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kobe (m)
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During the Opera show, the topic of the term "nigger" being used by black people came up. The cast and Oprah have disagreeing opinions on the issue. Oprah hated the word because of all the history associated with it. She saw all the evil associated with the term and wanted to banish it. Don Cheadle and Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges were in the other camp. They saw the word as an escape from the past. They saw it as way of transforming the word from a negative to a positive. They were taking something that was used in the past to degrade the black race and redefining it into a word of comradely. They also wanted to distinguish "nigger" from "nigga". The "er" form of the word was still inappropriate, even for a black man to use, but the "a" variation was the good form. I can almost accept this line of thought. However, the word is still a racist one, only in the opposite direction for different reasons. Before, the word was used to demean all blacks as a race, because of their race. This is what made it racist. It singled out one race and judged the entire race based on race. Now, the situation has changed. A person of race A is allowed to use the word, but not the a person of race B. All other points of context are the same, meaning, inflection, situation, ect, The reason that race B cannot use the word is because of person B's race. That is why either form of the word is still racist, only now, it is racist towards all other races except blacks. In it's other context, it is still as racist, if not of a higher degree. Something is racist if it unduly discriminates against something solely due to a person's race. Only the black race may use the term nigga in an unoffensive manner The determining factor in the morality of the use of the word nigga is solely the race of the person using it. ∴ The term nigga is a racist word. The only way for the word to truly be non-racist is for it to be used in a positive sense by all races. However, there would still be the historical value of the word, which greatly diminishes this possibility. source: http://www.hundiejo.com/index.php/2005/10/10/nigger_nigga_and_racism |
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sharetroll (m)
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You can't generalize, but the stereotype that has been given to the black community, to an extent, was created by the black community. It was Chris Rock who said that in every major city there's a MLK Ave., St., Dr., etc, Something paying homage to the man. Ironically, these streets, in most cases, is the venue for drugs, gangs, anything with criminal intent.
This brings up the major beef I have with today's society and the hypocrisy surrounding it. The N word is used on a regular basis. Yet, do any of these morons stop and think how many people suffered because of that word? It's ridiculous. You have rappers, who go around talking all this black this and black that. You have rappers calling out the President and what not, yet if you listen to their music all they are doing is defeating the purpose.
You go out there and ask 10 Black people to sing the ENTIRE song of whatever, A ludacris song, a Kanye song, whatever, They'll know word for word, Ask the same person to tell you HALF of MLK's famous speech, Infact, all they probably know is "I have a dream, " THAT'S IT! Ironically, that's at the back end of the speech, though most of them would swear it's the very first words in the speech.
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kobe (m)
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I don't favor either word, but in terms of context, nigg"a" sometimes makes sense.
What i'm interested in knowing is:
Why is it usually a nonentity when many people of African descent use these words? many other ther races use it and they're sandwiched.
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Donzman (m)
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A Nigerian man and many other people with a different accent will pronounce nigger as niggaWhat's the difference?. . .Who are we kdding here?
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kobe (m)
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That's one of the many reasons why I don't favor either word, it's sometimes unclear what is being inferred. It is justifiable at times(like ludacris's argument), I think the word should be outlawed in its entirety, but who are we kidding, that wont happen.
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sharetroll (m)
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I don't favor either word, but in terms of context, nigg"a" sometimes makes sense.
What i'm interested in knowing is:
Why is it usually a nonentity when many people of African descent use these words? many other ther races use it and they're sandwiched. It's inexplicable in my eye. But it draws comparisons to when the keeping it real thing is a phrase brought about by those of our African descendants. Who says keeping it real means keeping it poor or keeping it "hood"? But that's what they mean. Yet, those same guys that are talking about keepin' it "gangsta" and staying "Hood" and blah blah blah are the same guys living in Beverly Hills, in the Hamptons, and any other place that is as far away from the hood possible. Do they raise awareness? Yes they do. But what awareness? |
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WesleyanA (f)
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both words should be banned
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dblock (m)
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OPrah sucks  |
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WesleyanA (f)
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no. you suck  Oprah's awesome |
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dblock (m)
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Hey, watch what you say to me  |
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe, Now, the situation has changed. A person of race A is allowed to use the word, but not the a person of race B. All other points of context are the same, meaning, inflection, situation, ect, The reason that race B cannot use the word is because of person B's race. This is patently untrue. In America, a Black bank teller would never be allowed to say to me: Nigga it is your turn, step up here for service. Even though me and the bank teller both use the word Nigga in our personal lives. It's a complete myth that only whites are forbidden from using the word Nigga. Blacks would also be punished most severely at their jobs if they used the word for customers and such. Thus your whole arguments premise that people are only forbidden to use the word Nigga based on race, is faulty. |
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kobe (m)
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Since you've mis-read or mis-interpreted what you quoted, i'll attempt to re-narrate it for you, so read on. Now, the situation has changed. A person of race A is allowed to use the word, but not a person of race B. All other points of context are the same, meaning, inflection, situation, ect, The reason that race B cannot use the word is because of person B's race. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In America, a Black bank teller would never be allowed to say to me: Nigga it is your turn, step up here for service.
