So Time–at least time.com–has this piece up on New York City’s ban of “nigger.”
This is, and probably always will be, a tricky subject for me because, well, I say it a lot. I also have a tendency to enforce upon people that use it when I deem it out of turn. Out of turn could mean the connotation bothers me, or sometimes I’m just bothered by the person saying it. An example of bad connotation would be from one of those people that makes the delineation between black people and “niggers.” Not a fan of class warfare am I. By “the person,” I mean “somebody that ain’t black just said it.”
The problem, of course, is there’s no standardization of the use of the term. There are no clear boundaries for when someone says it and it’s cool or it’s not. Some black people don’t mind people of other races using “nigger” as a term of endearment. I’m not one of those black people, but I do understand how someone could let it slide in this day and age. Because of the proliferation of this rap music, it’s difficult to determine who means it in a good way or a bad one. Trickier is that I’ve heard good people slip and say it when they shouldn’t, and their goodness as people trumped the use of the term, in my mind.
Then there’s the story my brother tells about a white dude he plays basketball with putting an arm around him and saying, “you’re my nigga, but you know O.J. did it.”
See, that one just don’t sound right in no kind of way.
And I’ve yet to hear it sound right coming from a non-black person (and I don’t know what to say about Puerto Ricans that use it because I didn’t grow up around any). That said, I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with being some white person’s nigger. Just not going to happen.
But I do think it’s different being some black person’s nigger. As in, “you’re a nigger, ha? Well, you’re my nigger, and I still got you.”
Either way, it’s gray.
But let’s move the discussion to something I find most interesting–how come nobody’s talking about banning “bitch?” There is no gray on that one. There’s no positive connotation for referring to a woman–or man, for that matter–as a bitch. None. The only time it seems halfway passable is when women are talking amongst each other and using the term playfully and in a way that mocks the use of the term at all. Granted, that’s little more than an outsider’s perspective, but I can’t think of any other way where calling someone a “bitch” is anything but hateful.
Anyway, I just want to know why all these moral crusaders that are prepared to vomit when they hear “nigger” say absolutely nothing about “bitch.” They’ll complain about it in that rap music, but not much after that. Why don’t I get “Ban the B-Word” e-mails? Where’s the city-wide resolution on that one?
Thoughts?
22 thoughts on “The N-Word in Time”
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I can’t believe an real city council actually tried (and succedded) to ban a word. You bring up interesting points about words and their context. Words wihtout context seem meaningless and I just can’t get behind any word banning.
Where’s the 1st Amendment? On vacation?
Banning the “N” word, huh? I don’t have a problem with it being banned b/c to me it is such a negative word. I’m not saying that I have never used the word but in the past few years I have pretty much deleted it from my vocabulary.
The word nigger isn’t a word that makes me feel warm and fuzzy or safe. Even when the word is said w/”Love” as some say.
And let’s not forget that alot of Black comedians would be hard pressed for material.
Couple of random thoughts:
I grew up around, lived around, and went to school with Puerto Ricans and other Latinos. I’ve never been comfortable with their use of the word nigger. In fact, it makes me wince.
I use the word. I think the distinction between “nigga” and “nigger” is bullshit, and think that folks who try to turn “nigga” into an acronym are hilarious.
I will use the word bitch to refer to another woman (men too), but I’ve never been comfortable using it in a playful manner, and in fact, tend to wince when someone says it playfully in reference to me.
White folks using the word nigger around me, not even remotely cool.
I agree with Alma.
The 1st amendment paved the way for folks of all types to express their feelings freely so long as they don’t cause physical harm to another person.
Banning words is clearly a step in the wrong direction of freedom. I hate the use of the N word, especially by rappers, but I’d defend til the end their freedom to use it.
And also, I’ve had a very similar situation as your brother and felt the same way as you where a non-black person would come up and give me the ol’ “you’re my nigga, but…” and proceeded to lay out one of the most racist lines delivered with a smile, ever, whether they know it or not.
