[split] The word 'Nigger' and other slurs

[BrokenQuill92]

Here's the thing I don't like about being "banned" from using the word nigga. The reason I'm not supposed to say the word, is because I am white. My skin color is the same as the people that were once the oppressors. And in some kind of fucked up "original sin" type shit because white people from the past were racist motherfuckers, now I'm not allowed to say the word. I was born in '91, I don't have any connection to slavery or the racists continually trying to keep black people down during the civil rights era. We don't punish the sons and daughters of murderers for the crimes their parents committed, why am I still feeling this one?

What you're not getting is, it's not about YOU! That word is very hurtful to brown people. How you think it's about punishing you instead of minding the feelings of others I don't know.

[FlyingNarwhal]

What you're not getting is, it's not about YOU! That word is very hurtful to brown people. How you think it's about punishing you instead of minding the feelings of others I don't know.

It became about me when I am socially banned from using a word I really have no connection to. Lots of words are hurtful. People find swearing offensive, but I am not banned from saying fuck or shit. But if I say nigga while repeating a rap song I get looked at like I'm immediately a racist for saying the word out loud.

[BrokenQuill92]

What you're not getting is, it's not about YOU! That word is very hurtful to brown people. How you think it's about punishing you instead of minding the feelings of others I don't know.

It became about me when I am socially banned from using a word I really have no connection to. Lots of words are hurtful. People find swearing offensive, but I am not banned from saying fuck or shit. But if I say nigga while repeating a rap song I get looked at like I'm immediately a racist for saying the word out loud.

Why do you want use the word so BADLY? I don't see white people being upset at not being able to use nazi salutes too! I mean geez if I as a black American am offended at a racial slur so what as long white America can say what ever it wants! I know you should be allowed to shout FIRE!! in a crowded movie theatre too. I mean why not?

[Sejanus]

Why do you want use the word so BADLY? I don't see white people being upset at not being able to use nazi salutes too! I mean geez if I as a black American am offended at a racial slur so what as long white America can say what ever it wants! I know you should be allowed to shout FIRE!! in a crowded movie theatre too. I mean why not?

Why do you think you stole the cookie from the forbidden cookie jar as a child? Was it merely for the cookie? or was it also for the thrill of the forbidden?

[Jacob(smooth)]

If I might insert a very white view here.

The meaning of any word is contextual, not determinate. Meanings CAN change depending on who says the word to whom and in what context. If I tell one of my kids I'm going to tear off his arm and beat him to death with the wet end, they laugh. If I said it to in a bar, there would be a fight. The fact is that white folk calling black folk n***** hearks back to a very recent period of history wherein an entire race was victimised. A black person using the word evokes no such history.

It's not the word which is special, the context in which it was used. To refrain from using it is not a double standard, it's a simple recognition of the original usage.

[FlyingNarwhal]

Why do you want use the word so BADLY? I don't see white people being upset at not being able to use nazi salutes too! I mean geez if I as a black American am offended at a racial slur so what as long white America can say what ever it wants! I know you should be allowed to shout FIRE!! in a crowded movie theatre too. I mean why not?

White people can use the nazi salutes, jokingly at least. I can't say the word nigga in any context whatsoever. And I have no connection to the word either except for the color of my skin! Like I said we don't punish the sons and daughters of murderers for the crimes of their parents, why am I responsible for the actions of dead old white people? And further, my grandparents didn't come to this country till the 1920's. The white people that enslaved black people, aren't even my ancestors! Somehow I just got lumped in with them just because of the color of my skin. You've done it yourself, you lumped me in with white America. Again despite the fact the me and my ancestors had nothing to do with the horrendous acts that took place. All that is being done by continuing the segregation of the word is to put up more barriers.

It's not even that I want to use to word often, I just want to be able to rap along with a good rap song, and when the word nigga comes up in the song I don't want to be looked at like I'm a racist piece of shit for saying a word! And here is the thing with banning words you find offensive, it's subjective. Do you know what word makes white people feel uncomfortable, belittled, demeaned, and is hurtful. The word racist. So if you could refrain from using that word, that would be great. Obviously I'm being sarcastic there, but I don't believe that banning language is the correct way to solve any kind of issue.

