund, gain, etc.... If I got a pair of shoes that arrived with the label "honky white," I doubt a) that I'd really care, b) get any help finding the source and c) obtaining some kind of recourse.

If someone is genuinely oppressed via racism, we should fight with all our might against it. A single word on a couch label that may or may not be intentional, that doesn't have any real consequence? Let's move on, people.

Having worked in China as an English teacher, we had a list of hilarious translations made by either translation software or incompetent Chinese/English translators. This was not a deliberate attempt to pick on people of colour. Let it go already.

I think this article is going to cause the next big scandal. I hope the authoer is ready to apologzie to the millions of Canadians offended by the first sentence. "All of America..." is concerned by the Imus Scandal. Canada, on the other hand has its own issue...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I am a 30 year old African American women with very high standards. I can understand why people may get mad over the talk show host comments because they were directed directly to that group of young ladies. But why should any African American get mad over the word.

Why is she going to sue. For what, pain and suffering? So take the couch back but this wasn't targeted at her. It was a translation error.

Why would the Daughter even question the word if she had never heard it before. GET OVER IT!
We all have to walk around scared to be sued over anything and everything.
The American dream (now)is someone will make a MISTAKE so that we can sue them and be rich or get something for free. ITS HORRIABLE

Wow. Very non-pc. BUT, a free sofa out of the deal? Come on! What does getting offended have to do with getting a $1300 couch for $0.

I am a porcelain skinned American who feels sick to her stommach when I hear or read that word. You don't have to be a person of color to be offended by this. I feel very sad that there are people in this world who enjoy trying to take another individual's power away from them by devaluing them. My only word of hope for this family is that they teach their daughter that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. You are beautiful no matter what another individual says or writes... believe in yourself and retain your power. I hope that they find out who did this and moreover I hope that the individual is remorseful and can learn from this nasty act.

Personally, I'm sick of hearing about it. Those of African descent call each other by this so-called slur but let anyone else do it and the fur flys. Maybe they should lead by example instead of publicity and litigation.

Are you kidding me? Who do these people think they are? Ni**er brown? That's sad. Look, this isn't 1860, we're talking 2000's! SUE THEM!!!!!

That's sadly hilarious.
racial slurs and other terms rooted in Hate will be the last to be removed from the 'database'.

I think that racis people are messed up. I think that the government should try to do something about it!! Thats just messed the heck up!

Excuse me, isn't the insult spelled with two Ns? One N is a country is Africa.

Outside of America, it's not commonly known that "***" is such a politically charged word. I'm sure the manufacturers did simply made a translation mistake and did not intentionally mean any slight to African-American's by this.

Seriously ABC News. did you have to blot out the "N" word on the photo? What are you afraid of? You're supposed to report the news, not censor it. This is 2007.

Isn't it possible the word was used in a translation error? The dreaded "N" word was originally "negro," which means "black", and is NOT insulting. The ONLY reason the so-called "N"-word is insulting is because we ALLOW it to be.

I have English background, but the term "Limey" doesn't bother me. Why are black people so hung-up over a word? It's ATTITUDE that matters!

Another "tempest in a teapot".

For God sake. Just in USA that word is an offense: in Spanish you say Niegro, in Portuguese you say Negro, in French you say Noir, no problem at all. Means Black that's the collor of the Sofa, you dont have problems, you create problems

If people would stop screaming racism at every little thing - this "racial profiling" wouldn't exist. If you say "Negro" its now racist - but it's also Spanish for black!

IMO Imus crossed the line and this lady wants a free couch.

accident? come on man, and there are only a few of these pieces that are like this. im only 22 years old but im not stupid. either that was a badly soured prank by an employee or this company new that these pieces were leaving out like this. If they didnt know, well then they should pay better attention because these are million dollar errors.

Maybe the people who are up in arms and screaming racism, hate, etc. should stop using these words to describe each other first. You cant own words within your race or "culture" and forbid others to use them. Change starts within your own communities.

