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Music in a social movement
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Blacks considered the N-word to be one of if not the the absolute worst and most offensive word throughout history. Why should that suddenly change because the last two letters are changed to an a? The meaning and history of the word is something of which many members of the younger generation are completely oblivious. Why should this dehumanizing, demeaning word be used freely in songs and everyday speech? In the words of Martin Luther King Jr: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” If all men are created equal, then why should blacks be discriminated against in everyday language and in popular songs?
As Kennedy explains “used by black people amongst themselves [the N word ] is a racial term with undertones and good will--reflecting a tragicomic sensibility that is aware of black history” but how could such a contradiction exist (Kennedy 5)? How could the most “noxious” of words also also be used to show comradery and brotherhood for those who have been in the struggle. “He is my nig” or “That guy is my nigga”, phrases like these are uttered by black men to each other to express their most public form of masculine endearment towards one another. Note that it is uttered between black men, to black men, and from black men; Black bodies participate and engage with the “N-word” much more differently than any other non-black person would. The word must come from colored mouths to have a “positive” significance, if I, a Mexican woman, or for instance Nate, in Bernard’s class, say it--we change the meaning entirely. As quoted by Randall Kennedy, Jarvis Deberry states, “[the n-word is ‘beautiful in its multiplicity of functions. I am not aware…of any other word capable of expressing so many contradictory emotions” and I cannot help but to agree that the “N-word” is more messy and complex then we would anticipate it to
For instance, in the show Freaks and Geeks, we find individuals, calling themselves freaks, because they do not belong in the ‘status quo,’ and live or desire to live alternative lifestyles. Would this be disrespectful to individuals who according to 19th and 20th century lingo, were called freaks? I think it is highly disrespectful indeed, because in the show, we find these kids who are not disabled, and are all white using a term which has caused so much pain to others,used it in such a free way, to be different and alternate. It goes back to what he was saying about how individuals who identify with the pink triangle and the term freak, need to also be a witness to the pain that other individuals suffered, like the gay POC and non-disabled POC. And it is worse because these kids in no way bear any semblance with either of the categories mentioned. It’s becoming some sort of norm, in which white people of years passed create words which are meant to relegate different individuals to the outside, and then after this relegation is done, choose to use it as freely as they want. For instance the use of the word ‘nigger’, white people want to include this word in their vocabulary so bad, because slavery happened more than 300 years ago. But they forget the pain that comes with this word, but you cannot truly forget what
Discrimination, in one form or another, goes on everyday in the world around us. Discrimination affects all of us whether we are aware of it or not. Discrimination is defined as “unjustified differential treatment, especially on the basis of characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or religion” (MacKinnon). According to Eugene Lee of California Labor and Employment Law “racial discrimination and racial harassment” are the most popular complaint when it come to discrimination in the United States.
“Racism is a refuge for the ignorant. It seeks to divide and to destroy. It is the enemy of freedom, and deserves to be met head-on and stomped out.” These wise words were spoken by Pierre Berton, an author of non-fiction novels. In our society, racism is everywhere, and has been in our past as well. Racism is ruining our world, and it is becoming tolerated. It is a threat to our society by affecting not only one person, but all those who are involved, whether it’s the bystander, the victim or the one who was being racist.
Numerous events have occurred in the past that have led to the discrimination and marginalization of various populations of the world. Religion, education, war and other socio-cultural aspects of society have led to the development of perceptions and stereotypes against various world communities. The world over, for example, developed a negative attitude towards the Muslim community after the numerous terrorist attacks that had been plotted and accomplished in the name of the Islam religion. Every society in the world has developed a specific stereotype towards a specific individual, community or other social and cultural aspects of life, and this has always had a precise reason or cause. Historical injustices that continue to haunt the world even today have been instigated due to a number of reasons back then.
The controversial topic about who can say the word “nigga,” and who can not, has become such a complex argument between people who want to ban the word and get it rid of it all together, versus those who are fine with not banning the word as long as it is not said by a non black person. The simple answer to this complicated question is pretty much that if a person does not identify as being black, or having black in their blood, then no, they should not be able to say “nigga.” However, even though blacks can say it without much consequence, it should not be okay to use despite the level of appropriation due to the root of its awful history.