And I would also like to point out the prevalence of white people in my generation using the word nigga. They say it all the time, because rap has been very influential on my generation. I can't begin to tell you the amount of times I've gotten into a car with white friends and one of them says "What's up nigga." And it's not said with racial undertones either.

EDIT: Oh and using a word deemed offensive is far different than yelling fire in a crowded movie theater, and something that could get people killed.

[NoraBrimstone]

That's a horrible word that should never be used against a person in its current context. If you aren't black, you have no reason to use the word unless you're trying to be offensive, or if you have one of those friendships where you are allowed to mutually call each other the most offensive words possible as banter (and even then, never around someone who could overhear and be offended).

I'd love to see the meaning of the word change to mean something nice so that it loses its power to harm people, but for now it's basically a weapon.

Some of my cousins and I started trying to take the sting out of the word when we were teenagers by calling things "niggers". For example, their black cat. And brown bread was "nigger bread" and chocolate cake was "nigger cake" it was all very amusing till we realised that the idea of making the word ridiculous wasn't going to work in the real world.

Just don't call black people "niggers", Asian people "pakis" or disabled people "handicapped" or "spastic" because there's no fucking need for it. There are plenty of non offensive words to call them.

[EgoRaptor]

Don't et me wrong, I cringe when I hear this horrible word, but I think it is horribly hypocritical to hear black people say it.

[BrokenQuill92]

Why do you want use the word so BADLY? I don't see white people being upset at not being able to use nazi salutes too! I mean geez if I as a black American am offended at a racial slur so what as long white America can say what ever it wants! I know you should be allowed to shout FIRE!! in a crowded movie theatre too. I mean why not?

White people can use the nazi salutes, jokingly at least. I can't say the word nigga in any context whatsoever. And I have no connection to the word either except for the color of my skin! Like I said we don't punish the sons and daughters of murderers for the crimes of their parents, why am I responsible for the actions of dead old white people? And further, my grandparents didn't come to this country till the 1920's. The white people that enslaved black people, aren't even my ancestors! Somehow I just got lumped in with them just because of the color of my skin. You've done it yourself, you lumped me in with white America. Again despite the fact the me and my ancestors had nothing to do with the horrendous acts that took place. All that is being done by continuing the segregation of the word is to put up more barriers.

It's not even that I want to use to word often, I just want to be able to rap along with a good rap song, and when the word nigga comes up in the song I don't want to be looked at like I'm a racist piece of shit for saying a word! And here is the thing with banning words you find offensive, it's subjective. Do you know what word makes white people feel uncomfortable, belittled, demeaned, and is hurtful. The word racist. So if you could refrain from using that word, that would be great. Obviously I'm being sarcastic there, but I don't believe that banning language is the correct way to solve any kind of issue.

And I would also like to point out the prevalence of white people in my generation using the word nigga. They say it all the time, because rap has been very influential on my generation. I can't begin to tell you the amount of times I've gotten into a car with white friends and one of them says "What's up nigga." And it's not said with racial undertones either.

EDIT: Oh and using a word deemed offensive is far different than yelling fire in a crowded movie theater, and something that could get people killed.

As someone from the same generation I personally think the white kid to do that are stupid. like I said if you can't understand where words come from what they mean and how they used you shouldn't use them. And that's my final say on the subject if you know that a word(s) will hurt someone you shouldn't use it.

[Napoléon]

I'd rather see a guy take himself not so seriously and have fun with the word personally

*Disclaimer* I guarantee some of you will not find this video funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsTvImY4Hgw


In all seriousness though, using the N word in a derogatory context or just for the sake of it isn't right. But there does seem a double standard to me with rap music and the like. How many rap songs can be said to be promoting the word, even glorifying it?