As a white child, the word nigger never effected me in a big way, not until I got older and started having black friends, but also white friends who didn’t so much agree with my decision, hearing the “N” word used in a term as hate toward my friends affected me in ways I never understood, I can definitely say that it changed the way I thought of the the “N” word, which can be harmful to one, and meaningless to another, each person takes this word differently, but I don’t believe that it should be banned, and I don’t see why anyone would want to ban a book from a time period when white people and black people did not like each other, and when black people were slaves, considering the book is all about a white boy and black man becoming friends …show more content…
“The problem is racism” which is the honest truth, it isn’t the word, it is the person and how the person uses it, if jay-z put nigger in his song, he isn’t being racist he is simply adding meaning and soul to his lyrics. Oprah on the other hand had a completely different view on the word, and its affect on her and others. She stated to Jay-Z that she wasn't a big fan of rap music because of the use of “nigger” or “nigga”, she said she felt this was because her “generation and generations before her coming up through the civil rights movement” and that she is where she is in life because of the generation before her fighting for civil rights. She stated “that word carried such a sense of hatred”, they agreed to disagree because their points of view were different, considering the day and age they grew up in. I strongly believe that everyone takes everything differently, and that each person has a different meaning. As for me, “nigger” is a word I never used, not to sing, not to talk to people, not shouting it at people, because you never know how that person will react to the word, but now the word “nigga” has a totally different meaning, although I only call my very close black friends this when talking or playing with them, I still wouldn’t call someone I didn’t know this. “Nigga” is also used in so many songs, it is heard throughout the halls at school,
As a black American male, the word nigger conjures up within me hate, hostility, violence, oppression, and a very shameful and unfortunate part of American History. The word symbolizes the everlasting chains of a people plagued with hate and bondage simply because of skin color. For many black people, including myself, nigger is the most pejorative word in the English language. Even when compared to racial slurs like kike, honkey, cracker, wet back, spic, jungle bunny, pod, tarbaby, and white trash, nigger is noted as the worst insult in the English language. The word nigger suggests that black people are second class citizens, ignorant and less than human.
If it were banned because of the harsh reality of America’s history that means the government must ban all history textbooks which contain the similar events as shown in Of Mice and Men. For example it states, “Sure. Ya see the stable buck's a nigger”(20 Steinbeck). This is how people spoke in the South - especially during the 1930s when segregation was a problem. Racism was part of the past and shaped how America is today, so for John Steinbeck, the author, to highlight this, he would only be displaying how humans interacted with black people in the 30s.
Naylor implies that derogatory terms have a twist and are a disguise of acknowledgement to her race. Although it was initially created to humiliate and dehumanize African Americans, ‘the n-word’ develops into a word that admires men of that race.
“I don’t give a fuck what a nigga say,” for a word that many different things I think most people would agree that in this since nigga means a person preferably black. Nigga is a derogatory and racist word that refers to Black people. But, we, meaning Black people, still use it. We do not care, nigga flows off the tough. In using nigga we not only show disdain but become a nigga when using it and we’re ok with it. This is why I choose Katt Williams, 2006 comedy skit Pimp Chronicle Part 1. In William’s skit he use nigga some 221 times, in 45 minute, that’s about four times per minute. I could not find a better example of someone using nigga. 221 times, he must have something interesting to say if he can find 221 reason to say the word and you know what he did. I could not help but laugh it was funny, but at the end of the day I knew though it may have been funny it was still morally wrong. In Williams, he uses nigga in ways that support Black stereotypes, which make the audience laugh. There is nothing worng with that a mans
The decision to ban the novel Huckleberry Finn from classrooms and libraries has been an ongoing controversy. The presence of the 'n word' and the treatment towards Jim, and other blacks in general, has made many readers uncomfortable. Despite this fact, Huckleberry Finn has been and remains a classic read. I do not believe the novel should be banned or sanitized because it is a part of American history whether it is good or bad, also we have no right to change someone's writing simply because we do not like how it is written, Mark Twain's writing should not be penalized because of the ideals of today.
The words Negro, nigger, and nigga have always been a sensitive topic, yet it is a topic that needs to be addressed in light of the more common use of its vernacular. One word is used to describe a color, while the others are used to define a people. It’s very clear to many the negative connotation these words carry, but where did these words come from? Furthermore, is there a difference between the word nigger and nigga; and why is it that African-Americans now use the word nigga to degrade each other in today’s society? These words, in spite of their spelling, still holds the same degrading power as it did during the time of slavery, and they are still spoken out of cruelty and ignorance, but who is to blame? Can one still blame the Spaniards for considering people of a darker skin tone –Black? Can we blame the Europeans for perpetuating their hatred and ignorance of superiority over a race of people to the point they felt it lawful to define and dehumanize them? Or does the blame lie with the African-American race as we use this degrading labeling on our own kind, thus becoming the victimizer. Either way nigger or nigga are words that should be eliminated from the vocabulary of every human being.
For years’ black comedians have been stereotyped by black humor using racial slurs in their jokes to communicate with audience an about the social and political issues in the black communities. Although a diverse audience might catch on to most of the contents in a joke that have black humor, some people in American may take it in a harmful and unintended way to avoid controversy with the audience so people need to understand how to identify what is humorous and what is offensive in racial and ethnic humor. I will attempt to prove that living in such a diverse society with the freedom of speech it does not always mean using the word Nigga is a racist thing to say in comedy.
