Comments on: A Complicated Discussion

By: Coco

Coco — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:44:10 +0000

Bohwe, I couldn’t agree with you more…when are we gonna wake up.

By: Coco

Coco — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:44:47 +0000

I understand Elizabeth’s point. How do you explain to a child how, when and who can use a word? The (Spanish) child I mentor says she can use it cause Jay-Z uses it which goes to Elizabeth’s point. Whoopi and Sheri’s responses were completely ignorant. They gave a “because I said so” response and didn’t articulate their opinion in a way that made any sense. It’s as ridiculous to expect non-black people not to say the n-word as it is for me to expect men not to say b*tch. Using the word doesn’t give us power. Saying we can use it and they can’t just lets people know just how much power the word still has. If I’m called that word, I completely ignore it. I know that person wants to get a rise out of me. Ignoring it retains my power and lets that person know the word is meaningless to me. That’s how the word loses power.

By: indiandyme

indiandyme — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:30:18 +0000

@100% obviously white pplz/other races came up with the term “nword” because they cant use the real word as pointed out in your post! Who cares if it sounds stupid as long as they arent using the real word …right?

By: T-Baby

T-Baby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:42:16 +0000

I don’t understand. It’s only one word that whites or any other race can’t use. ONE WORD. White people just want to have control over everything and that word is just one of the ways that we (as blacks) have control. White people need to just give up and just let it be. You can’t say it…. end of discussion

Peace.

By: indiandyme

indiandyme — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:54:15 +0000

*connotation

By: indiandyme

indiandyme — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:52:26 +0000

@ Marquis de sade,

I totally agree with you regarding the issue causing social confusion. The N word has totally infiltrated the entertainment industry. Movies, music, television, comedy acts etc all freely make use of the Nword. Today’s youth of all colours are being exposed to this on a frequent basis. Now what happens when a non-black youth picks up on this word that they are constantly hearing? They start calling their peers ” my N***a” as a form of endearment without any negative connonation. Can we honestly accuse the youth of being racist when the word slips out of their mouth? What happens when they refer to a non black individual as “ma N***a”? Is this “allowed”?

Hip Hop music is riddled with the use of the N word and is enjoyed by people of all different backgrounds. However can we honestly get angry at a non black individual for singing along to a song that slips the n word in?

I’m not saying that everyone should be using that word. I do realize that non black individuals can never understand the power behind it. But I also feel that its too late to remove the word from society’s vocab, as removing it would give it more power and attention. This issue will never get resolved.

By: hOTdAMN

hOTdAMN — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:55:07 +0000

I never really agree with Elizabeth, but she was right and Whoopi was wrong. You can’t teach your child a double standard with the word. We need to stop complaining about others using it when we use it. It is not a word used lovingly, nor was it created to be used lovngly. It is a word that was meant to degrade us in the lowest possible form. Those who use it never had to live through the horrors it brought about. Rappers especially are guilty of it. I wish those who died over the word could take the place of those who feel it has no meaning (NAS)

By: Arn

Arn — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:11:12 +0000

Not that I completely agree with Elizabeth because her experience is different than Sherri’s or Whoopi’s but black people do need to realize the double standard of using the word. You can’t popularize a word and say it’s “just a word” and be oh so offended when a white person says it. I use the word sometimes but I would NEVER knowingly say it to another black person in front of a white person.

By: Ms. T.

Ms. T. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:59:41 +0000

Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin (both Italian) were notorious for calling each other dego and wop in public, but they would have cut any non-Italian or Non-Sicilian for saying it. And rightfully so. They used those terms with each other as terms of endearment.

I doubt that we’re the only ones that do this. Maybe the other groups just keep that kind of talk within the family. Keep it in the family. Otherwise, it’s offensive. Plain and simple.

By: Jamaal

Jamaal — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:54:07 +0000

Yea but we’re not racist are we.. We get away with sayin ish all the time. White folks need to stop being scared to say ish. for example at the bet awareds sean was like here’s lauren london a great role model for all the young black women out there..Sure I agree..but now let a white person stand up and say here’s such n such a great role model for all the young white women out there..etc. etc. We’d go to cryin like some lil itches..all outraged n ish..its real. On a side note its painful lookin at whoopi’s ugly ass.