Maybe the people who are up in arms and screaming racism, hate, etc. should stop using these words to describe each other first. You cant own words within your race or "culture" and forbid others to use them. Change starts within your own communities.

Well of course if this lady doesn't like the term *** brown she could always go back to Ghana. Of course the idea of making some money out of little work wouldn't be clouding this lady's feelings just a little.

As I understand it a certain ewthnic group use the *** word quite regularly, and they are not white anglo saxon. Usually you can find their origins in Africa, and I bet she isn't going to sue them.

It was just a label. Nothing had shown that racism had been related to it. This is the America, people should be able to say anything they want to say as they have the constitutional right for "Freedom of Speech". I think most of the people are sick and tired of being "Politically Correct" !!! At least I am !!!

WOW. Sounds like it was an honest mistake, but someone needs to step up and make this right with the family and get a recall of all other such labeled furniture.
However, I do think it would not be right for this family to sue for profit. Make them accountable, but don't try to get rich from this!
God help humanity...

yes, its 2007. i had a 12th grade civic social problems teather in 1959 tell the class that it will only stop when there is a complete amalgamation of the races. i happen to be 66 now & we have things that are politically corect to say, but that really changes nothing.

Racists all deserve to be punished. This is just not something to shrug at.

cry me a river a mile wide & a mile deep it's just a word, doesn't anybody remember the old saying...sticks & stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me, GET OVER IT!!!!

This sounds like an innocent mistake that someone is making an issue out of, probably looking for money.

Why does everyone have to be so mortally offended these days.
Being one who has their sexual orientation constantly degraged, I can understand the hurt, but, get over yourselves.
You must always know that those who do these things have the problem, not you. Rise above their level, hold up your head, and quit whining.

It may be an intentional racial slur, but I am not sure. After all, there is a country in Africa called "Niger," which means "black" in Latin. So the offensive term could be a misspelling of the original Latin term meaning "black," rather than a racial slur. It depends on the context.

Refund????? Give me a break. Is the sofa what they wanted? Remove the tag and move on. This is just plain cashing in on the Imus hype...they should be ashamed of themselves.

Here we go again! Yet still nothing being said about the black lady calling the banker on Deal or No Deal a cracker on Monday night. Outrageous!

Why should the store be held resposible for something they did not put in place and probably never saw? Why does someone have to be held accountable for hurting your feelings? Some things just happen, and not everyone is out to get you.

I can see where this could be a glitch of some sort. Wasn't there a crayola crayon years ago 'niger brown'?

Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that somewhere in this young girl's life she will either hear or at least know the heritage of the word, including the way modern black society is allowed to use the "word" but heaven forbid anyone ELSE in the rest of the world use it.

The false advertising alone should be enough to justify damages. You're told it's fine Italian furniture and find out that it's thrown togather in China. Be interesting to know if the racial wording on the tag was intentional, or an innocent mistake made by someone not aware of the racial slur.

isn't niger in spanish the color black? When working with other countries color translation can be mistranslated. What civil rights have taken away from this family. Now they want the couch for free. There were no burning cross's or windows broken.

A personal apology, an explanation of how this happened, and what has been done to prevent it from happening again? Yes, I would agree they deserve this. A refund for the purchase price of the furniture? I don't think that is appropriate unless they are returning the furniture.

The use of the term is despicable!
But maybe the salesman, cashier, and deliverymen should also be sued. Oh yeah, how about the customs guy?

They were not calling her the n word. Get on with you life. and Tell your daughter the trueth. The word is an old slange word for black person. Get on with your life. Stop trying to make money off of something that happened too many years ago.

I am sorry to say that racism will always exist in some way, shape or form. Rather it is color, gender or ceed. Even though slavery ended, people have mostly remained seperated and living around "people of their own kind". We really need to pray and try to get to know others for who they are. We will never be able to change how someone feels, yet the more try to understand the better thing may become. I am sorry that things are this way ,but we can remain strong and work our way through these situations.

