As long as we have ignorance, there will be racism. The most popular racial slur of today is also commonly used on a friendlier basis. “The N word.” While a white trash redneck my call a black man and N, and get offended by it, that same man may call his friends that and think nothing off it. The N word is only offensive when it’s used to be offensive, which is not always the case. So why ban a word that so many people use for identifying who they’re friends with. Black man call each other that and even refer to members of other racial groups as an N. now in no way am I defending or condoning using the N word to be used as an insult, but if used for the other reason I see nothing wrong with that. If black people want to get offended by the word they This has changed in the last thirty years with many black people accepting it and referring to themselves, and people who aren’t black as Ns. This may be a nonsensical double standard, but it should still be allowed. Telling people they can say the N word will lead to more people using it trying to be rebels, and then the problem restarts itself. Yes it is offensive and it doesn’t make sense why someone would want to be called that, but if they do let them do it. Some rapper eve respond to the fact they can’t play the N word on the radio by creating a word, ziggit, to combat the fact they can’t use the word they want. The N word may be mostly used by black people today, but it isn’t always aimed at other black men. Many blacks will call their white friends an N that they feel close with. No one get offended and people just brush it off. So why get offended when a singer uses the word to describe the men in his neighborhood? If a person doesn’t mind being called an N let them live their own life. Unless the word is being used as an insult towards someone it should be allowed whenever the user
Naylor implies that derogatory terms have a twist and are a disguise of acknowledgement to her race. Although it was initially created to humiliate and dehumanize African Americans, ‘the n-word’ develops into a word that admires men of that race.
“I don’t give a fuck what a nigga say,” for a word that many different things I think most people would agree that in this since nigga means a person preferably black. Nigga is a derogatory and racist word that refers to Black people. But, we, meaning Black people, still use it. We do not care, nigga flows off the tough. In using nigga we not only show disdain but become a nigga when using it and we’re ok with it. This is why I choose Katt Williams, 2006 comedy skit Pimp Chronicle Part 1. In William’s skit he use nigga some 221 times, in 45 minute, that’s about four times per minute. I could not find a better example of someone using nigga. 221 times, he must have something interesting to say if he can find 221 reason to say the word and you know what he did. I could not help but laugh it was funny, but at the end of the day I knew though it may have been funny it was still morally wrong. In Williams, he uses nigga in ways that support Black stereotypes, which make the audience laugh. There is nothing worng with that a mans
The words Negro, nigger, and nigga have always been a sensitive topic, yet it is a topic that needs to be addressed in light of the more common use of its vernacular. One word is used to describe a color, while the others are used to define a people. It’s very clear to many the negative connotation these words carry, but where did these words come from? Furthermore, is there a difference between the word nigger and nigga; and why is it that African-Americans now use the word nigga to degrade each other in today’s society? These words, in spite of their spelling, still holds the same degrading power as it did during the time of slavery, and they are still spoken out of cruelty and ignorance, but who is to blame? Can one still blame the Spaniards for considering people of a darker skin tone –Black? Can we blame the Europeans for perpetuating their hatred and ignorance of superiority over a race of people to the point they felt it lawful to define and dehumanize them? Or does the blame lie with the African-American race as we use this degrading labeling on our own kind, thus becoming the victimizer. Either way nigger or nigga are words that should be eliminated from the vocabulary of every human being.
I can recall the first time I paid close attention to the word nigger. In junior high a school fight would occur about every week and of course the whole school would gather together and watch. Well this particular fight sticks out in my mind because it was between two boys of different races, Hispanic and black. During their conflict the Hispanic boy bluntly called the black boy a nigger, and that was when the rest of the black students became verbally involved. I remember screaming out “ who do you think you are calling him that?” If the white, Hispanic, or any other race calls us a nigger, we as black people become hostile. Now that I have put more thought into that incident, I ask myself who do we think we are calling ea...
Slaves were commonly referred to by the n-word as if that was their definition of who they were, when Rufus speaks to Dana as a child after she has saved his life he says “WORDS” (PAGE NUMBER). It’s a category and a word that means lower than white people and it is a strict enforcer of the idea that the races were not only separate, but that all of them can be defined as a single lower entity. Furthermore, Dana is referred to by other slaves as a “white nigger” (PAGE NUMBER) throughout her stay due to her education and ability to talk back to Rufus as if she were equal to him. When (NAMES) call her that,(PAGE NUMBERS) they mean it in a derogatory way and thus were enforcing the ideas of oppression, that only whites were smart and can read or write and that to be black is to be inferior. They don’t see Dana as someone to look up to, but as someone to despise for her abilities and that helped enforce oppression. The slurs and ideas had become embedded in the slaves themselves and even Dana in the end of Kindred continues these ideas when she tries to convince Alice that things aren’t that bad for her without meaning too (PAGE
When it comes to the use of the “N-word”, “nigger”, most of us will readily agree that it is derived from negativity. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of is this word appropriate and should it be a part of our vocabulary today. Many feel like this word is okay to use but there are some that disagree.