Even though me and the bank teller both use the word Nigga in our personal lives. Also, in America, a black barber might to say to you: Hey Nigga it's yo turn, step up here for service patna. But that's not what we're discussing here. Those are professional lives, these are daily encounters. in most cases, choice of words usually vary between daily and professional lives. It's a complete myth that only whites are forbidden from using the word Nigga. Well duh, we already know that. Blacks would also be punished most severely at their jobs if they used the word for customers and such. Refer to quote 2. Thus your whole arguments premise that people are only forbidden to use the word Nigga based on race, is faulty. wrong. besides where does "only" come in. if you say "usually" I might agree with you. Now let me explain that quote to you. Does the quote even need an explanation, if you live in America you should know what is meant. If you don't - ask one of your white buddies to go to a b-ball "park" in a predominantly colored neighborhood, and yell "Hey Niggas let me get next". He doesn't have to be white, heck he can be chinese. |
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe, If you don't - ask one of your white buddies to go to a b-ball "park" in a predominantly colored neighborhood, and yell "Hey Niggas let me get next". He doesn't have to be white, heck he can be chinese. Why don't we instead ask a blackman to simply say NOTHING, and just walk in a white neighborhood, or just drive in it. |
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kobe (m)
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Kobe wrote If you don't - ask one of your white buddies to go to a b-ball "park" in a predominantly colored neighborhood, and yell "Hey Niggas let me get next". He doesn't have to be white, heck he can be chinese. Drusilla wrote: Why don't we instead ask a blackman to simply say NOTHING, and just walk in a white neighborhood, or just drive in it. Don't descend from the subject at hand here. |
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe,
I am still right on topic.
There is some unfairness being implied about Black Americans, because whites can't do or say anything they want to us in our neighborhoods.
In reality, Black Americans can say even less, in a white neighborhood.
We do not even have to be doing anything!
About 5 or so years ago, to commemorate Martin Luther Kings day, whites in the suburbs killed 3 Black suburbanites, they just saw standing around.
Whites can't say Nigga in Black Neighborhoods to Black People?
I got a tissue, you want to cry for them?
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kobe (m)
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There is some unfairness being implied about Black Americans, because whites can't do or say anything they want to us in our neighborhoods. This is not a black and white issue. Re-read what you quoted and/or the title. About 5 or so years ago, to commemorate Martin Luther Kings day, whites in the suburbs killed 3 Black suburbanites, they just saw standing around.
Whites can't say Nigga in Black Neighborhoods to Black People?
I got a tissue, you want to cry for them? What is this? Seriously, your argument is meek at best. I managed to state something, and you decipher it into a black vs. white, debate. Develop a charismatic response, then come back and argue. |
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WesleyanA (f)
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Hey, watch what you say to me you're awesome Oprah's more awesome though.  |
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe,
You are the one who said that whites or asians can not go in Black neighborhoods and call any one Niggas.
Now you claim that this is not a Black/White issue.
It's becoming a pattern. You do it, then you deny doing it in the same thread.
Sigh.
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kobe (m)
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You are the one who said that whites or asians can not go in Black neighborhoods and call any one Niggas.
Now you claim that this is not a Black/White issue.
It's becoming a pattern. You do it, then you deny doing it in the same thread.
Sigh. Yes, what I wrote is the truth, more often than not, that's how it is. What I stated was a racial issue, in no way is it only about "whites" You turned it into a lop-sided "white" "black" situation, asking if I'D cry for "them" as you termed it. |
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe,
I think it is a great thing that whites are careful about what they say to Black folks. Long gone are the days in America, when you could call a Blackman a "boy" or "Nigger" and have no fear of reprisal.
