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

[terry78]

This is just one of those things that isn't going to change. You're always going to have someone that says the group in question can only be allowed to say it, and short of having it legally be deemed outlawed, it ain't going nowhere, and neither is the attitude of only "us" being able to use it. I honestly grew up with the word from friends and family, who still use it to this day. We have white relatives by marriage, and they laugh and joke around, but they don't use the term, regardless of how many times they may hear us say it. I wouldn't call a chick the b-word if her and her girls were using it amongst themselves, nor the f-world with gay gays in the same sense. That's just how life is...it sucks, deal with it.

I think the main issue is that the n-word has become this trendy thing that's still taboo, and because it's taboo it's cool.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

This is just one of those things that isn't going to change. You're always going to have someone that says the group in question can only be allowed to say it, and short of having it legally be deemed outlawed, it ain't going nowhere, and neither is the attitude of only "us" being able to use it. I honestly grew up with the word from friends and family, who still use it to this day. We have white relatives by marriage, and they laugh and joke around, but they don't use the term, regardless of how many times they may hear us say it. I wouldn't call a chick the b-word if her and her girls were using it amongst themselves, nor the f-world with gay gays in the same sense. That's just how life is...it sucks, deal with it.

I think the main issue is that the n-word has become this trendy thing that's still taboo, and because it's taboo it's cool.

I think I agree with this.

I never used to use the word at all, even though when I was in high school I had black friends who told me that they were okay with me using the word, because they knew I wasn't racist, and didn't mean anything by it. I still chose not to use the word.

Now tho, I will use the word, jokingly amongst friends who understand what my intention is. It's like any other thing, really, you don't use it around someone you don't know, because they don't know your intent.

Just like I can call my friends a bunch of *******s and get away with it, I couldn't go up to a random group of people and call them a bunch of *******s. Well, it's the same. I don't call a bunch of random people n's, because they won't understand, they will take it offensively, but I can call some of my black friends n's because they know it's a joke. Just like my dad who used to hang around a local bar, with a bunch of people of all different races. They all got along just fine, and all jokingly made fun of each other's races. One guy, in particular, was an Asian, and his nickname amongst the group was "Yellow Man". Because they were all friends, and so it was okay, because the context was understood.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I had an Asian friend everyone called Fat Man. Think about it for a little.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Keep in mind, I haven't read through the thread yet...

If white people can't use the word "n***a," then I don't believe African Americans need to either. It's a stupid excuse to say that it has become an empowering word for the black community, and then get mad when others use it as well. "N****r" has always been a derogatory word and it's dumb that an "empowering" word come from this. It keeps the meaning alive, which is opposite of what was intended.

Forgetting the hateful intent of the N-word is not the point of black people using it. It's a constant reminder of shared obstacles and a common struggle.

You want the word to be reserved exclusively for white racist rather than the victims using the word for which ever purpose they see fit. How is this an improvement?

 

[Doctor Jones]

I don't understand how it's okay for black people to use the word -- the word that they hate when they were being opressed and such - and use it with eachother? It's just as degrating, especially when it's your own race. I just think it's wrong no matter who says it.

 

[Motown Marvel]

Giving the N-word a singular place and purpose in history does not take away from the atrocities of the past. It solidifies the connection.

It doesn't soften the blow of the word. It increases the impact.

By giving the word multiple purposes and intents you evolve the word itself making the hateful intent a throwback to a distant past rather than something present and relevent. The hateful usage seems even more outdated when it's used in an innocuous manner day to day.

The fact that blacks can openly use the word and laugh about it is the whole point to reclaiming it. You take the most hurtful word used against blacks and turn it into an inside joke. It's the best thing you can do. Reserving the word for exclusively racist use is the worst thing you can do.

i dont agree with any of this at all for the reasons i've already stated. and creating double standards on usage of the word between races, who, and when, etc goes to further a divide between races. it causes too much confusion. its not even as simple as blacks can use it and whites cant.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I don't understand how it's okay for black people to use the word -- the word that they hate when they were being opressed and such - and use it with eachother? It's just as degrating, especially when it's your own race. I just think it's wrong no matter who says it.

It's a reminder of a common struggle.

It like a jew who doesn't get a serial tatoo removed from their wrist. You're reminding yourself that your a member of a persecuted race who resisted or survived.

Pretending the word doesn't exist is just lying to yourself. Better to put it in an context where you can laugh at it.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

i dont agree with any of this at all for the reasons i've already stated. and creating double standards on usage of the word between races, who, and when, etc goes to further a divide between races. it causes too much confusion. its not even as simple as blacks can use it and whites cant.

