Hip White People Using The N-Word: Right Or Wrong?

[Lightning Strykez!]

So...I just saw these mofos in a concert last night with my friend Brian:

They f**king ROCKED IT. I have never had so much fun in my life at a concert. In fact...I think it was the best concert I've EVER attended...they were so hype and redonkulous. The crowd was like...having a party in the aisles. And when the half-way mark of "I'ma Be" came on, everyone lost it.

And their costumes! OMFG! How crunk are these people????

But something happened that I thought was interesting. In the song "Imma Be" the Black Eyed Peas use the word N***a pretty frequently. Now, we all know that Hip Hop/Rappers have used that term for many years now, in fact many Blacks have made a watered down version of the word part of their vocab for decades.

Well, at the concert, there was a very, very mixed crowd of every color and creed you can imagine--it was truly reflective of the Black Eyed Peas group--which in itself is a very multi-cultural line-up of artists. As they peformed "Imma Be" they used the N-word uncensored and the crowd obviously sang along.

My friend Brian (who happens to be Italian) was singing along too, but he would just skip the N-word whenever it came up in the peformance. But i looked around and noticed that there were hundreds--if not thousands--of young white, asian, and middle eastern/ indian men our age around us that were rapping/singing the term profusely--and unapologetically. There were even some white girls--you know, the "Like, OMIGOD BECKY" Valley girl types--saying the N***a every 2 seconds too. I thought nothing of it. After all, Fergie's sexy ass is up there on stage saying it too, so...

Now, clearly these young people weren't racists and the term wasn't used in a racial context. But nevertheless Brian leaned over to me during the song and yelled "Caliph look at all these white boys using the N-word, man! These f***ers are crazy!" Brian seemed kinda put off by it...even a bit sensitive/insulted. Personally? It didn't bother me, even if the guys around us were white. I don't give a f***. No one had nooses. LOL

I wondered if Brian was refraining from using the word only because I was with him that night. So we went back to my house afterwards and while I was mixing drinks in the kitchen, I asked him about it. He was sitting at the kitchen island and just looked down at the granite countertop for a few minutes. It was as if he was trying to find the right words to say. Finally, he said that he didn't think it was right that white people use the N-Word under ANY circumstances "even if it's hip now." Brian thought it was too taboo. So I asked him this: "Doesn't the fact that a multi-cultural pop group is introducing a different contextual usage of the term to the masses make it okay?"

His response was, "No. It's wrong man. Forever."

So that got me thinking: Blacks use the N***a word all the time. Their version of the word is far different from Ni**er. And yet some blacks get highly pissed off when a white person uses the N***a word even jokingly. In fact, I think singer John Mayer got in hot water for saying something like that but it wasn't even delivered in a racist context. And now you have a half-black, half "other" pop group like the Black Eyed Peas using the term without reservation in their songs--and their millions of white fans are singing right along with them. And yet even some of these folks--like my friend Brian--are skurred to utter the word in public...especially in front of people of color like me.

Question: Do you think this is some sort of double standard?

 

[Marx]

I agree with your friend...but I feel a little stronger. I don't believe the N-word should be used in any context by anyone. I have never spoken that word, nor do I ever intend to.

 

[E-Man]

I absolutely HATE the word, and I severely dislike being called it over and over again. The reason why Negroes use it is extremely sad, because it's not what we think it is. People have the right to say whatever they want, so if whites want to use it then go ahead. There's no justification for them not to when black people say the same **** like it's a language. I've got a new idea though.Every time someone calls me the N-word, I'm calling them a coon. This has pissed people off to no end, and hopefully it keeps them from calling me something I don't want to be called.

 

[Matt]

I'm with E-Man. I dislike it being used in any context.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

The word in general should no longer be apart of anyone's vocabulary. The fact the black community has tried to take it and give it a new meaning is sad, it's like they forgot what it use to stand for when they call each other that. It's on a short list of words I think should be banned from the English vocabulary period.

 

[The Squirrel]

I don't think anyone should say it.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

I dunno. It doesn't bother me.

Well, let me qualify that statement: depending on the CONTEXT it's used in, it might not bother me. Brian was pretty turned off by it. Yet for me, seeing the white fans using the word didn't insult me at all--because I knew they aren't utilizing it with malicous intent. Intent is everything because many words and symbols have changed meanings over the centuries. We're apparently seeing that now with this word.

Give you an example: my father is white and he got a lot of flack from his family for marrying a woman of color in the 1970s. I have some relatives on his side that still have a hard time accepting me and my siblings and I'm almost 35 years old. So if THEY used any derivative of the term I'd know their intent was ugly. But my peers and others from the "younger generation"? I'm not sure why, but it's...just different.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

You know what, I used to be really adamant about anyone who wasn't black using the term.

