The “N” Word
Following was my comment on the topic in this blog post [ http://sahboog.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/nigger/]
I was just listening to a clip of Jay Z and Oprah discussing this topic on her show the other day. Jay was, obviously, for it to remain in our vocabulary, and Oprah was, again obviously, against it. Jay’s argument was that our generation has removed most of the power from the word and evolved it into something with less hurt behind it, replacing the “er” with “a” or “ah” and using it as a term of endearment. Oprah said, whenever she hears the word, regardless of the context, it made her think of the fact that the word was the last thing black men being lynched would hear coming from the mouth of their oppressors. I can see Oprah’s POV, and I think that is the biggest issue for the older AA generation. It hits very close to home for them because they are not very far removed from the hate that originated the word. For our generation (generally speaking) it isn’t such a big deal since we grew up hearing it as a term used for friends.
As someone who is a melting pot of races (Irish, German, Native American, Puerto Rican, and yes (gasp) African American), I was called every derogatory slur in the book, usually in one sentence. ex: “Get over her you fat little spic, n*gger, b*tch.” (direct quote from both my grandfather and uncle) And being light-skinned and growing up in the hood, I got cracker, whitey, etc. Anywhoo, I had a point. Being someone who has had the term used against me in a demeaning, destructive way, by my own family, I always find it interesting when I run into AAs who have never had the word used against them on a person level get so very “up in arms” about it being used by someone of another race, when it isn’t meant as a racial remark. The biggest argument I hear is “you’ll never fully understand the hurt behind it”. I don’t fault people for not knowing (or bothering to ask) about my own personal experience regarding it, but I find it to be another type of ignorance when those same people will jokingly throw around “cracker” or “spic”, and assume it’s ok. I feel like we, as individuals, continue to give it too much power over how it affects us. Even in looking back at my comment, I realized I never actually typed it out fully, so’s not to offend. And I’m using it as an explanation. Wow.