In many cultures finding your identity is hard. It is even harder to not be labeled for what you look like in society. Currently, people have changed the way that they judge each other and are judging everyone based on the idea of their ethnicity. As I grew up, who I was as a person did not matter because everyone did not bully me based on the color of my skin. I assumed I was just like everyone else. Although when I became a teen things changed. After 9/11, my race and ethnicity mattered more and people treated me differently because I was labeled as a Muslim.
According to the materials to which I have been exposed in this course, in my informed judgement, the views of these Millennials are very inaccurate. The society on which we live in today still produces discrimination towards minority groups. These groups include but are not limited to: African-Americans and women. Evidence of discrimination are exemplified via an article by authors Joe Feagin, Adriane Fugh-Berman, and Roxanna Harlow (McIntyre, 2015). These articles examine the discrimination that minority groups face in our society and offers an explanation (social factors) to how this millennial obtained misinformed views.
In society today there are still many cases of the N-word being used by different races other than African Americans. Such as schools using the N-word in class or even classmates saying it to their black classmate. Also, not only have students in school used that offensive word throughout, but teachers have been using it till this day as a racial comment towards black students (Fox news). Such as calling them the word because of having hatred towards them. The use of the word caused a teacher to get fired from her job because it had to do with racial comments and hatred towards her black students. This demonstrates that this society still shows racism today and how that one word can really offend people up until today. Unlike the word “slave”
According to minorities today, racism and discrimination are some of the major factors that are present in the workplace. In the labor force specifically, we see racism, discrimination, and inequality that deprive minorities of the opportunity to succeed in life. Research shows that African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, women, lesbians, gays, and transgenders in the world suffer injustices that shouldn’t be taking place according to laws that were placed to defend these groups. According to the research, minorities in the labor force are not getting their due because they are treated unequally, face discrimination and their employers violate their rights.
"KAFFIR". When you see or hear this word, what runs through your mind? Do you
Have you ever felt what it is like to be guilty by association? As there are extremist Muslims and non-extremist, there is very little different difference to many racist Americans. Americans with that view point treat Muslims with very little to no respect anywhere that they are seen. America was made to be the “melting pot” of culture due to all the immigration, and laws to protect the Freedom of Religion, but has failed to do so. The western culture has taken to much of a ban on the middle east due to the few groups of extremists who are the source of the worlds cause of terror. Even in recent laws being passed against the immigration of Muslims to the United States is a racist act taken by our President. Although everything that has happened in with violence and terrorism by the extremist Muslims in the past up to the present has been a snowball of anger for some Americans. Violence against Muslims in the United States occurs in communities, workplaces, and Mosques.
Racial discrimination, a constant treatment where the occurrence never lightens. Where simple acts of defiance, even kindness, are taking towards unnecessary measures. There is no safe zone, not even in the comfort of your own work field, the reason being discrimination happens everywhere and it is not avoidable. Many years can go by, and many things can change, things such as appearances or customs, even alliances, but racism will never be one of them.
Censorship is not a recent development. It wasn’t imposed properly or there weren’t strict regulations before. In the article “Hate Radio” by Patricia J. Williams, the writer says that radio was a powerful source of media. It had influenced a lot of people. The power of media can change the course of history. The host on the radio such as Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern were also influencing a lot of people. The theme was not merely the specific intolerance on hot topics as race and gender, but a much more general contempt for the world, a verbal stoning of anything different. Most of the audience on this radio shows were white and male. Most of the callers have spent their lives walling themselves off from any real experience with blacks, feminists, lesbians or gays. Rush Limbaugh tell his audience “what you believe inside, you can talk about it in the marketplace.” Unfortunately what’s inside is then mistaken for what’s outside, treated empirical and political reality. Most of the talks on the radio were being racist against the blacks. This had influenced so much that a statistics showed that 53 percent of people in America agree that blacks and Latinos are less intelligent than whites, and a majority believed that blacks are lazy, violent, welfare-dependent and unpatriotic. Hence this stereotype among the people was due to the lack of censorship.(Williams,502)
Racial Discrimination, and Oppression and are still major problems in society. Many great historical leaders such as; Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X , and more have fought for the end of racism and oppression yet it lingers like stray dog. Many times when people mention racism and oppression they overlook it, as though it weren’t a real issue in the world today. Ending racial discrimination and oppression is exceedingly important although we are of different race, sex, and language we have the same color blood and we’re human with emotions. The ending of racial discrimination and oppression, could lead to less suicides due to suicides, poverty, unemployment, and uneducated individuals. The information I will be presenting in this critical