African American/Blacks...A Question...

[Living4Him03]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I'm posting it here!
I was wondering, why is the "n" word used among many young African Americans/black people? I have a good friend who is from Nigeria and she despises the use of the term. People my age (African Americans among African Americans) will often use it by saying stuff like, "my "n" is coming over today" or "I caught my "n" with another guy", etc. I don't understand why use of this word is justified simply because an African American uses it around another African American. I was taught growing up that it's a degrading and filthy word and should never be used to describe ANYONE, even in jest among African Americans with other African Americans. Why, then, do young African Americans (and maybe even older ones too) believe it's OK to use the "n" word? It really baffles me...even I hate when people use it, it's just like any other curse word to me. Does anyone use it among their friends or know people who do? What are their reasons? And, how can a "white girl" respond to a black friend using the "n" word?

 

[Doctrine1st]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I'm posting it here!
I was wondering, why is the "n" word used among many young African Americans/black people? I have a good friend who is from Nigeria and she despises the use of the term. People my age (African Americans among African Americans) will often use it by saying stuff like, "my "n" is coming over today" or "I caught my "n" with another guy", etc. I don't understand why use of this word is justified simply because an African American uses it around another African American. I was taught growing up that it's a degrading and filthy word and should never be used to describe ANYONE, even in jest among African Americans with other African Americans. Why, then, do young African Americans (and maybe even older ones too) believe it's OK to use the "n" word? It really baffles me...even I hate when people use it, it's just like any other curse word to me. Does anyone use it among their friends or know people who do? What are their reasons? And, how can a "white girl" respond to a black friend using the "n" word?

Beats me. I have heard that it is used as a term of endearment, but as an African American, and I never understood that term either (African American) one can be white and be an African American. So as an American who happens to be Black, I despise the term and understand it probably as one of the last demeaning remarks many of my anscestors heard prior to being hung with a rope. I see no endearing qualities to it.

 

[Arikay]

Although im not black, I think I can give a guess as to why it was originally used by blacks.

Its a way to take the power out of the word, the N word was a very racist word and was filled with hate. So for a black person to start using it, was a way to make fun of those who used it for hate, and to take its power away from it, because it was no longer treated as a word of hate nor a word that would bring fear.

Although they arent on the same level as the N word, this has been done in the non christian community with "heathen" and "infidel" both terms that were often used as hatefull terms, many people now feel proud to call themselves a Heathen or infidel. It makes fun of those that use them for hate, and takes the hate out of them by making them a good thing.

Of course, I can see why people would not like the N word because of the enormous amount of hate that has been around it.

 

[Living4Him03]

Although im not black, I think I can give a guess as to why it was originally used by blacks.

Its a way to take the power out of the word, the N word was a very racist word and was filled with hate. So for a black person to start using it, was a way to make fun of those who used it for hate, and to take its power away from it, because it was no longer treated as a word of hate nor a word that would bring fear.

Although they arent on the same level as the N word, this has been done in the non christian community with "heathen" and "infidel" both terms that were often used as hatefull terms, many people now feel proud to call themselves a Heathen or infidel. It makes fun of those that use them for hate, and takes the hate out of them by making them a good thing.

Of course, I can see why people would not like the N word because of the enormous amount of hate that has been around it.

But isnt that just a really backwards, warped way of making yourself feel better? Why not find other ways to end hate against people who are different from the majority?

 

[Arikay]

Its not an end all thing, but it does deflate a lot of the power of the word. It gives some of the power back to the group the word was being used against.

 

[Ampmonster]

i don't get it myself. black folks use it in practically every rap song. but if a white public figure used it he'd be ruined.

 

[revolutio]

I have always viewed it as a way in witch blacks can mock the terms that used to be used to degrade their whole race. Nothing defuses an insult like taking it in stride.

Heck, my white friends and I call each other "cracka" as a joke.

 

[Philosoft]

i don't get it myself. black folks use it in practically every rap song. but if a white public figure used it he'd be ruined.

Well, considering the word was used for decades by whites as a slur, it makes some sense that blacks might not yet trust that a white person using the word today has black-empowering motives in mind.

 

[Fiendishjester]

I think Arikay has it about right. What better way to remove the stigma associated with a word than to change the meaning of the word within your own vernacular? It has been transformed into a term of endearment, or a pronoun in some cases. Personally, I don't have much of a problem with the word, because I believe that a word can change meaning, and though the memory of the previous meaning remains, I think it's time to accept the change.

 

[Godschild]

I am an African American and I dislike that word as well. It doesn't serve much of a purpose when using it. Most of the time, if I'm listening to music, and the singer/rapper uses it(even if it's only once) then I will change the station. I don't like it when my family uses it, and they think that I'm "too white" because I tell them not to use that word around me, along with other things. I just think that the "n" word doesn't serve a purpose and doesn't glorify God or show respect for the person you are using it to refer to.

 

[tcampen]

Kudos to both Fiendishjester and Arikay for such a coherent explanation. And while there is an apparrent double standard as to the treatment of different people who use the same word, keep in mind that the racist implications of the "n"-word come from white people using it, and no other race. So, in short, who cares if I as a white person can't use the word without impunity.

And Godschild makes an excellent point. Use of the world within the hip hop culture (or wannabes) is about the only place you tend to find such references. Certainly not everyone agrees with it.


