[Serious] Singing the N-word

[Shell B]

If one individual tells me something is offensive to them, I take it that they are offended, not that every single person who is in any grouping they could feasibly fit into feels the same way. Artists like it when you sing their music, go to their shows, buy their merch.

I don't particularly want men to think of women as hos, but I'm not going to ask people not to sing along to "Hoochie Mama." If a specific woman felt that way, don't blast the song and sing it in her face as a matter of decency. I don't share that view, so come sing along with me. Don't assume the offended speak for a whole group of people.

There is a world of difference between the way it's meant in most music and the way it's meant when a racist says it. If you can't recognize the subtleties and cultural nuances of language, that's fine. Just don't expect me to similarly limit myself. Believe me, I'm equally offended when it's used in an offensive manner. It has a horrible history, but it's not up to me to tell black people they can't use it in a new way.

It’s also not up to you tell me a black woman not to be hurt or offended when not only black so called artist throw black people and black culture under the bus for the white corporate dollar but then you a white woman (who get uplifted in hip hop culture and stands as a pillar to the structure of colorism and anti-blackness) accuse me of virtue signaling on a topic that affects me as a black American. Don’t go there with me sweetie.

I stand as a pillar to anti blackness? Get over yourself. You don’t know shit about me. I’m just singing along to music I like. That’s literally it. I didn’t tell you not to be hurt or offended by shit, nor would I. It’s your right to be offended. Since I’ve never used that language toward you nor would I, you have no reason to be offended by me or call me fucking anti-black. You don’t get to call me names because of the color of my skin or because I like a very wide variety of music. Stop making my whiteness a thing. I don’t.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Just interested in your opinion.  If a white person simply says the word under discussion - without any censoring or euphemisms - is that person necessarily racist?

Boru

I've never suggested such a thing.

Ugh...Personally, I'd rather not have this conversation with you, but I can't exactly put you on ignore can I? Tragic.

I'm not inclined to do this with white folks anymore because I'm convinced that most of the ones who use it know exactly why and when it's offensive and just don't give a fuck. I've seen that play out  many times here in gratuitous, giddy N**GGERFESTS  because enough forums members simply love seeing it on the screen. I know better than try and stop white people from say it, and simply expect that they should know better than to stop me from saying piece as well. That's was my POV, and message to BQ. 

I don't care what your thoughts on how I feel about the word. I AGREE that White people have the right say it as when and wherever they you want. I just don't agree that they should also determine how I must feel and respond. That's like, some fucking next level racial supremacist thinking, if you really think about it.


Anyway, I can't do that for them. They shouldn't even be suggesting as much.

---

I'm getting out of the craptastic thread, because I've got cooking to do and know from past experience that it can go nowhere but ASS.

Nice going @Fierce, you attention-whoring mega-beast.

I never even claimed that you suggested anything of the kind. I was interested in your opinion, that's all. I'm not trying to tell you how to feel about this or anything else (as you rightly point out, it's neither my place nor my business to tell you how you should feel).

Sorry you're not interested in continuing.  I think you have a lot to offer on this topic.

Boru

[WinterHold]

Personally; I think white people should practice the same concept applied with "antisemitism" and never hurt black people in ways similar to the pas

[Shell B]

Personally; I think white people should practice the same concept applied with "antisemitism" and never hurt black people in ways similar to the pas

Yeah, I do my very best not to own slaves or disenfranchise black people. I don't call black people the n-word or think I am better than any person based on my skin color or theirs. I find the very idea that I'm a racist extremely offensive because it runs counter to the ideas that I hold most important.

Upon further consideration of this conversation in particular, I realize that Broken Quill clearly thinks that all people should stop using the word, as evidenced by the opinion that rap that uses the n-word is sub-par. I can't argue with that, as that's a matter of taste, which is subjective. I don't completely disagree with you that it's an unnecessary word to use. I wouldn't write music with it in it, if that makes you feel better.

That said, I am not a person who thinks that black people using it presents much of a double standard nor am I put off at all by the idea that a black person can say it casually in conversation and I very much should not. I'm comfortable with that completely.

[Mermaid]

My angle on this is pretty simple: It's a word with intense power, and it's not a word everyone has license to use. African Americans own it outright and can use it as they please. I cannot, and as I mentioned earlier, it costs me nothing to abstain from using it. That's my own thing, your mileage may vary.

[Rev. Rye]

Personally; I think white people should practice the same concept applied with "antisemitism" and never hurt black people in ways similar to the pas

Sounds like a good idea. Then again, given that we as a species are diving head first into authoritarianism (with Americans electing a borderline-senile wrestling heel in an ill-fitting Brioni suit for their leader, and many other countries either following suit or coming dangerously close to doing so), I’m not certain it can be put into practice, and I’d still be skeptical even if experience and research didn’t tell me to not expect people (especially in the plural) to be all that moral. Why, yes, that does suck.

[Shell B]

African Americans own it outright and can use it as they please.

I agree, but I get differing opinions on whether or not I can sing along with a song that has it in it not used in racial context. They range from "You're racist" to "know your context."

[Shell B]

Just to be clear, I can be convinced otherwise, so convince me if you think it's important. I'm down.

Edited: I just had a conversation with a person I respect and see that it's definitely just a matter of opinion. Rest assured, I'll be dropping no n-bombs. I'll probably try to get an intellectual debate out of a couple of interracial couples I've heard exchange n-bombs. It's worth discussing. I'd like to be enlightened. I'd rather discuss it with friends, though, as it seems super sensitive. So, I'm out.

[Losty]

Gosh, I am so sick of these threads. I’ll start with that lol.

Not much I can say on the subject. It’s way too complicated and way too grey.

I make it easy for myself. I never ever use the N word. In any context. Not even singing a song. Not even if it’s just the a at the end instead of the er. I don’t care. I don’t use it. I don’t have any desire to use it. Wahlah. One less thing to worry about for me.

As far as whether it’s ever acceptable...who knows. Try to use your judgement I guess?
A white person on a bus surrounded by black people they don’t know probably shouldn’t sing the word out...but maybe it’s high school and a group of mostly black people with just a couple white people are all super close friends and they’re hanging out together and singing a song and they’re all comfortable using the word together. In that case, I still wouldn’t but I’m not going to judge them.

[Silver]

Hey @Fierce , Mr "Vote Blue, No Matter Who"....

Bow down before the one you serve, bitch, and start worrying about getting a fitted MAGA cap while supplies last.
There's gonna be a run on them once you and all the other phoney-ass, two-faced, bigoted libs finish doing your part in getting him get re-elected.

Lmfao

Nice going @Fierce, you attention-whoring mega-beast.