The word is always going to have a double standard.

It's either going to be exclusively for white racist usage to target blacks or exclusively for innocuous black slang. I prefer the latter.

 

[JStorm]

It's a reminder of a common struggle.

It like a jew who doesn't get a serial tatoo removed from their wrist. You're reminding yourself that your a member of a persecuted race who resisted or survived.

Pretending the word doesn't exist is just lying to yourself. Better to put it in an context where you can laugh at it.

Does Ben Stiller carry a serial number, in which HE decided to tattoo upon himself to remember?

No.

A Jewish person whom did not remove his or her serial number did so for your exact reasoning. But to compare that reasoning with an African-American whom uses the N-word as some sort of homage to a ancestor who struggled. . I beg to differ.

By correlation, should a Scottish or Irish American carry some sort of crest, damning the English for oppression?

Bottom line, the word should not be used by any person, just like any other racial slur.


I'll let that reasoning pass when my family refers to one another as "Paddy's, Cat-licks, or Micks."

 

[Majic Walrus]

It's a reminder of a common struggle.

It like a jew who doesn't get a serial tatoo removed from their wrist. You're reminding yourself that your a member of a persecuted race who resisted or survived.

Pretending the word doesn't exist is just lying to yourself. Better to put it in an context where you can laugh at it.

I think it's quite different actually. Comparing keeping a tattoo to using a racial slur is different. How often do you hear Jewish people calling each other k***?

 

[JStorm]

I think it's quite different actually. Comparing keeping a tattoo to using a racial slur is different. How often do you hear Jewish people calling each other k***?

Agreed, sir. Obviously.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Does Ben Stiller carry a serial number, in which HE decided to tattoo upon himself to remember?

No.

A Jewish person whom did not remove his or her serial number did so for your exact reasoning. But to compare that reasoning with an African-American whom uses the N-word as some sort of homage to a ancestor who struggled. . I beg to differ.

By correlation, should a Scottish or Irish American carry some sort of crest, damning the English for oppression?

Bottom line, the word should not be used by any person, just like any other racial slur.


I'll let that reasoning pass when my family refers to one another as "Paddy's, Cat-licks, or Micks."

The N-word isn't a reminder of an ancestrial struggle it's a reminder that there's an entire army of whites who use the word in the present day but that blacks will continue to endure and even embrace adversity.

Like I said, it's better to put the word in a context you can laugh at rather than preserve it exclusively for racist intent.

 

[Majic Walrus]

The N-word isn't a reminder of an ancestrial struggle it's a reminder that there's an entire army of whites who use the word in the present day but that blacks will continue to endure and even embrace adversity.

Like I said, it's better to put the word in a context you can laugh at rather than preserve it exclusively for racist intent.

Defining racists as an "army" instead of bigoted ignorant assheads is dangerous.

Furthermore while I do see embracing terminology that was intended to harm (Christians did it and geeks do it now) the n-word isn't done in that way. Far more often it's not used to embrace adversity but to create it, even exacerbate it.

Why embrace adversity when embracing tolerance is so much more effective?

 

[enterthemadness]

All I am gonna say on this is that last night in Public Speaking class at community college....our teacher (who is black) did a example. He pointed at a black man and said he could use the n-word. He THEN pointed at me and said I could say it. Freedom of speech. it made me uncomfortable. And no, none of us said it. He was just giving a example.

and the teacher borrowed my pencil...put it in his mouth when he was thinking....and never gave it back to me. lol.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I think it's quite different actually. Comparing keeping a tattoo to using a racial slur is different. How often do you hear Jewish people calling each other k***?

It's not that different really.

In one case you have a person who commemorates survival by keeping a tatoo meant to dehumanize them on the other you have a person who acknowledges a struggle by owning a word meant to dehumanize them.

Jews don't call each other a racial epithet because it's not a mandatory response to racism.

 

[JStorm]

The N-word isn't a reminder of an ancestrial struggle it's a reminder that there's an entire army of whites who use the word in the present day but that blacks will continue to endure and even embrace adversity.

Like I said, it's better to put the word in a context you can laugh at rather than preserve it exclusively for racist intent.

Yeah. . I think Randall has a better theory.

 

[Motown Marvel]

The word is always going to have a double standard.

it wouldnt if it was only used by ignorant racists.

It's either going to be exclusively for white racist usage to target blacks or exclusively for innocuous black slang. I prefer the latter.

well, currently, its used by BOTH. so theres nothing exclusive about it.

 

[Majic Walrus]

It's not that different really.

