They Gave Us A Word

INTRO:

40 acres and a mule, was what they promised us. I personally don't know anyone whom's ancestors received that kind gesture. What I do know is that they gave us a word. A word that has carried condescending and demeaning stigma for over 400 years. Nigger is was they called us. This word was not used as an exclusive NOUN referring to an individual, but as an inclusive ADJECTIVE to describe an entire race of people. The word was is pejorative, condescending, demeaning; describing us as inferior, stupid, dumb, ignorant, savage, uncivilized and the list goes on.

I was compelled to write this blog out of necessity. The extraction and the subsequent verbal manifestation was motived, in part, by one Dr. Laura Schlessinger. In short Dr. Laura is a radio show host that posed and a rather controversial question: If black people can use the N-Word why can't everybody else? I have heard many different answers to this question, but none that could quite satisfy the public. Here's my attempt to do so.

PRACTICAL ANSWER:

This is by far the simplest conceptual explanation for why everyone isn't allowed to use the N-Word. Introducing "Circle of Familiarity" (c of f). Everyone has friends and/or family; when a friend or family member calls you a name or makes a descriptive inference in regard your lifestyle, appearance or beliefs, that any reasonably prudent person influenced by society would find offensive, you may not, necessarily, be offended by their comments. As long as this person is within your "c of f" their words may be moderately offensive or not offensive at all. Now if a perfect stranger walks up to you and calls you ugly, short, or fat I am sure your response ,for the most part, will be entirely different. The "c of f", in regard to the N-Word does, sometimes, transcend race. I have personally heard (not that I agree with it) whites and hispanics use the N-Word in the presence of their black friends. In this particular instance, the usage of the N-Word was deemed acceptable due to the relationships with their "c of f". I personally was offended when I heard it, because I didn't have that type of relationship within that circle. Whether you feel like the exclusive, and partially acceptable, use of the N-Word by African-Americans is right or wrong, you can understand that if you are not within a "c of f" you cannot say certain things to certain people. Period!

ABSTRACT LOOK:

Disclaimer: A famous linguist once noted that ever so often words have a way of reinventing themselves.

The N-Word historically has been used (mostly by white people) , like I stated in the intro, as a demeaning and condescending word. Regardless of any ADJECTIVE that was placed in front it, it was defamatory. And in most cases it was used simply as an ADJECTIVE to describe African-Americans as inferior. Now fast forward to the 21st century. African-Americans, true to our creative culture, have taken the word, patented it, and remixed it to mean, for the most part, something entirely different. N-word in some cases is used as a greeting by a fellow black person, illustrating that they recognize a black person and are welcoming them into the ascribed "c of f" as an African American. It has historically been used as a NOUN, of course spoken with the correct slang or diction, by black people to recognize another person as black(i.e. "my nigga"). Now don't get me wrong black people have you used the word negatively towards each other. However, in 'almost' all cases the N-Word must be preceded my an acrimonious adjective in order for the word to carry negative connotations. Members of other races also use the N-Word as a NOUN when preceded by an ADJECTIVE, but no matter what ADJECTIVE precedes it, it will always carry a negative meaning in the presence of black people that are not apart of your "c of f". This NOUN/ADJECTIVE dichotomy must be noted in order to attain a general understanding of the perpetual usage of the word.

ITS ALL ABOUT POWER:

Im my opinion it is all about power. They gave us this word with malicious intent. We have taken this word patented it, and remixed it. Exclusive rights to its usage. It now carries, in some cases, a positive meaning. They can no longer use the word outside of their "c of a" and not receive some sort of societal backlash. Yep I said societal. When it comes to being an African-American there are not too many things that society backs us on and the almost exclusive use of the N-Word, is one of them. And the people that "coined the phrase" can't stand it. The power and freedom to use the word is now gone. Whether you as an African-American embrace the word or not, all parties involved must make an effort understand the "c of f" concept and the "Noun?Adjective" dichotomy.


If you have any thoughts on this, no matter what race, feel free to comment. This a conversation we need to have.