Examples Of Nigga Reappropriation

To begin, the word ‘nigga’ is a colloquial term from African American Vernacular English. It is derived from ‘nigger,’ which originated as a neutral descriptor for black people, but later became highly pejorative (Kennedy, 2011). Both ‘nigger’ and its derivatives have been historically used as established derogatory terms, and have retained their association with discrimination against blacks in their modern day use, which remains pejorative (Middleton & Pilgrim, 2013). However, in recent years, the form ‘nigga’ has been reclaimed to some extent, particularly among the younger generation of African Americans, although this is almost always limited to its use in an intra-group context and its reappropriation remains controversial. As is the case with other instances of reclamation, the reappropriation of ‘nigga’ and ‘nigger’ has been influenced by several social factors, including a history of racism and other forms of discrimination, issues of black identity, and

the spread of popular culture.
When studying ‘nigger’ and its derivatives, it is important to consider the history of these terms, as the context for the use of both their pejorative and non-pejorative senses are significant. ‘Nigger’ originates from the Latin word for the color black, and has been spelled in a variety of ways, including ‘niggah’ and ‘niggur’ (Kennedy, 2011). Although the word began as a neutral descriptor for black people, it gained its pejorative meaning over time, until its establishment as an unambiguously and highly derogatory slur by the 1800s (Middleton & Pilgrim, 2013). While it was not considered polite, ‘nigger’ remained “an ‘acceptable’ insult” among whites until well into the twentieth century, and became a symbol of Jim Crow segregation laws in the Southern United States (Endo, 2012). This links ‘nigger’ to a specific context of racist ideologies, making it a “powerful racial slur with its attachment to the socioeconomic oppressive system which institutionalized improper education, denials of employment, and all other forms of social segregation” of African Americans (Wilkine, 2013). It is in this way that the derivative ‘nigga’ is connected to a history of derogatory use as a tool of discrimination.
More recently, ‘nigga’ has become a target for reappropriation. While it still carries its pejorative significance in many contexts, ‘nigga’ has entered the in-group lexicon of many younger African Americans, who use it as a non-derogatory colloquial term to refer to other blacks, although its specific meaning varies according to situational factors. This use of ‘nigga’ is typically distinct from ‘nigger,’ as by altering the latter’s spelling to produce the eye dialect form ‘nigga,’ which relates to African American Vernacular English pronunciation, members of the black speech community are able to reappropriate the word through its modification. According to Wilkine, this demonstrates the status of ‘nigga’ as a reclaimed term, as “that’s the whole point of ownership, it’s yours to alter” (2013). The distinction between these two forms can indicate the intention of the speaker, as when ‘nigger’ is used, “there is no misunderstanding that it’s meant to degrade,” but the alteration of this historically pejorative word to “a friendly word among peers” can instead represent a “triumph over the word’s power and sting” (Aldridge et al., 2001). Still, the use of ‘nigga’ and the likelihood of it being interpreted as pejorative is dependent on external factors, such as the relationship between interlocutors or the tone used by the speaker, as the reclamation of the term remains controversial and will generally require a level of rapport and in-group status.
As ‘nigger’ has such a long history as a term of racism used to convey “hatred and disgust directed towards [blacks],” the use of the reappropriated term ‘nigga’ is naturally influenced by the social factors surrounding its historical pejorative use (Middleton & Pilgrim, 2001). Namely, the racism blacks have experienced has likely provided the motivation for its reclamation. One argument for this is that by using ‘nigger’ and its derivatives in a non-derogatory sense, blacks are able to positively reclaim some of its power by removing the word’s negative connotations so that it can no longer be used pejoratively (Galinsky et al., 2003, p. 231). This act of self-labeling may weaken the impact of ‘nigger’ by taking ownership of the word, and its reclamation is even considered by some to be empowering to black identities as it can be used as a symbol rejecting historical oppression. It is in this way that the historical context in which the derogatory form of ‘nigger’ was used can influence the use of later reclaimed forms.
However, this history also gives ‘nigga’ a protected status in that its past meaning must be recognized. While its use by blacks in private speech communities is “very easily divorced from its negative past,” once ‘nigga’ enters the public sphere, “you can’t fool yourself into thinking it doesn’t attach itself to its white supremacist history” (Endo, 2012).
This status is heavily linked to elements of solidarity and in-group identity, as they will influence which groups are able to acceptably use the term. While ‘nigga’ can often be used positively within the African American community to “foster intimacy and in-group solidarity,” its use is denied to outsiders (Croom, 2013). Namely, its use by non-blacks is typically seen as pejorative and should be avoided “out of a certain respect for history and for the ongoing struggle of the black community in dealing with it” (Endo, 2012). By requiring a ‘nigga pass’ in the form of black identity and thereby restricting the label to only that group, there may be increased cohesion within the community, as by holding the exclusive rights to a reappropriated term, the in-group members share the rights to its reclamation, thus increasing a sense of positive distinctiveness (Galinsky et al., 2003, p. 234). However, when used by an outsider, the derogatory sense of ‘nigga’ may be magnified as the oppressive connotations of the label become apparent (p. 235). It is in this way that this social barricade may create greater solidarity in the group, with the desire for commonality influencing how ‘nigga’ can be used, and by which groups.
Finally, the reappropriation of ‘nigga’ has been heavily influenced by popular culture. Its spread may be attributed to its use in rap and hip hop music, which are associated with African American youth culture. For instance, popular American artists Snoop Dogg and The Notorious B.I.G. have used ‘nigga’ extensively in their lyrics, while black stand-up comedians such as Chris Rock and Kevin Hart have included the term in their routines as well (Allen-Taylor, 1998). This demonstrates the significance of culture in reappropriation, as it is also one of the many social factors that have influenced its use.
Even with widespread use, the term ‘nigga’ remains controversial.

While many African Americans continue to use it in the reclaimed sense, this is not universal, as many members of the black community do not support its reappropriation and consider it inextricable from its historically derogatory meaning. For instance, some consider even the in-group use of the word to be a reflection of self-hatred through the internalization of negative images of blacks propagated by racists, and see ‘nigger’ as “the ultimate expression of white racism and white superiority no matter how it pronounced” (Middleton & Pilgrim, 2013). Furthermore, it is important to note that ‘nigga’ and ‘nigger’ can certainly still be used in the pejorative sense, as the terms’ reclamation are specific to certain contexts. Even so, others may view it as a positive way to change the discourse surrounding discrimination against blacks, whereby language is seen as a revolving phenomenon reflecting progressive societal change (Wilkine,

2013).
Overall, the term ‘nigga,’ as is derived from ‘nigger,’ has been reappropriated by some African Americans in that it has become a non-derogatory term for in-group use among the black community. However, its reclamation is not neutral, as this process has been significantly influenced by the context of ‘nigger’ in its pejorative use throughout a history of slavery and the oppression of blacks. The use of the term is also impacted by issues of group membership and black identity, as well as the influence of popular culture. Still, its use remains controversial and is not universally accepted.