The N word.

[Bullhorn7]

My friends all say theres a difference between a "n word" and a black person. I live in the ghetto so I see where there coming from. However the word irritates me that its still being used after all these years. Hell I got into a fight a couple years back cause I overheard these 2 black guys say "whats up my *****?". I said it to my friend right in front of them and they got all pissy, I dont get it why would you want to look ignorant and hood ratish by saying it? They intentionally demean themselvs in front of everyone.

[deevergote]

My 8th grade teacher taught the entire class (not a single black person in that class...) that a n*gger was not a black person, but an "ignorant person". Which, essentially, is true. But I feel bad for my less intelligent classmates that might have learned a hard lesson assuming everyone thought that way!

crazymikey, I know what you mean about not being offended. Generally, I'm not offended by slurs against white people, unless they're intentionally used against me. That's more because it's an attack against ME, not against white people in general.

[crazymikey]

[8ball]

I type cracker or **** and everyone reads it I type ****** and every one sees * * * * * Now thats racism ! LOL

Its the same with the terms g ay, f aggot or h omo. I've seen *** people call each other that shit and be made then laugh and grab each others asses. (while I jerk off no homo! (actually that was just a joke) ) This one guy swore I was a homo phobe or that I didnt like him cause I wouldnt hug him how EVERYONE and I ment EVERYONE that he met would. I had to tell him. Bro, Im a man, your a man. I know you dont feel like your a man, and that you like other men. Bro I understand that, thats part of your identity thats fine It in now way affects me. Did you see how I greeted everyone else by shaking their hands or giving hugs to the girls? You are a man, I refuse to hug a man so stop asking!" And thus He called me a the homophobe from that day foward g ay people I swear lol.

[MikeW]

I agree with deev that if it's racial connotations could be forgotten by all then it'd be okay. But they haven't and they won't.

People can't get over the fact that we're different because it's inbred. They've been afraid of what's different for generations. Always have been, always will be.

[owequitit]

Before I start, I just want to ask any participants in this conversation to keep things civil. I don't care to see anyone getting up on a soapbox, arguing, insulting, or anything else that goes beyond intelligent conversation. Think carefully before you reply. Keep in mind that this is MY thread, so I'll be aware of all goings on. I don't care to have to ban anyone due to a discussion that I started myself (but that doesn't change the fact that I WILL... this is your warning!)


Anyway, a Facebook friend of mine just posted a rant about the N word in all its forms, saying that it is racist and disrespectful no matter how you say it.
With this thought, I agree 100%.

However, he went on to say that only black people are allowed to use it.

Now, I feel THAT is racist. Now, instead of being a term used by non-black people with derogatory connotations, it's a word that can ONLY be used by black people... exclusively. People of any other race are excluded from using that word, in any form.
In fact, (and this is something I'd love to test, if I could find willing participants), I'd be willing to bet it has gone so far as to be recognized almost as a law. In a large workplace, say a store like Target or WalMart, black people could probably say that word a dozen times a day with no repercussions, but a person of another race would lose their job if overheard saying it just once by a manager or supervisor... even if that manager or supervisor wasn't black themselves, or if none of the black employees complained.



To me, the exclusivity of this word is no better than its previous usage. Regardless of who says it, its core meaning and overall perception in society is quite negative.

Technically, ANY term that differentiates based on race is, in fact, racist.

Realistically, in the US everyone is racist to a degree because we can't seem to get passed XXX American, and just use American. There is a difference between being proud of your heritage and identifying yourself based on it.

That said, the fundamental root problem leads to seperatism and all of the other social issues related to it. Until we move past labels in this country, it will never go away. Also, as long as we expect current people to be responsible/accountable for past peoples' actions, we are never going to move past it.

I have been blatantly told I was racist before because I am white. Nevermind that not an ounce of my family even existed here prior to the Civil War, and nobody ever owned any slaves or anything. In fact, my entire family came here in the late 1800's -early 1900's precisely to flee the same bullshit we are now accused of doing. It's silly really to assume that because someone is XX race, they are automatically guilty of YY behavior.

[deevergote]

I couldn't agree more, Scott.

Hell, I've actually seen the term "reverse racism" in the past, referring to racism by black people against white people! How absurd is that?

But yes, as long as there ARE differences, people will have their opinions. Opinions may be regarded more like fact by the less intelligent, or those that were taught a seriously flawed way of thinking in their upbringing.

If we were all an identical shade of light brown, we'd STILL find something to dislike.
Hell, I live in South Jersey. I dislike people from North Jersey. It's not a serious dislike, and I don't REALLY hold that against anyone... but I DO have a bias, to some extent. Human beings categorize. It's part of our nature.

[wed3k]

i say the word with the r at the end. i know it bothers a lot of people especially aquantices but if i cared, i would have asked...

[sulimed]

i guess the only 2 cent i can think to drop is....

i'v heard white ppl say the nigg-ER and nigg-A. the few that have shot off the ER, they were mad at me or the black person in the altercation.

and the few i'v heard using the A, had black friend or were (for lack of a better trem) "acting black"

the thing is the ones that had black friend(s). there friend more than likely grew up around mostly white ppl. sooooo in a way they become desensitized to the stigma attached to a white person saying it.

but on the other hard if you hardly knew any white ppl and every other day you hear "this white mf did or said this or that (usually the police). you hear it from a white person and automatically that "shit dun got real" alarm goes off.

i grew up in the hood, so i'd would tend to be the latter. i'v had a few white friend that have said it to me, and it sounds like nails on a chalkboard. but i know where there heart is so i don't stress it.

the world would be better if it never existed, but it dose. so if you feel you need to say it.....do, just know that there 200 year of slavery and a 100 or so years of oppression behind it. it eazy to say "hay those were the olden day". untill you've walked in the skin of ebony you wouldn't understand. you say we get our "Pantys in a Bunch", how many times have you walked on to a elevator and some woman grab up her purse, or had someone come in and just roll there eyes at you, or just assume your not intelligent enough understand something they feel is not with in the scope of Black Culture. there are so many fucked up emotions that a black person has to struggle with.

IDK it's 3:00 am. and i got overtime today

[Gemini]

I use it from time to time, I only have an issue if anyone use it in a negative way. Its funny because ive seen a increase in use of the word by Latinos and Caucasians recently, it still doesnt bother me( i actually chuckle when i read it online). Especially on the FL Accords fb page, all the Latinos on there use that word wayyyy more than anyone else.

[Gemini]

The use of the word by blacks is said to be way of desensitizing the word and trying to take away the negative aspects. Its like what Eminem did in Eight Mile, if you diss your and accept then it cant be use against you.

The problem is that its not successful because some people still get sensitive to the use of it by people of other race.

[deevergote]

You really bring about desensitization if it's denied to everyone, though. If it's a "black word", it will ALWAYS be seen as a negative term for black people.

[bobbycos]

i am curious as to the true origin of the word, where it originally came from

[deevergote]

From what I've learned, it comes from a mispronunciation of "negro"... so essentially, it's just as poor a reflection on other races (probably white, given the era and the origin), as it is on black people!

[ChIoVnIdCa]

My nickname is Oreo though..