Perhaps we should be more worried about REAL harms, instead of just the use of words.

I do believe the maker should indeed apologize for such stupidness that word should have not been used at all. I feel awful that the 7 year old little girl had to find that written on the tag.

I have seen numerous translation mistakes like this in China. I think that no one should be sued but just issue an apology. These days everyone needs to sue someone for a mistake, it doesnt even sound like it was racially motivated anyways.

Seriously this is so lame!!!!!

First: Typical dishonesty/misrepresentation by some businesspeople. The couches were from supposedly from Italy (aka China)!!!

Second:It was an "innocent mistake" made by somebody else in China and left to stand (i.e., not corrected by the Business when they receive the couches)but the guy had to hide until he was tracked a radio station?!! He could not fix this seemingly "minor innocent" mistake before it was blown into the public arena by the media???

I am sorry to say that racism will always exist in some way, shape or form. Rather it is color, gender or creed. Even though slavery ended, people have mostly remained seperated and living around "people of their own kind". We really need to pray and try to get to know others for who they are. We will never be able to change how someone feels, but people should always have respect for each other. I am sorry that things are this way ,but we can remain strong and work our way through these situations.

Yes - there are no excuses for this sort of "mistake".

NO - this is not a case whereby someone NEEDS to waste our courts time and incure taxpayer expenses just so someone can take advantage and make big money!!! This is 2007, when will this type of profiteering stop.

Really...is this serious? Enjoy the free couch, cause that's what really matters to that family. I think the fact that her daughter had never heard the "n" word is proof positive that racism is almost gone except for those who belly-ache and just want free hand outs or publicity.

In order to ban the N word, the black community and its leaders should address the black "entertainer" first. Those are the people who glorify the N word and use in every single sentence. Why is it OK for them to use the N word, but not others? This is worst than double standard, it is reverse racism.

Maybe she should hold all rap artists accountable,too.

Black in spanish is actually negro.

No harm intended, just a translation error..Yes, other countries use as the color black. Yes, and alot of black youth use the word so its common in those circles. Just heard it the other day while passing a phone booth. Come up with something that is truth instead of pure speculation.

They were simply wanted to buy a couch and they got insulted instead.
{if that violated laws in Canada, then it will be dealt with that} The Business manager dodged them over some "innocent mistake." Afterall. racism in its insidious form is "simple innocent mistake."

In spanish there is a word for brown to not just black. So if some apologist is trying to claim that the label was a spanish translation , we would have expected the entire label to be in Spanish.
If you have the strength ignore the racial slights that some people endure frequently, thank God for giving superior inner strength. But the dismissiveness with which some react to these incidents does not help people move on.

The label could have very well been an honest mistake made by some factory people who are not aware of the Market they were selling to. What is really annoying is the behavior of Vanaik prior to being outed in the media!

Get over it. It was obviously a translation error. As a previous writer said if something came in honky white, would I care?
The word nig**r is denegrating, but why isn't there any outrage when blacks call whites, honky, crackers, etc. Even if a person was a racist, so be it. You can't change people's opinions and this constant whining about every little thing certainly doesn't help the situation.

How wonderful that the child has never heard the word. As for the rest, these people need to get a life. As for a lawsuit, on what grounds?

For the record, the Spanish word for black is Negro, ya'll. See how confusion gets started?

So the couch cost $1300.00, but that doesn't mean it was leather. At the risk of dating mayself, maybe it was "Naugahyde", which, I suppose, could have been mis-translated:)

I am black and I am proud, and the sooner people begin educating their kids about ethnicities, whatever they want to classify their children as, the better for the children. I never liked having these conversations with my own offspring, but better from Dad/Grandfather than from the ignorant and ill-informed of the world -- black and white.

Richard S

She wants to sue over a translation mistake? Give me a break.

The color of the couch is brown not black. And negro is the spanish word for black not niger you idiot.

