[Serious] Singing the N-word

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Should you also self-censor when doing a public reading of, say, Huckleberry Finn or To Kill A Mockingbird?  The argument can be made that by saying (or singing) the words as the artist wrote them is a nod to artistic integrity.  I don't consider myself qualified to re-write Twain or Drake or Snoop Dog.

And where does it end?  Plenty of other words are offensive to plenty of other people.  Are you going to change 'Injun Joe' to 'Native American Joe'?  Several of Shakespeare's plays contain punning references to the word 'cunt'.  Should we bowdlerize these as well?

But what the OP boils down to is, 'It was OK for him to write it, but it's not OK for you to say it.' 

Boru

Way to miss the point.

I already addressed this in a prior post.

Huckleberry Finn is a historical piece of work. I am pretty damned sure that the Black History Museum in DC like the Holocaust Museum in DC also depict slurs against entire groups. But not as an advocacy but a reminder of what not to do.

Saying the "n" word exists isn't the same as using it as a slur. 

But even in non hatful art such as a song, or comedy, it is still important to know time place and context. 

As Criss Rock rightfully pointed out, that I think the OP missed was, "Not really". 

Chris wasn't saying "never" but "it depends", and I take that as "don't assume".

I hate these "either/or" propositions. "We must have the legal right to always say it" isn't the argument. It always depends on knowing your audience and time place and context.

Just like you don't sell tobacco to or porn to kids.

"N" is the same as "kike" or "Krout' or " Jap" or "wetback".

If you are going to use a word in like a reporter like a history book, or documentary, that is one thing. But outside that, like art, music, comedy you still need to know your audience. 

My ex wife was Japanese. I once got into a play argument with her and responded, "Just remember we kicked your ass in WW2."  But she knew me personally and she got the context. However, one day I went to pick her up at work and a white southern draw security guard was at the back door. I asked him to page her and his response was, "Oh, you mean the Jap?"  The problem wasn't that he was a bigot, he may or may not have been. The problem if he was not a bigot is that he didn't know me personally enough to make a joke like that if he was being friendly.

That is what Chris means by, "Not really."

Read careful.  The point is whether or not it is appropriate to sing along with a song that contains the n-word, and to sing that particular word aloud if you're not black.

Nothing in your post - not Chris Rock or your ex-wife or history or comedy - is germane to that point.

Boru

[Brian37]

Way to miss the point.

I already addressed this in a prior post.

Huckleberry Finn is a historical piece of work. I am pretty damned sure that the Black History Museum in DC like the Holocaust Museum in DC also depict slurs against entire groups. But not as an advocacy but a reminder of what not to do.

Saying the "n" word exists isn't the same as using it as a slur. 

But even in non hatful art such as a song, or comedy, it is still important to know time place and context. 

As Criss Rock rightfully pointed out, that I think the OP missed was, "Not really". 

Chris wasn't saying "never" but "it depends", and I take that as "don't assume".

I hate these "either/or" propositions. "We must have the legal right to always say it" isn't the argument. It always depends on knowing your audience and time place and context.

Just like you don't sell tobacco to or porn to kids.

"N" is the same as "kike" or "Krout' or " Jap" or "wetback".

If you are going to use a word in like a reporter like a history book, or documentary, that is one thing. But outside that, like art, music, comedy you still need to know your audience. 

My ex wife was Japanese. I once got into a play argument with her and responded, "Just remember we kicked your ass in WW2."  But she knew me personally and she got the context. However, one day I went to pick her up at work and a white southern draw security guard was at the back door. I asked him to page her and his response was, "Oh, you mean the Jap?"  The problem wasn't that he was a bigot, he may or may not have been. The problem if he was not a bigot is that he didn't know me personally enough to make a joke like that if he was being friendly.

That is what Chris means by, "Not really."

Read careful.  The point is whether or not it is appropriate to sing along with a song that contains the n-word, and to sing that particular word aloud if you're not black.

Nothing in your post - not Chris Rock or your ex-wife or history or comedy - is germane to that point.

Boru

Ok if it is not germane to the point, is it Tito to the point? See what I did there?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Read careful.  The point is whether or not it is appropriate to sing along with a song that contains the n-word, and to sing that particular word aloud if you're not black.

Nothing in your post - not Chris Rock or your ex-wife or history or comedy - is germane to that point.

Boru

Ok if it is not germane to the point, is it Tito to the point? See what I did there?

Yes, I see.  Anything to add?

Boru

[CarveTheFive]

I’ll say it in a rap because I do not sing.

[Shell B]

Yeah, racists aren't memorizing the lyrics to Wu Tang.

I love the shit out of a lot of rap and hip hop music. I will sing it all day long. Try and stop me, bitches. @Tiberius can attest to my white lady rap skills.

[CarveTheFive]

Speaking of Wu Tang this is on their official YouTube clips

https://youtu.be/1eGO2U5VlCw

[Shell B]

Speaking of Wu Tang this is on their official YouTube clips

https://youtu.be/1eGO2U5VlCw

That’s awesome. Wu Tang is very multicultural in terms of style and attitude. I’ve never felt like they were aiming for an audience of a particular color, particular Method Man. I’m a big fan.

[Rev. Rye]

Given that they were heavily influenced by old martial arts movies, it was probably inevitable that they’d try for an appeal beyond the black community.

Also, the guy sounds good in spite of his racial handicap, although it’s a bit disappointing that he doesn’t try to sound like ODB.

[Shell B]

Lol, no one sounds like ODB.

[Little lunch]

Give me my fucking money!