On a similar note, I heard on Mike & Mike this morning about some place banning fans from booing at games……… outrageous.
How many words will need to be banned “symbolically” before that one congressperson steps up and says “we need to show these word offenders we mean business…”?
First of all, someone will challenge this in court, and the city will lose…it ain’t like screaming “Fire” in a crowded movie theater…but here’s an interesting perspective…I have a housemate who is from Lithuania, he’s been in this country for about 5 months…his experience with African Americans or blacks in Europe has been limited largely to music. He even played some Lithuanian rap for me, which aside from the fact that it sucks, there were liberal samplings of American rap songs in the tunes. Among the few English words that you hear, the N word is one. I mostly thought it was odd, like when a child says something it shouldn’t because it overheard the word, and has no idea behind the word. But what came next really blew me away. He actually referred to African Americans as “niggers”. When I suggested he might want to choose another word, he didn’t understand what was offensive. He has listened to tons of American hip hop, and didn’t realize that the N word had negative connotations. He also stated that black europeans, who are apparently a fairly rare sight in Lithuania, were commonly referred to as “niggers” by himself and his countrymen, based purely on the fact that there is so much use of the word in American hip hop. He does not have a great grasp on English, and i tried to explain the implications of the word as best as I could, but he seemed miffed by it all, and couldn’t wrap his head around the duality of the acceptance and even promotion of the term by some, and the insensitivity of its use by others. It made me realize just how complex the issue has become with the exportation of our culture to different countries and generations who really have no idea where it all comes from and what it all represents. I also feel like the New York ban is ridiculous, but then they give kids tickets in Virginia if their pants are to baggy and their boxers show…wouldn’t that be nice if it was the only societal ill that we had to focus on…
Ok, I’m a white guy who doesnt use the word. I dont understand why anyone in their right mind would find it endearing who suffered under it. Honestly, I think it shows a disconnect with the past and what suffering really is.
I think when black folks use that word it minimizes the crimes of the past. Now maybe minimizing those crimes makes it easier to deal with them. I can get that. But that doesnt help educate the ignorant (mostly white people) out there who fail to understand how horrible it was for black folks for a very, very long time.
We joke about 9/11 a lot these days. It helps us deal with it. It makes it seem like its not the end of the world. 9/11 was nothing next to crime of slavery that spanned centuries. When you minimize things, you cant pick who you minimize it for. Especially when its in the mass media.
Two thoughts:
1. I would have expected San Francisco to come up with this idea first. This is exactly the kind of ultra-PC resolution they love. Not to say the ideals behind it are bad, it’s just symbolic at best.
2. The unrelated “Quotes of the Day” box at the right hand side looks a LOT like the one the Onion publishes. That’s funny.
Between the two, bitch comes from a word meaning a female dog and is used as slang. The other was created purely to describe what it still does today, and has never been anything but non-positive. Much more hate involved with that word.
And Kirk, banning a word seems more of a right-wing thing to me. Ultraconservatism. Banning words is a contradiction of political correctness.
Stephanie is completely on point. Some Black comedians have no other material than the use of that word. I was watching some Eddie Griffin the other night and he used the n-word the way I would use filler words like “umm” or “uhhh.” He probably used it around every 4 to 5 seconds. Me thinks its a nervous tick.
It is tough to say whether Puerto Ricans should be saying the word. I am of the opinion that Black people can say “nigga” (or any variation) but other folks cant. The question is whether we want to extend that to the Latin members of the African diaspora. Drawing lines becomes problematic. If Carlos Delgado used the word, people probably wouldnt trip. But if Carlos Beltran used the word, folks might.
Like Bomani stated, this issue is quite gray. The problem is that millions of people fall into that gray.
I’m extremely upset that these people are wasting time with this nonsense instead of addressing real problems.
First off, black people using “nigger” is ignorant, internalized racism. “nigger” vs. “nigga” is bullshit; using the word to take away its power is also bullshit.
