[Serious] Singing the N-word

[chimp3]

I remember Richard Pryor's skit on why it is OK for Black people to use the word n-word and not white people. I agreed with him then and still do. I only use the word n-word in this post because writing "the N-word" is disingenuous. When anyone says or writes "the N-word" (Louis C.K) they put the word "n-word" into other peoples heads so they should be responsible and just own it. Anyway, my son was 14 years old and influenced by Hip Hop culture. He is white. His sister, my daughter is half black. He had two best mates, one Latino, one half Latino/ Black. They were all calling each other "My Niggah" and "Niggy". I told him he needed to stop using those words. He argued that it was common for his generation. I asked him if he heard a skinhead refer to his friend or his sister as a n-word if he would be OK with it. He said no and to his credit he stopped. But if Hip Hop performers are that concerned with white folks singing their lyrics verbatim, perhaps they could subtract the income earned from those white kids and donate to charity or return the money. I have not heard of any artists complaining.

Moderator Notice
It many be disingenuous, but it's still against the rules to type out the full word.

An exception will be made if the hate speech itself is being discussed, however even in these cases, members should make the intent of the discussion clear and censor any slurs using asterisks (e.g. f*ggot) or some other reference (e.g. the n word).

[BrokenQuill92]

Look can we all stop saying it?

[Rev. Rye]

Look can we all stop saying it?

And if we could create a consistent standard (like NOBODY using it, which is probably ideal), this debate wouldn't even have a reason to exist.

[BrokenQuill92]

Look can we all stop saying it?

And if we could create a consistent standard (like NOBODY using it, which is probably ideal), this debate wouldn't even have a reason to exist.

Just don’t. Like what is white people’s obsession with the word? Seriously don’t do it. Why is there such big debate? I notice white Americans will bend and twist to find any excuse to use use the word but let someone say the r word or even use gay or queer as a slur they’ll flip their shit. Let’s stop lying here. They don’t care that it’s in a song they just wanna say it because black people make them uncomfortable and such a hurtful word would let them reassert their dominance in the racial hierarchy. And that’s just the truth of it. People want to do and say racist shit without being called to the carpet for their racism.

[brewer]

My position, it's all about hate speech. And if you use hate speech (words), even if it's about your own race/gender/blah................ then you'll need to own the reaction that you get from others.

If you're white and use the n-word I won't have much to do with you. If you're black and use the n-word, I won't have much to do with you.

[Silver]

On a related note, I cannot think of a gay artist who uses the F-word in his music.

If such a song existed, I would have no qualm with people singing along with it because I am smart enough to differentiate between participating in entertainment and using the term in a derogatory manner.

[Shell B]

And if we could create a consistent standard (like NOBODY using it, which is probably ideal), this debate wouldn't even have a reason to exist.

Just don’t. Like what is white people’s obsession with the word? Seriously don’t do it. Why is there such big debate? I notice white Americans will bend and twist to find any excuse to use use the word but let someone say the r word or even use gay or queer as a slur they’ll flip their shit. Let’s stop lying here. They don’t care that it’s in a song they just wanna say it because black people make them uncomfortable and such a hurtful word would let them reassert their dominance in the racial hierarchy. And that’s just the truth of it. People want to do and say racist shit without being called to the carpet for their racism.

Yeah, no. I don’t want to do and say racist shit. I want to sing along to some of my favorite music, which only very occasionally contains racial slurs, typically not used as a slur.

[Hillbillyatheist]

I think people should be able to do what they want. if you want to sing along with a rap tune that says racial slurs, free country baby! just know that some folks will get pissed off. its up to you whether you give a shit about that or not. LOL

Personally, I don't like rap music. I'm a country fan. (and I don't care if that makes some folks call me a racist)  anyway, I don't like being called a redneck by some elitist snob, like Bill Maher, used as a put down, but to be honest if Bill Maher was singing along with an Alan Jackson tune that had the word "redneck" in it, because he liked it, I wouldn't care. its all context for me. context should be the key. a word without context is meaningless.  

from my experience the same applies with black people. (or anybody really) Some will take offense, some won't care. knowing your audience is advisable though with controversial stuff like this, unless you don't mind risking the blow back. beyond that its an individual choice.  

anyway this thread calls for this hilarious clip from clerks 2.  WARNING: NSFW!!! (contains profanity and racial slurs) 

Moderator Notice
Deleted video

[arewethereyet]

It many be disingenuous, but it's still against the rules to type out the full word.[/mod] pid='1941454' dateline='1573599453']

An exception will be made if the hate speech itself is being discussed, however even in these cases, members should make the intent of the discussion clear and censor any slurs using asterisks (e.g. f*ggot) or some other reference (e.g. the n word).

But apparently it isn't understood that a video with a string of words that aren't to be written also shouldn't be posted for people to watch and listen to.

[GrandizerII]

Personally, I don't like rap music. I'm a country fan. (and I don't care if that makes some folks call me a racist)  anyway, I don't like being called a redneck by some elitist snob, like Bill Maher, used as a put down, but to be honest if Bill Maher was singing along with an Alan Jackson tune that had the word "redneck" in it, because he liked it, I wouldn't care.

Redneck might be used as a derogatory term, but I don't think it's fair to black people for us to have that term compared to the N-word. Redneck, when used in a derogatory way, is just an insult. The N-word goes beyond just an insult.