I think that we tend to take things to seriously here in America when something offends us. The most proper thing to do was to call the manufacture and explain that the translation of the word was offensive and move on. If her daughter wanted to know what the word meant it would have bee easier to let her know it was the other name for a color and not use it as a rascist term

This is ridiculous!!!! Money or an apology will not solve their personal problems or fill their voids in life!!! Only generally unhappy people make big deals about these sort of things. Just because someone calls you a name on "the playground of life," and so-calls....disrespects you...doesn't mean you have to have a public apology!!!!!!! Its not like you would not then spend your life trying to sew someone anywhere anyway. You will look stupid in the process, by the way! Move on people and grow up! Find some kind of self satisfaction in life or a hobby and don't let every single episode in life blow your fuses or ruffle those little feathers of your!!!!

I have to say that while this isn't an acceptable description of the color of the couch, I think it's ridiculous for this family to be causing such a mess over it. The family was not personally attacked and therefore should not in turn personally attack the store owner.

The New American Dream ---

Getting something for Nothing

Thank you libs. Thank you S.F. You make the Nothings proud.

No, Niger is not spanish for black, it's actually negro (same spelling different pronounciation). However I do agree that this was quite obviously a very embarrassing software translation error and getting a free couch or taking legal action is a bit over the top. Like everyone else has said 'Get Over It!', they got apologies and no one was scarred for life so move on.

Get over it allready, Probably just mad that she paid too much for the couch and no return policy. Take it to the pawn shop and get a life in exchange. People are just looking for anyway and every way to either get something free or sue someone. Who cares....Im goina go home tonight and pull the tags off my leather couch.

Does anyone else think it's silly that the article won't even use the word at issue?

Negro is the spanish word for black. There is no way there was a legitimate translation error. This was either someone's overt or lazy racism coming through. Someone entered that into the software and meant to leave it in or forgot to take it out.

There should be some amends made if the actual responsible party can be found, but otherwise, move on.

Racism is horrible, but feeding it like we do keeps it alive.

Oh please! Why is it ok for some young "person of color" to drive down the road with his stereo turned up full blast shouting all kinds of racist words for all the world to hear, but let someone else speak those words and it's like the world is going to come to an end. GET OVER IT!!! Niger also refers to a type of thistle seed fed to finches. It is a dark brown/black colored seed. DUH!!!!

Sue, sue, sue... Give me a break. Get over it already. What if the couch was labeled "honky white"? You wouldn't see white people suing over that - guaranteed! Oh wait, here comes Al Sharpton in 3...2...1...

It's just a (very) unfortunate translation error. No need to summon the Authorities.

What they meant is that the couch is black-brown. And if that's it behind the Offended Party, the label is accurate.

Apologies should be made an accepted. Nothing racist is happening here. Unlike Imus, who is clearly a racist and has been for many years. Why are people suddenly surprised?

Maybe the couch was actually labeled in Nigeria!!??? and they shortened the name????

Get over it.

No jj the word for black in spainish is negro, nice try though. As for all of the "get over it comments" Why in the heck should the "get over it"? These people paid good money for an item that turns out to contain something that attacks the very notion that they are human, and espouses the idea that they are not human and are less than human. How would you feel if you spent 1200 bucks on something only to have your 6 year old find a picture on said item depicting gay anal sex? Would you just get over that? Those who made comments like "get over it" need to "get over" the idea that these kinds of incidents are still acceptable and to be overlooked, and that those who cause them will not be held accoutable as the law requires.

Are you serious? the "N" word is totally ok when a rapper uses it in his/her "art" and young people of color use it on a daily basis to each other and because the store is not owned by people of color then it's taken as an afront to this entire family. I say send the couches back get your money and but a ticket on the next space shuttle to a perfect world. That would be the only way to shield your family from the dreaded "N" word. what's that old ryme sticks & stones........

It is a shame that african americans don't get mad at their own color for using the "N" word, but God forbid anyone else. Start holding your own color accountable for using that word any ANY fashion. It's a double standard.

