Black Coffee discussion
Let's Blog About It!
>
Use of the N-word?
date
newest »
newest »
Hi AnastasiaI don't think it is ever acceptable for white or black people to use the word in real life. Some blacks use the word mindlessly because they hear it bandied about in rap songs (mainly.) But even though I've heard some rappers try to justify their use of the word by saying that they are just trying to "take back" the word by subverting its meaning, I don't believe that you can "take back" something that was never yours to begin with. Black people referring to other blacks as "niggers" also disrespects and undermines what blacks (in slavery and in the years after it was abolished) had to endure by being called that word. Its sole function is to abuse and denigrate a person. I think that it can be used in a book to show that a character is racist (and it is used in my Historical novel which is set during slavery) But its use in real life is unacceptable.
And I saw that video and I don't really think they should have had her on a radio show because it just rewards her bad behaviour and ignorance by giving her a platform to add insult to injury by making poor excuses for her actions.
Phew... this is one of those subjects that gets me riled up lol
The use of that word ending with "er" or "a" is unacceptable. Does matter what race, creed, color or gender. I'm not comfortable even spelling it out. In my great-grandfather's voice, "anything pass the spelling of the second "g" represents the hanging of one!"Concerning this is an AA bookclub with open arms maybe we should read more in depth about................
Lee wrote: "The use of that word ending with "er" or "a" is unacceptable. Does matter what race, creed, color or gender. I'm not comfortable even spelling it out. In my great-grandfather's voice, "anything pa..."One book to recommend is Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word by Randall Kennedy.
There is also another book - but I will have to think harder to remember the title. It was more of an anthology with many contributing their thoughts.
Lee wrote: "anything pass the spelling of the second "g" represents the hanging of one!"..."Too true.
Mod
I'm going to choose to answer honestly. I am around people ALL DAY who uses the word (with an "a"). It doesn't bother me. I know white people who uses the same word because they get what the urban community in my city calls "a black pass". It doesn't really bother me I guess because i know their intentions aren't bad. I don't use the word personally I guess because I didn't really grow up hearing it so it never made it in my vocabulary. But the word isn't so much what offends me. It's the intention or that person's heart. Paula Dean, Sterling, they are racist. The woman on the radio show is racist. I don't like racism. I worked at an airport hangar with mostly white men from small towns. I learned really quick what subtle racism looks like. I guess what I'm saying is I don't have to identify racism from a word. I'm sure many of sterling and Deans black colleagues and employees knew they were racist long before they heard that infamous N word.
In movies and literature I will defend the use of that word wether the writer is black or white because it's authentic. I know sometimes my views and theories are different. But it isn't the word that gets me but the intentions. If that makes since. But I totally get the outrage about the use of the word.
A.D. wrote: "Hi AnastasiaI don't think it is ever acceptable for white or black people to use the word in real life. Some blacks use the word mindlessly because they hear it bandied about in rap songs (mainly..."
I admit, I've always found the "taking back" idea confusing (especially when most rappers use it, lol).
There is also another book - but I will have to think harder to remember the title. It was more of an anthology with many contributing their thoughts.
That actually sounds interesting, I'd love to read that.
Thanks for bringing this up, Anastasia. How hasn't this come up yet? I had to think before answering this question.
I'm going to choose to answer honestly. I am around people ALL DAY who uses the word (with an "a")...
Np. Do you think it's possible that you've become desensitized to the word because you're around it so much? Just curious.
That makes sense to me.
Mod
kisha wrote: "If that is the case we may as well wear white hoodies and mask and "take back" the KKK uniform."That made me laugh out loud, I hope nobody ever does that. O.o
Yep it is.
Okay I like where this is going...Especially as a poet, I have always thought words are words and they only have the power (levity) you give them. For example, Ladies, have you ever met anyone that thought that using the word "B___h" was really going to get you P.O.'d? And how did you handle that? If it wasn't shocking to you, or if you have any sliver of survivor in you, the word rolls off your back...
Mod
I'm the same way Kisha, I don't like it when men use it, even if the woman they talked with was genuinely a nasty person (Although these days it feels like any woman who speaks her mind and has thoughts that men don't like gets called it). They shouldn't period. I also don't like it when women just throw it around in conversation or just casually call anyone they don't like a "b".
For me these are the two acceptable usages:
When I worked in retail there were sometimes women who were so nasty and terrible to be around that only the "b" word described them fittingly.
The second meaning is the one I mentioned in the first paragraph. That's actually a meaning I would wear proudly. If having thoughts makes me a "b" then yep, I am one and I ain't apologizing. That's just in reference to myself though and I would rather a woman who has opinions be called "smart", "intelligent", or "well-thought". :P
Mod
Everyone, this conversation inspired me to write a full fledged article about the N-word.... I hope you all enjoy it. I will probably post a link today!
Mod
Yes, please post the link!
I hate the word and it doesn't exist in any of my fictional worlds.
I don't think anyone should use the word regardless of race. I used to have debates with friends growing up, where I'd be against its use and those friends would justify it and say that Blacks using it turned it from a negative into a positive. Bullshit!It was initially used as a term to demean, degrade, and make Blacks feel inferior to others. There is no way to use it in a positive way, and I think that when Blacks use it is shows how many lack a sense of self, and allow others to define their self-worth. And they've either forgotten or chosen to ignore history.
The word is something that shouldn't be used, and I can only have a low opinion of those who use it and others who fit its presumed definition.
It's a disgusting word and I hate hearing it--in any situation. I do get offended when any race uses that word, but for different reasons: whites, because of the hatred; blacks, because of the ignorance. I will give any black person the side eye if I hear them use it in public. In literature, I think using the word is acceptable to represent a reality, especially when it comes to historical texts. But I don't read contemporary novels where characters toss that word around like salad. It's annoying. Just my two cents! Great questions, by the way :)
Just sharing my experience as a white writer. In a piece for teens and young adults, I wrote about a young slave boy, part of his character was that he refused to call himself the N-word. I spelled it out. I got enough objections to convince me that I made a mistake. One reviewer put the book down and refused to read further.
It made me curious though and I wanted to ask my fellow group members: do you think there is ever an appropriate time and place for someone to use that word (either in real life or in a book)? Is it ever appropriate for a white person to use it (I lean towards no but I'm curious what others think)? Is it appropriate for a black person to use it?
Hope that makes sense. Looking forward to hearing everyone else's opinions :)