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.
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As usual, no one can depict a picture on a broader scale than you can. We see eye to eye so much on this issue...I can't say anything other than, ditto.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s up doc, this is Kris. I think we as African Americans need to put more effort into educating the young and reminding the grown ups about the history of this world. I also believe that the hip hop culture has played a very large part in keeping this word alive and in the vocabulary of its followers.
ReplyDeleteOK First of all, I am so aggravated about this topic!!!! The word whether used as a noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective is still disrespectful. I don't care how you use the word still has negative connotation. Now that my emotions have spoken, here is my intellect speaking.
ReplyDeleteThe word "NIGGER" was given to blacks in part by Willie Lynch. For those of you who don't know who Lynch is, he was a white man from Virginia that taught the white men of the south how to train their slaves. One way he suggested this was done was by CONTROL.
“I have a fool-proof method for controlling your black slaves. I guarantee every one of you that if installed correctly it will control the slaves for at least 300 years." The use of the word "NIGGER" is another way of control. It is a mental control. The word no matter how it is phrased or spelled (nigga) is still a form of control started hundreds of years ago and just as Lynch stated has lasted for more than 300 years. We as blacks should have more respect for our families and friends than to use such a horrible word. It is just like B.A.P.S.(Black Aps) this word has been turned into a clothing brand that blacks purchase all the time. I wonder if those who purchase these clothes even know what the word means. These words were and still are words that are used to demean us a people. So there is no way that blacks can turn it around and use it for good and call it taking control that is a crazy thought process.
I have also heard people outside of the black culture use the n-word and was also offended. I don't see how any black person could not be offended when anyone uses that word in their presence. Now don't get me wrong I have used the word before, and have always apologized for it when I used it. And have made it grave effort to never use the word again, and those close to me know how I feel about it and they will not use the word in my presence, whether it be family or friends.
We as black people have to set the standard in our own lives before others outside of our circle will have standards.
As for Dr. Laura she was completely right! Black comics, rappers, etc all use the word and then want to get upset when someone like Dr. Laura uses the word. I was very upset at her using the n-word but her explanation was valid. And if you notice her radio station was not going to fire Dr. Laura, after all she is one of the highest paid radio host, she quit. So if you look at it, really, the use of the n-word is not something that the word is so quick to back the black community on anymore. And do you blame them?!
So please everyone who uses this horrible word, let's make a pledge to ourselves to stop using the word.
If you want control, how about getting control of your finances(blacks are the second poorest ethnicity in the United States), your education(blacks have the highest high school dropout rate), getting control of our children and families. Now that's control!