And if you're familiar with any Tarantino films, you'll notice a genuine cross-section of people using the word quite freely - whatever that's worth.

 

[Hezmasaveyour]

Well honestly , my friends and I dont actually call each other that word , but we do say it. Just like some said, it takes away the harshness of it.
When we do say it, we are joking. I know what you mean about Blacks being able to say it , but Whites not being able to.Its like calling your family crazy.You are in the family so it doesnt hurt you does it?But if someone else calls your family crazy , you might get a little offended.Same thing with the 'n' word.

 

[Philosoft]

Well honestly , my friends and I dont actually call each other that word , but we do say it. Just like some said, it takes away the harshness of it.

I admit to this as well. I don't know about others, but I can confidently say that, when I use the word, I'm not calling the person an "individual who is less than human because of skin color." (or whatever the original meaning) That's not necessarily a justification, just an explanation.

 

[water_ripple]

I live in a neck of the woods where a lot of white people still use the N word as a slanderous and demeaning way to label black people. Any time I hear that word I am immediately sick to my stomach. People in my own family use that word. There was one incident where my brother was saying it in front of my two year old (and trying to get her to repeat the word). I went off. I told him that if he talked like that again, and tried to influence my daughter to do so that he would no longer be allowed in my house. There really are still some places in America where people are extremely racist, and no I do not think the use of that word is empowering at all. Something else that is come up in the hip-hop culture...women are constantly refered to as the B word, and all of the sudden it is taking on a term of twisted endearment. I can assure you young men that if any woman has any sort of self-respect she will not be smiling when you call her that...(or any of the other current terms that women are being refered as)

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

Something else that is come up in the hip-hop culture...women are constantly refered to as the B word, and all of the sudden it is taking on a term of twisted endearment. I can assure you young men that if any woman has any sort of self-respect she will not be smiling when you call her that...(or any of the other current terms that women are being refered as)

Amen! I was just going to refer to how the modern rap culture also refers to women as 'female dogs' and I cannot see how that can be turned into a term of endearment.

Before I left the UK I noticed a trend where the young kids began to use such terms at school and it did baffle me.

Maybe I am getting old but such terms in its originality were offensive and should be remembered as such irrespective of who uses them.

My best friend (who is African Caribbean) would not think twice about doing a 'Trinity style' back kick to anyone who referred to her as either a 'N', 'a female dog' or both.

G-d bless

 

[burrow_owl]

I think that the above posters are right with their explanations of the origin of n---'s use; one can see the obvious analogue in the gay community's appropriation (and if I were feeling pretentious today? I'd call it reterritorialization. heh) of the word 'queer.' I think that the political project of n---- is a failed one. Rather than empowering the black community, the way queer has in its usage, I think it's just reinforced certain stereotypes within the black community. In other words, it's been an incomplete appropriation. That's my take on it.

Oh, and living in an Hispanic neighborhood, it's still pretty jarring after 2 years to hear hispanic kids calling each other n---.

 

[feral]

It's the same as homosexuals calling one another "f*ggot" - taking the sting out of a insult by adopting the phrase as a joke or greeting. When all your friends call you the name it isn't so shocking or hurtful when someone else uses it.

I agree that there needs to be a better way of lessening hostility of the uninformed.

 

[Fiendishjester]

Thanks for the compliment, tcampen.


I just thought of a hypothetical situation that may shed some light on my belief.

Say someone speaks a language (completely unrelated to English) in which a word exists that sounds exactly like a common swear word in English. Would you be offended if that person was speaking their native language, and they used that exact combination of sounds (which in our language is offensive)? I know I wouldn't, because that word doesn't have the same meaning behind it when used by that person, nor the same intent. Another good example of this, which was brought to mind by the "female dog" word, or the *b* word, is this: When someone uses the word in a dog show, which is a common occurence, are you offended? Probably not, because the intent and contextual meaning of the word is not offensive.

In the same way, people who are offended when others use the *n* word must realize that it is not that other people are being offensive, it is that you are being offended. This is a result of you hanging on to the old definition of the word, or just misinterpreting what the other person is saying. The other person does not have the same intent behind using the word as those who originally used it. When African Americans use it between each other, I know that they don't feel offended. Since it is a term of endearment for them, they feel that it brings them closer together. Frankly, if that is what this word is doing right now, I have no problem with it. I think it's the intent and contextual definition of the word that counts. I don't think the *n* word has only one meaning anymore, and so it shouldn't be hated because of one of its meanings.

Heh, sorry people, it's another long-winded post. Thanks for taking the time to read it.

 

[CushBabylonian]

Water ripple...remind me not to come to your home town

It's amazing as I read this that in the year 2003 as it approaches 2004, we as "civilized" human beings and so called "christians" who can invent great technologies for everyone to use and profit from still can't get passed a person's skin color. This world truly makes me sick to my stomach. I can't wait til I get to Heaven.

 

[water_ripple]

Water ripple...remind me not to come to your home town

It's amazing as I read this that in the year 2003 as it approaches 2004, we as "civilized" human beings and so called "christians" who can invent great technologies for everyone to use and profit from still can't get passed a person's skin color. This world truly makes me sick to my stomach. I can't wait til I get to Heaven.

Hey now not all of us are like that..Just those that are blinded by ignorant hate.