Now whites know they will get their dome cracked open for speaking to us, any old way.
That is a good thing.
So I do not "get" your point.
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kobe (m)
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I think it is a great thing that whites are careful about what they say to Black folks. Pardon me, wha was that? You're still missing the point here, I don't care if it's white mexican, asian, whatever. Long gone are the days in America, when you could call a Blackman a "boy" or "Nigger" and have no fear of reprisal. Answer the question that I asked. Why is it okay for them to call themselves that, and why is it not okay for others to do so. Now whites know they will get their dome cracked open for speaking to us, any old way.
That is a good thing. Of course it's a good thing, I also want to know if it's a good thing that you call each others that and why. So I do not "get" your point. My point is clear; comprehend it. |
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe, Answer the question that I asked. Why is it okay for them to call themselves that, and why is it not okay for others to do so. The definition of the word Nigg"a", excludes those of other races from using it. Nigga = We are One. As someone else famous said: To use the word Nigga, you have to actually BE A NIGGA. That is why it is okay for me to use it and not okay for a non-Nigga to use it. |
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kobe (m)
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You're still dancing around the question here.
Why do you have to be a "NIGGA" to use the word "Nigga"
If indeed Nigga means: We are one, as you claimed, then I see nothing wrong with other races using it.
but I don't expect to find the answer from you anyway, forget it.
fyi I just checked a dictionary:
nigga
noun
(ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black person; "only a Black can call another Black a nigga" [syn: nigger]
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe,
Let's get this straight right now.
There are no "Nigga" police.
Any person in America can feel free to walk around their own neighborhood and in their own house calling all their family members and friends Nigga.
No matter what race they are.
However, you take your own risks, in my neighborhood and in my house with my family and friends in using a word that by definition does not apply to me and whites.
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kobe (m)
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Drusilla,
Repitition is a bitch!
You still have not answered the question.
Why is it okay for them to call themselves Niggas
and why does it escapate into mayhem if that other guy does so.
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe,
It's because of the history of America. When whites called black people "Nigg"ers".
Historical memory of what older Black folks accepted from whites, makes younger Blacks want to stomp a mudhole into some white who does not understand that they are never going to accept what the old time Blacks accepted from whites.
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kobe (m)
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Drusilla, It's because of the history of America. When whites called black people "Nigg"ers". And then when blacks call black people Niggers its okay? that's like saying, hey the white people don't need to remind us that we're "niggers" we'll remind ourselves. I'm just taking that from your statement. Historical memory of what older Black folks accepted from whites, makes younger Blacks want to stomp a mudhole into some white who does not understand that they are never going to accept what the old time Blacks accepted from whites. They've sort of accepted it, except its now nigga instead of nigger. What about when mexicans/Asians call black people Niggers? they're not those "white" people, what then? |
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Drusilla (f)
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And then when blacks call black people Niggers its okay? Kobe, Blacks in fact do mean it in a demeaning manner when they say niggER. It has the same meaning as whitey or oreo. that's like saying, hey the white people don't need to remind us that we're "niggers" we'll remind ourselves.
They've sort of accepted it, except its now nigga instead of nigger.
Can you read the topic thread again, the discussion is between the two different words. Now your mushing them together. What about when mexicans/Asians call black people Niggers? they're not those "white" people, what then? Well their not Nigga's. So by definition, they have no right to use the word and plus, their short little people, they should know to watch their mouth. Of course they do. |
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kobe (m)
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Can you read the topic thread again, the discussion is between the two different words. Now your mushing them together. Of course I'm mushing them together, what difference is it. Turning the word nigger, into nigga and then using it to label yourselves while excluding others. Well their not Nigga's. So by definition, they have no right to use the word and plus, their short little people, they should know to watch their mouth. so only niggas can say nigga because they're niggas. since they're niggas, why should they get offended when the little korean boy says "hey nigga let me get mah change blood." Isn't he only refering them as what they are? My stand is this. Blacks or whomever, the words Nigga/Niggers should be outlawed in its entirety, but that's not going to happen. |
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Drusilla (f)
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Kobe,
Why don't you drive your white and korean friends down to the Ghetto and watch as they get out of the car and say such things.
It's perfectly fine with me, if they say it but again, they do so at their own risk.
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kobe (m)
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They wouldn't dare, the niggas would go nuts and shoot 'em. Lol.
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