“Nigger” is a highly controversial term used a lot in America. It is used by both white and people of color. Some believe that the word can be used freely, others object to the use of the word. Some use the word as an endearment, and some use it as an insult. Some people believe that no one should use it, others believe that only blacks are allowed to use it. Some even believe that you can use it in private as long as you are not around people who it may offend. And then there are
A race issue that occurs within the rap and hip-hop musical genre is the racial stereotypes associated with the musical form. According to Brandt, and Viki rap music and hip- hop music are known for fomenting crime violence, and the continuing formation of negative perceptions revolving around the African-American race (p.362). Many individuals believe that rap and hip-hop music and the culture that forms it is the particular reason for the degradation of the African-American community and the stereotypes that surround that specific ethnic group. An example is a two thousand and seven song produced by artist Nas entitled the N-word. The particular title of the song sparked major debates within not only the African-American community thus the Caucasian communities as well. Debates included topics such as the significance and worth of freedom of speech compared with the need to take a stand against messages that denigrate African-Americans. This specific label turned into an outrage and came to the point where conservative white individuals stood in front of the record label expressing their feelings. These individuals made a point that it is because artists like Nas that there is an increase in gang and street violence within communities. Rap and hip-hop music only depicts a simple-minded image of black men as sex crazed, criminals, or “gangsters”. As said above, community concerns have arisen over time over the use of the N-word, or the fact that many rappers vocalize about white superiority and privilege. Of course rap music did not develop these specific stereotypes, however these stereotypes are being used; and quite successfully in rap and hip-hop which spreads them and keeps the idea that people of color are lazy, all crimin...
The word “nigger” has two main variances today, and they were both expressed beautifully by Tupac. The word carries with it a privilege also, a privilege that only certain people are allowed to use this word. And it is what African descendants call each other as a way of connecting in a brotherhood type of fashion. In areas such as “Bomton” - otherwise known as “black compton” - “brothas” can casually see each other at the convenience store and address the other as “my nigga” or “niggah” however they prefer. Now imagine the same scenario but with two Caucasian males saying the exact same. It’s weird right? That is because the word is still highly debated to the present. It is unclear whether the word should be banned from everybody’s mouth or if it should all be left to identify
Massive amounts of people find it hard to believe that the “N” word is harmless. Little that they know, it inflicts a great deal of mental damage to the victim. Like when Mrs. Dubose stated to Scout, “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee 135).
The word “Nigger” was a term used in reference to a slave. A slave meaning, you were the lowest scum of the earth, Illiterate and uneducated in every sense. Today, the usage of the word is spilt in to different context, it is used to refer to one another. A lot of children today use the word freely, not because they are ignorant to the history and putridness of the word, but solely because they are not really offended by it and the only time they hear it, it's being said by someone else who is of color. As I looks back over the years, I can’t really remember anyone distinctively ever calling me the N-word, or better yet, not in a derogative fashion. I don’t think that anyone has ever called me the word to my face or in hearing distance. Growing up in New York City, the only time I ever heard the word “Nigger” was from people who called themselves “Nigger”. I remember sitting in class daydreaming on the word, thinking to myself, “How could anyone call themselves a Nigger and be proud of it?” Yet It’s Hard to hurt me with words, but I had never heard that word used with such vengeances. What does this word mean in my everyday life?
As Kennedy explains “used by black people amongst themselves [the N word ] is a racial term with undertones and good will--reflecting a tragicomic sensibility that is aware of black history” but how could such a contradiction exist (Kennedy 5)? How could the most “noxious” of words also also be used to show comradery and brotherhood for those who have been in the struggle. “He is my nig” or “That guy is my nigga”, phrases like these are uttered by black men to each other to express their most public form of masculine endearment towards one another. Note that it is uttered between black men, to black men, and from black men; Black bodies participate and engage with the “N-word” much more differently than any other non-black person would. The word must come from colored mouths to have a “positive” significance, if I, a Mexican woman, or for instance Nate, in Bernard’s class, say it--we change the meaning entirely. As quoted by Randall Kennedy, Jarvis Deberry states, “[the n-word is ‘beautiful in its multiplicity of functions. I am not aware…of any other word capable of expressing so many contradictory emotions” and I cannot help but to agree that the “N-word” is more messy and complex then we would anticipate it to
The constant use if nigger/nigga shows my personal definition of the word. The original definitions is people of color, but my definitions explain the people who uses nigger. My personal definition of nigger is an ignorant person. The user of the word is ignorant is because he fails to realize the word’s origin. The word was once used as a way of discrimination. Today’s ignorance started in the 1800s. The ignorance started from the creators of the word nigger, and the ignorance was passed down and adopted by today’s
I see it as a transformational dysphemism employed by many African-Americans and hip-hop artists in order to oust the negative connotations attached to it. Some of you might think, ‘How about the double standard? Why can’t white people use the word?’ Well, the n-word still remains controversial. In practice, the use and meaning of the N word are heavily dependent on the context; it is not a taboo word as young blacks address one another frequently with it, but it is considered racist when it is used negatively.