I figure, it's a word used against black people. If they want to take the word and use it amongst themselves, then I don't see any reason why anyone should try to stop them. I mean, amongst my friends and family, we use derogetory terms amongst each other as well jokingly. I have a large Italian portion of my family, and they all sit around calling each other dego. I also have a large Irish portion of my family, and we sit around calling each other Mic's.

But I didn't like it at all when whites, Mexicans, Asians, Indians, etc... would use the word. They aren't black, and being not white doesn't make you closer to being black than a white boy like me. Yes, I admit, being a listener to rap music, I've dropped a few n-bombs myself singing along, but I'd never use the word in my regular vocabulary.

But then something happened. I moved out of California, moved to Tennessee, and started hanging around a lot more black people than I have ever known in my life. Where I worked, I worked with 3 black guys in particular, in a black neighborhood, so the vast majority of my clientele was black. And the very stereotypical type of black. I'd often get frustrated by the people I'd have to deal with, not because they were black, but because they were trashy. My friend always joked with me that I wanted to call them a bunch of n's. So finally, as a joke I started calling him, and many of the trashy customers, n's. He laughed and thought it was hilarious, so that word became a joke amongst he and I.

At my job that I'm working at now, I was joking with another black guy about being "my negro", cuz he did me a huge favor at work. He was like "don't call me 'my negro', it makes it sound like I'm your slave" (and he did so in a joking way), so I jokingly said "okay, my n----a", and he replied "THAT'S more like it!!!"

In my experience, it seems like that word is losing all of it's sting amongst the younger generations, and while I understand both sides of the argument, I also don't see what's so inherently wrong with taking the venom out of a word that has been so hateful throughout history. I still choose not to use the word, unless it's amongst my own personal friends who know and understand the context that it's being used in. Say what you want about the word, but language is an ever evolving entity. The meaning of words is changed all the time, and I think that context and meaning is more important than the word itself.

For instance, I say things are "gay", but that doesn't mean that I believe that homosexual = bad. I say "God damnit" but that doesn't mean that I'm pissed off at God. And while I am against white people using n-bombs with free reign, I also know that when they use it, they often have zero racist meaning behind it.

 

[Scourge2099]

I honestly don't care if white people use the n-word. When my History professor used the n-word during a lecture in a room with about 5 big black dudes I had to give him respect for that. Sure it was in a historical context , but back in my days if a white guy said that he'd get his ass beat.

 

[Marx]

You know what, I used to be really adamant about anyone who wasn't black using the term.

I figure, it's a word used against black people. If they want to take the word and use it amongst themselves, then I don't see any reason why anyone should try to stop them. I mean, amongst my friends and family, we use derogetory terms amongst each other as well jokingly. I have a large Italian portion of my family, and they all sit around calling each other dego. I also have a large Irish portion of my family, and we sit around calling each other Mic's.

But I didn't like it at all when whites, Mexicans, Asians, Indians, etc... would use the word. They aren't black, and being not white doesn't make you closer to being black than a white boy like me. Yes, I admit, being a listener to rap music, I've dropped a few n-bombs myself singing along, but I'd never use the word in my regular vocabulary.

But then something happened. I moved out of California, moved to Tennessee, and started hanging around a lot more black people than I have ever known in my life. Where I worked, I worked with 3 black guys in particular, in a black neighborhood, so the vast majority of my clientele was black. And the very stereotypical type of black. I'd often get frustrated by the people I'd have to deal with, not because they were black, but because they were trashy. My friend always joked with me that I wanted to call them a bunch of n's. So finally, as a joke I started calling him, and many of the trashy customers, n's. He laughed and thought it was hilarious, so that word became a joke amongst he and I.

At my job that I'm working at now, I was joking with another black guy about being "my negro", cuz he did me a huge favor at work. He was like "don't call me 'my negro', it makes it sound like I'm your slave" (and he did so in a joking way), so I jokingly said "okay, my n----a", and he replied "THAT'S more like it!!!"

In my experience, it seems like that word is losing all of it's sting amongst the younger generations, and while I understand both sides of the argument, I also don't see what's so inherently wrong with taking the venom out of a word that has been so hateful throughout history. I still choose not to use the word, unless it's amongst my own personal friends who know and understand the context that it's being used in. Say what you want about the word, but language is an ever evolving entity. The meaning of words is changed all the time, and I think that context and meaning is more important than the word itself.

For instance, I say things are "gay", but that doesn't mean that I believe that homosexual = bad. I say "God damnit" but that doesn't mean that I'm pissed off at God. And while I am against white people using n-bombs with free reign, I also know that when they use it, they often have zero racist meaning behind it.

Using the word 'gay' instead of 'stupid' is just as wrong...but that's an entirely different debate.