The word is taught by many to be said to any slave during this time period. I thought that there were white slaves? Where they called “niggers” as well? Indeed, there were white slaves that were called “niggers” along with black slaves. Many people are unaware of this fact and only subject the term to only be meant for black people. Since this new knowledge had be brought to light, the word “nigger” consequently does not refer to just blacks but rather both blacks and whites. The term groups together any property owned during this time period that was marked as a slave. The African American slave owners during this time were not called subject to the word. This is because a “nigger” was someone of low class or even just a piece of property that could be replaced. Another misconception is that there were in fact many black slave owners as well as white slave owners. The meaning of the word is arguably the most contemptuous word in the english language. “You are a white nigger!” “You are black nigger!” These two sentences mean the exact same thing. This term, as horrible as it is, should be just as offensive to white as it is to
A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...
The word “nigger” has two main variances today, and they were both expressed beautifully by Tupac. The word carries with it a privilege also, a privilege that only certain people are allowed to use this word. And it is what African descendants call each other as a way of connecting in a brotherhood type of fashion. In areas such as “Bomton” - otherwise known as “black compton” - “brothas” can casually see each other at the convenience store and address the other as “my nigga” or “niggah” however they prefer. Now imagine the same scenario but with two Caucasian males saying the exact same. It’s weird right? That is because the word is still highly debated to the present. It is unclear whether the word should be banned from everybody’s mouth or if it should all be left to identify
I found several techniques to help me refrain from using this word and other words of its caliber. I started to replace it with words like dude. Recently I have found great satisfaction in improving my vocabulary, although at times I do feel “naked” with the word to fill my gaps. I find that the best remedy for me is to become more articulate. Whenever I feel that the situation calls for a word like that I pick one from may many other word of equal magnitude. In final analysis I will continue power pledge to refrain from the usage of the N-word. Continuing the techniques that I have learned to employ had really help me refrain. I have not used the word since February 25.
What is a nerd? What is a nigga? Before the question can the nerd and nigga coexist can be answered the nerd and the nigga must be defined. According to dictionary.com a nerd is an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit (“Nerd”). What is a nigga? The legendary Smokey Robinson once said “I think it’s a shame that every few years black people get a change of name,” but nigga was one of the earliest names, probably the first name after black or African (Robinson). Back in slavery days the slave masters use to call the slave “niggers,” the term “nigga” is just the slang version of the word nigger. Today the word is only respectfully used by black to other black people. The use of the word by the white race is thought of as being highly disrespectful. Early 1990’s “gangsta” rap artist revived or more so reclaimed the word in their music (“N-Word’). Today black people use the word as form of affection or endearment. It’s common to go out and hear a black person greet another black person by saying, “What’s up nigga,” and their goodbyes will...
Does this artist use the word nigger in the same way that racists have and still are? The answer to this question is a simple one- no. Today’s urban society have changed, not only the definition, but also the spelling of this word, which was once used to belittle those of African-American decent. Now, the definition as proved through today’s urban youth holds many denotations- positive and negative. But has the definition really changed? Or are today’s urban society just being ignorant and socially blinded by the hardships of our ancestors as they continue to use a word that held such great racial tension when used in the 1800’s? Two answers for this one- yes and no. Yes the definition has changed, but not totally to where it’s precedent has been forgotten. In fact, urban youth are so socially powerful that they can take a word and totally flip it and use it within themselves but when one of another race uses it, they return it back to the old definition and the racial remarks commence.
What is racism? Racism is the belief that one’s race, skin color, or more generally, one’s group, be it of religious, national or ethnic identity, is superior to others in humanity. In Bonilla-Silva’s article it says that “all white man talk about nonwhites in public but in a different way.” They talk carefully and worry about what they say so that the wrong words like “niggers” do not come out. Why go through all the trouble of being careful of what they
Those in the mainstream have long considered rap music controversial. However its controversy escalated to a whole new level when the world was introduced to “Gangsta Rap,” where violent acts and suggestions are graphically portrayed (yale). The notorious rap group responsible for the introduction of gangsta rap was NWA (bomp). Gangsta rap has been criticized and debated over for its graphic sexual content, and violent imagery (yale). The lyrics in many songs contain violent and explicit lyrics that usually talk about killing someone along with sounds of gunshots in the background. Gangsta rap also talks about drug use and portrays negative attitudes toward women, especially black women. The artists refer to women as, “bitches,” “whores” and sex dispensing “hoes.” On the contrary there is a nice sideffect to controversy; you can use it
When I was teaching middle school, I heard some of my students calling one of my GLBTQ students a “fagot” and “queer” among other derogatory labels several times. However, when I heard those words, I intervened promptly. I told those students that type of language was not tolerated in my classroom and in our school and dealt with those students accordingly.