Nigger.
~2pac-Souljah’s Revenge~
…so my boy posts a question on his face book status:
In honor of today being Juneteenth, I will ask this question. How do you feel about the word NIGGER/NIGGA in 2009? Is it a word people take too seriously or do people not take it seriously enough?
i jumped in the discussion and for the first time was able to articulate (as best i could) how i feel about its use, and why at this point in my life (i’m aware time may bring change) i feel no qualms using it.
to simplify things, i’ll just re-post. starting with my original reply to the question:
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a word is a word, its all about the context in which it’s used. to eliminate the word nigger is to actually give it more power. it exists deep within the roots of american history, and as long as there are descendants of [american] slaves, the word nigger will be forever on the conscious of the world and on the lips of various races. even if it were to never be uttered again. to look in the eyes of another man and know he is THINKING nigger is no different then him [or you/i] saying it. what people really want, but rarely articulate, is for there to be less niggerish behavior. and THAT comes with educating our young and drawing a bridge between the past and the future.
on a personal note: i’d prefer the word to remain because it is a memorial site for the atrocities of the african diaspora. even if some use the word unknowingly.
either way…before we can eliminate its use, the country AS A WHOLE would have to have serious dialogue about our past. very few of us, however, have the stomach for that.
a response:
“…And Matthew a memorial for a word that symbolizes the torture of my ancestors mind,bodies and soul is blasphemous… Like a woman degrading a man’s sexual performance and him saying “hey girl let’s frame that up in a plaque….”
maybe you dont wont to be reminded of the past allisa [and i dont blame you], but i’d rather not forget it. no, the use of the word is not the only way to achieve this, but i found it to be apt in describing how i feel about its use. learning about our past was the best thing that ever happened to me in my adolescence and i would only want the same for my children and theirs as well.
the problem with your couple analogy however is that both parties have romantic emotions invested in their shared experience- whereas the history of racism in our country, however romanticized, is not one of romance.
not to mention, the disdain one individual has for another [individual] is vastly different then the adovaction and advancement of a belief in the supremacy of one race over another….we’re talking about an entire people not only being told they are lesser, but being taught so, and met with such prejudice at every seam in the fabric of this country and those who are subject to its tyranny
none of us are speaking our original tongue at this moment. and unless your family moved here, tribal tradition in tow- we are all bastardized via this nation before we are even conceived.
its a little bigger than a lovers quarrel
this nation robbed me of my ability to ever truly know who i am. EVER.
i WANT people to cringe when i say nigger. they should.
another response:
“…Matthew, I read through these posts, and I most say, your last posts seems to refute your original argument. To begin, how do you define “niggerish behavior?” We can’t make the mistake of associating TODAY’S manipulated meaning of the word NIGGER (and the numerous derivatives), with its original usage and intent. You suggest that eliminating the word gives it more power. My question is, more power to whom? The people who used this word, used it such that there could be a distinction between who was superior and inferior – that is to say that the White race (Caucasians) were the privileged race, to whom power was entitled, and all Africans were the race whose natural operation was from a position of inferiority. You then say “we’re talking about an entire people not only being told they are lesser, but being taught so, and met with such prejudice at every seam in the fabric of this country and those who are subject to its tyranny.” However, what, I think, you’re missing is that the prejudice this race of people experienced was seen through a myriad of unjust acts, inclusive of physical and verbal acts of degradation. So, if we fought so hard for physical acts of prejudice and discrimination to be eliminated (slavery and segregation), to uphold and promote equality, why would it be comfortable to suggest that eliminating verbal acts of prejudice and discrimination would, in turn, be aversive to the “power level” that subsists in this word, when we know its intent and context within American history? The people “cringing” would be the very people who have fought so hard to exist within a society that, from its inception, has been livid and eradicative of their very existence. Sounds like remixed racism if you ask me.”
i never meant to imply i wasnt racist. i dont believe anyone can be born in this country who isn’t. i know everyone wont agree, but thats me- and there are varying degrees of racism.
and i think i hear what you’re saying but, what i find interesting is: we ( i’ll admit im guilty of this too) speak of these unjust acts as if they are gone or even that far in our past. white supremacy still exists, and psychological/physical/institutional racism still exists in todays society. (<= this is what i meant by what i said in your quote of me)
yes people who FOUGHT would cringe, but i mean to argue those who are STILL fighting it wouldnt (obviously thats a blanket statement, there’s always an exception, but i think/hope you get what im sayin)my thing is we still arent equal.