If you want to be ignorant, that’s all good, but using it in public has larger consequences. Black folks who let it fly in public have no shame and no respect for themselves, others, or public space. They have no right to get mad at others for using it.
And “bitch” is not completely negative; aside from women using it toward their friends, I’ve heard it used to describe gay guys who (playfully) talk shit about women or other gay guys.
Long time reader, first time poster. Love ya Bo!
The N word.
Man, this is such a small issue. I am offended by the issue – not of its use, but by what this debate demonstrates – a complete lack of ability to demonstrate a united front by black people.
Every time I hear the defense of this word, I think to myself: “You mean to tell me that in a show of solidarity, to further our cause and to prove to the majority that we can do more than complain or shift blame, to demonstrate that our opinion carries true weight, you couldn’t find ANY other word to use? You can’t imagine WHY folks would find it offensive? No other word has the same effect, eh? PERHAPS it’s because that’s the word that centuries later can still snap our ears to attention no matter where it’s said or who says it.”
Eh. Whatevs.
Bitch vs N? Show me a chick who hung from a tree with Bitch carved into her skin (N Bitch doesn’t count) and then I’ll listen to your argument.
Rex, not true.
“Banning” a word with a toothless resolution for the sake of promoting warm and fuzzy feelings is ultraliberal and definitely PC.
If it was ultraconservative, there would have been an actual law passed, it would be a felony, and there would be a minimum sentence of 3-5 years. Once you got out, you’d be required to register in a Megan’s Law-equivalent database with your name, address, picture, and the details of what you said and to who. Then you’d be forced to live in the poorest part of town they can find that happens to be populated by the group(s) you offended. That would be ultraconservative.
There is no good use of the N word. I am offended at its use in all situations. Everyone who uses the word lowers his/herself to the level of those who lynched my ancestors and used it at each lynching. Used it at every slave auction, used it at every beating, every murder, every sit-in, every protest. There is no reclaiming it and making it ours. The first step in changing the world is to change yourself. The death of each of our freedom fighters is cheapened with each utterance of the N word. It is time to grow up. For all of us.
I don’t know where I stand on this issue, but I certainly think there’s too much gray to ever figure it out. On one side, I think it’s great that African-Americans have been able to turn a word that had such a devastating meaning into a word in which they give it new meaning. It’s symbolic in a way and even romantic. However, because of the integration of society and technology shrinking the world, the word is reaching more people, and those people (like the guy from Lithuania) don’t realize the history behind the world. Something is getting lost in translation. The backlash from that may get ugly, but can you really blame them?
behind the word***
I dont know anyone and i might not be a black enough bitch for this discussion…
I think its non-sexist to use the word bitch to describe a cuntish woman because its standard in language for there to be different words used for each gender (like him/her etc.). Bitch and cunt are just the female versions of asshole and dick. To say that cunt as an insult is denigrating towards women is to say that dick is denigrating towards men.
But I think its sexist to call another guy a bitch, because then youre saying that he’s a woman, and implying that to be a woman is to be a disgrace. Also its bad to call a woman a bitch if youre trying to underline a stereotypically female aspect of her stupidity.
With regards to the other thing, i think that blacks are totally racist since they won’t let us use the word nigger. Its the new Jim Crow.
Using the N word is not cool, yet I use it. I can’t explain why I do what I do if I think it’s wrong. It’s just the way it is. A songwriter once said, “I had found that the art of simplicity simply means making peace of your complexity.” I will never try to justify why it is ok for me to say it, BE THAT AS IT MAY, I will probably keep saying it.
Been gone for a minute, but I’m back with the jump off…
So what to make of bitch *ss n*ggas?
Some of these niggas is bithches too
Niggas need to hear the word nigga as often…just so they can remember what da fuck has happened to us throughout our history. People who want to ban it want us to pretend like niggas and crackers are cool – we ain’t.
Look at it this way, do you hear any Jews running around trying to ban the word “Nazi” just so Germans can feel less guilt about the holocaust?
Can anyone say censorship?