If you look at clothing ads from newspapers in the early 20th century (around the 1920s) you will see dresses advertised as n**** brown. Once it was an acceptable term. This was a silly translation error, not intended as a pejorative or hate crime. As the couch was made in Italy, chances are the translator was using a very old dictionary. Oh, and to arlan, the woman's name was Moore, not Brown. Did you actually read the article?

Is there evidence that the store or supplier added the label? I believe the mistake was made at the manufacturer in China. The software used to make the label probably is to blame. Maybe the Chinese meant to describe the color of the couch as black-brown, but mistakenly used the word *** for black.

What ever happen to: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?" What the heck is going on in this country anymore? Someone calls you a name and you can't deal with it? Get a life people and move on.

OMG! PEople will try to get paid for any thing. It was not directed towards her or her family or their race. I swear there are those in this world who think everyone is out to get them. Yes, there are a few that are racist but racisim comes from every race, but you don;t hear them hooting and hollering about it. grow up - those time are over. Computer error- Human error who cares no one is perfect. Just like the imus situation - Yeah he was a jerk for saying what he said, but he did not say the blacks were "nappy headed hos" He mad a general comment about them all, but it all of a sudden is a race thing. I am so tired of hearing its about race. All it is, is someone is out in hopes to make money of the smallest thing. and have A FREAKING PITY PARTY. BOO HOO. GET OVER YOURSELF!

I completely believe that this is just a mis-translation at the Chinese supplier. There are several examples of mis-translated verbiage from Chinese to English. Many of them are just as weird as this.

OMG! People will try to get paid for anything. It was not directed towards her or her family or their race. I swear there are those in this world who think everyone is out to get them. Yes, there are a few that are racist but racisim comes from every race, but you don't hear them hooting and hollering about it. Always seems to be one in particular. Grow up - those time are over. Computer error,Human error, who cares no one is perfect. Just like the Imus situation - Yeah he was a jerk for saying what he said, but he did not say to any particular race. He made a general comment about the whole team (isn't that freedom of speech - it is his opinion. What happened to sticks and stones may break my bones but WORDS may never hurt me - yeah an old childhood saying but so true - unless you let it hurt you), but it all of a sudden is a race thing. I am so tired of hearing its about race. All it is, is someone is out in hopes to make money of the smallest thing and have a FREAKING PITY PARTY. BOO HOO. GET OVER YOURSELF!

OK I can understand these people being a bit "shocked" at what was found yet I don't believe that Doris had to explain so much to her 7 year old! If this label was applied in China there may very well have been some kind of mistake so how would the store have known about it? Are all stores required to look at every single label on every item that comes through their store? My God they would have to hire someone just to do that, how unreal is that? The one thing that bothered me most wasn't even the fact that the "N" word was used it is that these people are actually thinking about what kind of fincial gain they can make from this even after getting a PUBLIC apology. *Shakes Head* I guess it isn't just the USA that is sue happy....

If we got rid of all the ignorant people and the people who have said or done something stupid in their lives, there would be nobody left. We've ALL stuck our foot in our mouths or unintentionally offended or hurt someone at one point or another. Is anyone out there really going to say they haven't?

OK notsofast... The "n" word is far from being the same as a picture of gay anal sex. However, if in another country they used a picture of gay anal sex to describe the word "white", I would think it would be ok to get upset but if I was truly offended I doubt I would hold the blurred picture up for a camera. I'd probably contact someone with the manufacturing company and request that it be changed. Compare apples to apples... Besides if the tag read "cracker white" I would have to get a new couch because I would have laughed so hard I peed on it!! People are looking for a reason to complain and they are the ones that are keeping racism alive in this country. You don't want to be sterotyped, don't act like the sterotype that's been created!

Interesting, the word *** is removed from all of our comments and replaced with stars. It's not a curse word like **, so why is it censored? And none of the comments use the word in a disparaging way, we're merely talking about the word. So why censor it? I wonder if a computer is reading our comments and censoring them or an actual person is.