In one case you have a person who commemorates survival by keeping a tatoo meant to dehumanize them on the other you have a person who acknowledges a struggle by owning a word meant to dehumanize them.

Jews don't call each other a racial epithet because it's not a mandatory response to racism.

Comparing discrimination of modern Black Americans to the holocaust is frankly insulting to holocaust survivors.

Calling someone by the n-word is not a mandatory response to racism. It isn't even remotely necessary. No more than an Asian American's response to racism.

Factoid: Blacks are not the only race that Americans have discriminated against.

 

[JStorm]

Comparing discrimination of modern Black Americans to the holocaust is frankly insulting to holocaust survivors.

Calling someone by the n-word is not a mandatory response to racism. It isn't even remotely necessary. No more than an Asian American's response to racism.

Factoid: Blacks are not the only race that Americans have discriminated against.

Imagine that.

I believe this entire thread can be closed by one person's distain for the word and persona that comes with it.


Where is Bill Cosby when you need him?


Yet again , MW, we agree. Comparing the Nword to any cultures history of discrimination is sad.

I've often said, when in debate, if you can hold on to your great, great grandfather's life as a reason for me to feel for you. . . then let's go read about William Wallace.

 

[Manic]

I think some of you are over-thinking why some black people call each other the N-word. Sometimes it's not about making a statement. Sometimes you use a word because you grew up around other people using that word. I mean, how many people here know that "gypped" (as in "I bought something from the store and I got gypped") is a derogatory term against Gypsies/Romani?

 

[JStorm]

I think some of you are over-thinking why some black people call each other the N-word. Sometimes it's not about making a statement. Sometimes you use a word because you grew up around other people using that word. I mean, how many people here know that "gypped" (as in "I bought something from the store and I got gypped") is a derogatory term against Gypsies/Romani?

I grew up with the Nword. I will begin to use it, immediately.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I think some of you are over-thinking why some black people call each other the N-word. Sometimes it's not about making a statement. Sometimes you use a word because you grew up around other people using that word. I mean, how many people here know that "gypped" (as in "I bought something from the store and I got gypped") is a derogatory term against Gypsies/Romani?

I do know that about gypped, and it's true for a lot of common usage words. Gypped is still pretty offensive though I think.

Here's a story:

The last place I worked I was in a call center in the US I was explaining to a group of people how important it is for the agents to express tolerance and acceptance of other cultures. I explained that in different cultures people act differently and are not always being rude as far as they are concerned.

Someone chimed in and said: "Exactly. What [Walrus] is saying is that you need to appreciate other cultures. Sometimes it's expected for someone to try to Jew you down on a price."

My jaw broke the floor.

So I can see what you're saying. He'd grown up hearing that and didn't think twice about it. Was it totally racist? Yes. Should he have said it? No.

 

[JStorm]

I do know that about gypped, and it's true for a lot of common usage words. Gypped is still pretty offensive though I think.

Here's a story:

The last place I worked I was in a call center in the US I was explaining to a group of people how important it is for the agents to express tolerance and acceptance of other cultures. I explained that in different cultures people act differently and are not always being rude as far as they are concerned.

Someone chimed in and said: "Exactly. What [Walrus] is saying is that you need to appreciate other cultures. Sometimes it's expected for someone to try to Jew you down on a price."

My jaw broke the floor.

So I can see what you're saying. He'd grown up hearing that and didn't think twice about it. Was it totally racist? Yes. Should he have said it? No.

Granted.

Yet had the story went "we don't need to beat them into submission, our clients, treating them like ****ers. . . "


Right. . right. I'm sure Henry Rothstein went straight to his supervisor that day, demanding for the head of the aggressor.

 

[Gilpesh]

Was it totally racist? Yes. Should he have said it? No.

Was it hilarious? Absolutely.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Defining racists as an "army" instead of bigoted ignorant assheads is dangerous.

Furthermore while I do see embracing terminology that was intended to harm (Christians did it and geeks do it now) the n-word isn't done in that way. Far more often it's not used to embrace adversity but to create it, even exacerbate it.

Why embrace adversity when embracing tolerance is so much more effective?

The army reference isn't dangerous. There are thousands of racists who've been anticipating a race war for decades with no luck. A throw away reference on a geek website isn't going to effect anything.

Blacks using the N-word does not create adversity unless a black guy uses it during a job interview. Just like all vulgar slang it has a time and place. But when used in social circles by blacks it can be a unifying force that defies racist intent of shame and self-loathing.

Embracing adversity is a way of transcending adversity. The word is intended to create shame but by embracing it the word becomes an inside joke rather than a humiliating scarlet letter.