The Problem with that word....

"Niggers was the ones on the rope, hanging off the thing; Niggas is the ones with gold ropes, hanging out at clubs." Tupac Shakur "Violent" -2Pacalypse Now


I'm sitting here surfing the net while playing Katt Williams (Money Mike) comedy special on HBO from last night (Thank goodness for TiVo!!!). Katt, comical genius! I think I laughed from the beginning to the end. The only thing I had a problem with was that use of a word that has been taboo for years and years. The infamous N word. That word came out of his mouth in every sentence and the audience was laughing it up. It's funny as hell but who really gets the last laugh?

In the United States, the word nigger was not originally considered derogatory, but merely denotative of black, as it was in much of the world. In nineteenth-century literature, there are many uses of the word with no intended negative connotation. The perception of the term as derogatory is because of the fact that my people were widely regarded as inferior, lazy, ignorant, thugs, imbeciles, and plain stupid, by many who felt superior by us at the time (still is by few).

It has always been in our culture to seek a good out of every situation; thus the saying, When handed lemons, make lemonade. The N word has been an example of that to some. Some feel that word is a term of endearment while others can't understand why is it still in use. For years I have been on the fence regarding this subject. My standpoint was "it's cool as long as we don't use it in public or around White people" or "I'm not saying nigger but nigga" Now, I choose not to use the word period. I used to say it so much that I still slip every now and then when conversing among friends but that doesn't mean it's still justifiable.

Everything surrounding the things I enjoy depends heavenly on this word; hip hop music, Boondocks, Dave Chappelle Show, etc. It's bad enough my peeps (especially in the hip hop game) is fascinated with the life of pimps and hoes but to also be cool with the N word rubs me the wrong way especially when I know the pain this word is associated with. I'm a serious hip hop head and some of my favorite artists use this word every time they breathe and it's somewhat sad. One book in my collection, Nigger by Randall Kennedy focuses on the development of the word and traces it's usage and meaning throughout the decades. Upon reading this book was when I made the revelation to not use the word altogether. It's not a term of endearment. This word was used to taunt and degrade our ancestors and forerunners in the Civil Rights era and still used today to degrade my people. No matter how we chopped up the spelling and try to change the meaning it still boils down to that ugly word....NIGGER. Why would we still want to use that word is beyond me. The only thing we are doing by continuing to use this word is encouraging other cultures to call us this as well. It's almost reverse racism in a sense ( I know I may get flack for just saying that). We have the pass to say it freely but if someone from another race , preferably White say it, all hell will break loose....IMMEDIATELY! It's not right neither way...it's a word that should be rid of forever.

My fellow young people will continue to say that our usage of the N word today is equilavent to other cultures usage of cracker, spic, or honky. (for the record, I don't condone any usage of the derogatory words, period!) Funny, I don't hear that in everyday language nor do I see it on music lyrics or on TV unless it's intended to offend someone. I want my fellow young peeps to wake up and realize that we don't accomplish anything by using this word. They look up to the Katt Williams' and the Ludacris' of the world but don't pay attention the phenomenal satire of Dave Chappelle and Aaron McGruder (in case you didn't know, they're not using the term just for laughs). Maybe one day we'll realize.

My next goal....to rid the world of sagging pants. If they really knew what that stood for I'm sure these young men wouldn't be doing it. LOL!!!


Suggested insight....

www.abolishthenword.com

Nigger by Randall Kennedy
Nigger by Dick Gregory