 

[E-Man]

The word in general should no longer be apart of anyone's vocabulary. The fact the black community has tried to take it and give it a new meaning is sad, it's like they forgot what it use to stand for when they call each other that. It's on a short list of words I think should be banned from the English vocabulary period.

That's because most of us are stuck in the matrix of white supremacy. Black people are mental slaves here in America due to centuries of subliminal white supremacy. It's a sad thing, because I get called it more when I say I don't want to get called it. It's like they're pissed that I'm breaking away from the "pack."

 

[Aesop Rocks]

No one should use that word.

 

[Gilpesh]

Using the word 'gay' instead of 'stupid' is just as wrong.

That's why I use '******ed'.

That's because most of us are stuck in the matrix of white supremacy. Black people are mental slaves here in America due to centuries of subliminal white supremacy.

Funny joke.

 

[WolfCypher]

Not only do I think the N-word and all variations of the N-word should be disallowed and frowned upon, but I find it truly absurd that people honestly have this notion they believe in that black people can use the word, and that we've (the black race) have over the years diminished its meaning. The N-word affects me no matter who says it and how its said.

"Hip white people", white people, black people, whatever...I find it interesting that no other racial slur has been used in music or everyday casual supposedly non-insulting conversation. There are words for other races and people, but these words aren't thrown around so recklessly.

I will admit, while I hate that word regardless of how says it, I do get extra angry when a white person uses it around me. Now that may be my double standard, but really, I think it has to do with the fact that when a black person calls me their N***a, I know they think its just a general way of calling me out as their friend or whatever, and that's how they use it, and it annoys me to no end. For some strange reason, maybe not too strange, I'm filled with even more rage if this word comes from any other "color" than normal.

 

[Scourge2099]

That's why I use '******ed'.


Funny joke.

You can't use ******ed anymore you nazi ! You have to say "special person".t:

 

[Gilpesh]

For some strange reason, maybe not too strange, I'm filled with even more rage if this word comes from any other "color" than normal.

That reason is called: racism. Stop being racist.

You can't use ******ed anymore you nazi ! You have to say "special person".t:

That's ******ed.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Using the word 'gay' instead of 'stupid' is just as wrong...but that's an entirely different debate.

It's not a drastically different debate though. Think about it. Words like n**ga, "******ed" and "gay" are all used by the hip, young generation today in a context 180 degrees different from the original meanings.

I call s*** "gay" all the time, and I definitely use "******ed." Most people in my life are utterly ******ed. And you can catch me on any given Sunday driving in New York flipping off someone else and mouthing "gaaaaaaayyy!!! " at them through my ride's glass window.

So...

 

[Scourge2099]

That reason is called: racism. Stop being racist.


That's ******ed.

Word .

 

[E-Man]

Funny joke.

Yeah, I try to work them in sometimes.

 

[TNC9852002]

It's just a word. People have pretty good discretion about using it--just like any other heavily offensive word. I don't take offense to it, even when I hear my middle eastern friends use it amongst one another.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Question: At the rate things are going currently, what place do you all think the term "ni**a" will hold in human vocabulary, 50 years from now? Will it become more mainstream and accepted by society after our older generations have died off?

 

[Gilpesh]

Yeah, I try to work them in sometimes.

I know right. Could you believe if you actually meant that? Hah. It would make you look crazy and silly to think that.

 

[Gilpesh]

Question: At the rate things are going currently, what place do you all think the term "ni**a" will hold in human vocabulary, 50 years from now?

I think in fifty years... it will be a good way to pick out the ******s that act gay and think they're the ****, when they're not.

 

[Scourge2099]

Question: At the rate things are going currently, what place do you all think the term "ni**a" will hold in human vocabulary, 50 years from now? Will it become more mainstream and accepted by society after our older generations have died off?

It'll probably be part of the American lexicon in a decade or so. I bet it'll be in the Webster's Dictionary in a couple of years from now.

 

[JP]

First of all, as someone who has seen BEP live twice (Once they were opening for a band was seeing, the second time was Zootopia, and they were one of the acts) I have to say that they are GOD AWFUL LIVE. Heck, just watch their live performances on tv. They're dreadful live.

Second, NO ONE should say that word. The fact that black people think they can say it and no one else can is stupid. If you have an offensive word that you don't want people to call you, DON'T USE IT YOURSELF. It's like we're asking for it.

Mentally disabled people are offended by the word ******. Gays don't like the word f*ggot. Yet, you don't see them saying "Yo, what up ******" or "What's good, f*ggot". They are offended by those words and have removed them from their vocabulary. The fact that black people continue to use that word like it's a term of endearment, but when someone who isn't black use it it's suddenly a racial slur it ridiculous and makes me sick to my stomache.