After the last post I got lots of emails and a few phone calls. Why people still refuse to just post their comments is beyond me. I have considered posting the emails in the comments section but that would not be right. I also had conversations on Saturday night with some guys on the use of the N word.
I’m not going to try to list everything that was said because it would be a very large post and I try to stay away from that.
One guy said (and I am going to use this one) he doesn’t use the word even when telling a story. He changes the word to “black” so that if someone else tells the story the N word ends with him. I like that approach and will try to adopt it as well. There is no need for me to use it even when I quote someone. I know that if you are going to quote a person you are supposed to repeat them word for word but I think I will make the exception. I say that because if someone says something worth repeating and they just happened to be stupid in their choice of words I don’t think I have to share their ignorance just their insight. So I will edit out the hurt they were trying to inflict and leave in helpful information the story may hold.
Another guy was saying how he views the people that use the word as classless and almost subhuman. He said that the only purpose for the word is to inflict pain on others and that if that is the type of person that you are then you are less than human. I’m not sure if I would take it that far but I do understand his point.
We talked about how non-black people sometimes grow up around black people and think that makes it okay for them to use the word. That has always fascinated me. You would think that growing up around black people would make them more sensitive to the way black people feel. To be fair that is what happens to “some” of them. I guess no two people are the same. As one friend says “if it is in you it is just in you”.
I grew up around nothing but black people and I rarely heard the word. That takes me back to my original statement in the first post. Usage of the word says more about the person using it than it does the person or people it is aimed.
Another guy said that an option in dealing with the user[s] is when they are using it is to say “hold on for a second” and walk away and not come back. That one made me laugh out loud. I think I may like that one too much. I know I will use that one or a form of it.
If we do nothing then people will continue to use it either because they don’t know the pain they cause or they don’t care. If we all do a little and pass it on we can make a difference. I don’t want to write a part 3.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The N Word
Today I was in the casino and I was listening to 3 guys talking. They were not talking to me and I don’t think they knew I could hear their conversation. They were talking about some guys and they referred to them as “niggers”. I was stuck on their use of the word and didn’t hear much else of the conversation except every time they used the word. The reason I noticed it was because they were white guys.
By definition the word nigger is; a term used to describe a black person, who is stereotypically considered bad, poor, ignorant, lazy, addict or criminal. This term was first used during the period when blacks were discriminated against and used as slaves. Historically a modulated mispronunciation of "negro" by slave-handlers in the deep south, and now a term of endearment between some black people. People seek to remove its racist connotations by reversing its use, but ultimately it can cause racial boundaries rather than remove them.
All that being said I have never heard a white person call another white person a nigger. The usage as far as I know is reserved for black or dark skinned people. It is not a word that freaks me out. I know white people that use it and I don’t think they are racist when they do. It does make me wonder if their vocabulary is so small that they could not find another word. I find myself missing their conversation because I get stuck on that word.
I’m not trying to make myself bigger by talking about others like I have never used the word. I have used it and will use it again at some point. What I don’t do is use it around other races. Other than my wife, I doubt if more than 2 or 3 non-black people have ever heard me say “nigger”. I will say context has a lot to do with it. If they are telling a story or quoting someone then I would say it is okay to use the word. I think the negative usage of the word says more about the person using it than it does the person the word is aimed at.
I know there are some white people that will say that if black people can say it then why can’t I use it too. That is a good question. My answer is there is nothing stopping them from using it. What I don’t understand is why they want to use it. It is such a derogatory word and considered by most black people as the ultimate insult from a non-black person. I will say that when I hear someone (in general) use that word I think a little less of them each time they use it. When it is used as an insult it is about as low as you can go. Lower than anyone needs to go. It is like kicking someone when they are already down.
I like to keep this stuff short so let me wrap this up by saying that if you only use this word to describe a black person then you are wrong to use it. That makes it racist. End of story.
As always your comments are welcomed.
By definition the word nigger is; a term used to describe a black person, who is stereotypically considered bad, poor, ignorant, lazy, addict or criminal. This term was first used during the period when blacks were discriminated against and used as slaves. Historically a modulated mispronunciation of "negro" by slave-handlers in the deep south, and now a term of endearment between some black people. People seek to remove its racist connotations by reversing its use, but ultimately it can cause racial boundaries rather than remove them.
All that being said I have never heard a white person call another white person a nigger. The usage as far as I know is reserved for black or dark skinned people. It is not a word that freaks me out. I know white people that use it and I don’t think they are racist when they do. It does make me wonder if their vocabulary is so small that they could not find another word. I find myself missing their conversation because I get stuck on that word.
I’m not trying to make myself bigger by talking about others like I have never used the word. I have used it and will use it again at some point. What I don’t do is use it around other races. Other than my wife, I doubt if more than 2 or 3 non-black people have ever heard me say “nigger”. I will say context has a lot to do with it. If they are telling a story or quoting someone then I would say it is okay to use the word. I think the negative usage of the word says more about the person using it than it does the person the word is aimed at.
I know there are some white people that will say that if black people can say it then why can’t I use it too. That is a good question. My answer is there is nothing stopping them from using it. What I don’t understand is why they want to use it. It is such a derogatory word and considered by most black people as the ultimate insult from a non-black person. I will say that when I hear someone (in general) use that word I think a little less of them each time they use it. When it is used as an insult it is about as low as you can go. Lower than anyone needs to go. It is like kicking someone when they are already down.
I like to keep this stuff short so let me wrap this up by saying that if you only use this word to describe a black person then you are wrong to use it. That makes it racist. End of story.
As always your comments are welcomed.
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