i would attempt to define “niggerish behavior” for you (heady as that is) but before i can do that i have to ask YOU what the difference between todays meaning of the word and its original meaning is?
and when i said “give it more power” i was alluding to “institutional racism”. i couldve stated that clearer.
im not saying this to suggest, using the word robs institutional racism of its power- but i do believe depending on the user and the context of its use – it promotes awareness in a manner befitting the tragedy of its inception
2nd response from 2nd party
“Thanks for elucidating Matthew. I appreciate it. I think I get what you are saying. My take on it is as follows: So, Nigger, in its origin, was “the term that carries with it all the obloquy and contempt and rejection which whites have inflicted on blacks” [cited in Gowers, 1965]. Nowadays, some definitions that have become more familiarized are “a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.,” or “a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.” The reason I made the distinction between today’s meaning and its original meaning is because society has tried to fine ways to “lessen the blow” when using the word, hence the more current definitions being more inclusive of other races, and or being used as a term of endearment amongst African Americans. However, it was never intended to have any positive implication. Additionally, it has left a stain within this country that is arguably of most offense. This is why I don’t understand how using it brings forth any positivity. You are right, we still are not equal, and it can be argued that we never will be. But, in regards to using the word to diminish its power, I do believe that as a society, we can find other ways to diminish its power without being insensitive to the stains it has left.
Now, when I said remixed racism, that was because I interpreted the context of your post as, ultimately, a justification for different, “less severe” forms of abatement (i.e. verbal acts of injustice). However, the implication was not to suggest that you were a racist. Are Blacks prejudice, biased, and bigoted? Certainly! However, racism subsist through the wielding of power: systemic oppression. Since blacks do operate from the “wielding of power” position or control the system, it’s beyond their (our) ability to be racist.
i have heard that definition of racism (exclusive to those in power)..i’ll consider that when i use the term now. thank you…
its deep, and i think it depends a lot on the context… as a white dude, i’ve come across plenty of other white dudes who don’t think much about throwing around the word among friends, when it’s understood that its being used sarcastically, or ironically, or whatever, but is it really being fully understood? do you wanna go around being THAT GUY who sounds ignorant, even if you’re playing a charecter? where does the charecter end and being an asshole begin? and if you’re gonna walk around dropping the n-word, you can add gay slurs, religious, misogynistic, what have you, any hate speech? but should speech be banned just because it is hateful? you can’t impose standards on to other people, but you can decide standards for yourself. Language is the structure of thought, and the way we use it shapes our self-constructed reality, so we should be discriminating in our choices of words, to ensure we are surrounded with the best words possible. but on the other end, should we censor our language just because it upsets someone else’s sensibilities? fuck that, i say.
(Think you gave me my blog topic)
I was just listening to a clip of Jay Z and Oprah discussing this topic on her show the other day. Jay was, obviously, for it to remain in our vocabulary, and Oprah was, again obviously, against it. Jay’s argument was that our generation has removed most of the power from the word and evolved it into something with less hurt behind it, replacing the “er” with “a” or “ah” and using it as a term of endearment. Oprah said, whenever she hears the word, regardless of the context, it made her think of the fact that the word was the last thing black men being lynched would hear coming from the mouth of their oppressors. I can see Oprah’s POV, and I think that is the biggest issue for the older AA generation. It hits very close to home for them because they are not very far removed from the hate that originated the word. For our generation (generally speaking) it isn’t such a big deal since we grew up hearing it as a term used for friends.
As someone who is a melting pot of races (Irish, German, Native American, Puerto Rican, and yes (gasp) African American), I was called every derogatory slur in the
book, usually in one sentence. ex: “Get over her you fat little spic, n*gger, b*tch.” (direct quote from both my grandfather and uncle) And being light-skinned and growing up in the hood, I got cracker, whitey, etc. Anywhoo, I had a point. Being someone who has had the term used against me in a demeaning, destructive way, by my own family, I always find it interesting when I run into AAs who have never had the word used against them on a person level get so very “up in arms” about it being used by someone of another race, when it isn’t meant as a racial remark. The biggest argument I hear is “you’ll never fully understand the hurt behind it”. I don’t fault people for not knowing (or bothering to ask) about my own personal experience regarding it, but I find it to be another type of ignorance when those same people will jokingly throw around “cracker” or “spic”, and assume it’s ok. I feel like we, as individuals, continue to give it too much power over how it affects us. Even in looking back at my comment, I realized I never actually typed it out fully, so’s not to offend. And I’m using it as an explanation. Wow.