Photograph by Farl
Up and down the streets and parks young boys, teenagers, and even adults of all races call out to their friends, “my homie, my brother, my dog, and my n****r.” That last six-letter word that generations before have fought and toiled to abolish is uttered so easily these days. Without thought, reason, and absolutely no understanding of the word or it’s history.
It is now a slang, a warped endearment that our modernizing youth culture seems to have accepted amidst itself with open arms, perhaps thinking that the past is past and has no bearing in this open-minded world of theirs. Here, ignorance is no excuse, for after all who is unaware of slavery and segregation in this day and age – no it’s not ignorance but a disregard, carelessness for the horrors of the past and the long and hard suffering of those in the past. Those who use this term may not think so but above all this word is an insult, cold and hard, a slap in the face of humanity and freedom.
One does not forget the terror of the Holocaust nor does one belittle the people who were its victims. Why then is slavery, segregation, and it’s victims forgotten and belittled so? Every time I hear that “N” word I think of all the slaves, of people like Harriet Tubman who fought back, of those who risked thier lives, of sweat, of heat, of men being called boys, of humans treated no better than animals – that one word conjures so much, that one word brings it all back. Why is it borne, why is it said? The Holocaust lasted a few years but its pain is felt even now. Think, slavery and then segregation why that lasted generations, yet the derogatory terms of then are used again so soon.
And here’s the other most mind boggling thing of them all, that African Americans should use this term like one uses the article “the” in a sentence! How many times I’ve heard and seen them say it and yet the disgust that surges through me is the same as if anyone else said it, as if it were the first time.
It has been said (by whom I don’t know) that “people are allowed more leeway in what they call themselves than in what they call others.” But has this word, this hateful word, become so common that it is given leeway? It’s a shame is what it is, and shame is what those people who use this term should feel. Perhaps they should revisit the past, relive the horrors, perhaps then they will realize the magnitude of that little six-letter word. That we have advanced over time only to come upon such degradation of values is pitiful. That is it a “culture”, a carelessness rather than a faded memory of history that allows this word to thrive is even more pitiful than perhaps the history behind it.
- Kaosar
December 30, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I believe it’s become more prevalent and accepted because some African American have “reclaimed the word” (not unlike the way that, say, some gays will refer to themselves as “queer” or “dyke” or even “fag”). Likewise you hear it a great deal in American hip-hop (which is of course dominated by African American performers). In certain contexts I think the word has actually taken on a new meaning. I think it’s a way of overcoming the past, of draining the word of its hatred and power.
Having said that, I think there’s a big difference between an African-American using the n-word in a playful sense, and a non-African using the word in any context. Most Africans I know who occasionally use the word playfully would not be at all amused if one of their Caucasian friends were to use it.
And speaking as a non-African, I would never say that word, jokingly or otherwise, for any reason.
December 31, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I understand what your saying Baekho, but the explanation as to what the word has become and why it is being used again is a mockery of logic.
Does the color of our skin now determine whether a word is offensive or not? Does “reclaiming” the word wipe the slate clean? And, really what is reclaimed but an insult to themselves, their people, their race, their heritage, and their intellect? If they had truly reclaimed the word then it shouldn’t sting or cause offense when others say it.
I’m not an African American but I feel the insult of that term.
You say that the word has taken on a new meaning. Well, if the all the racist terms had taken on a new meaning would it change their first meaning, would it erase their origins? No, it wouldn’t.
I’ll call all these “reasons” and attempts at “reclaiming” the word for what they really are – an excuse to use it and a lame one at that.
African American or not, jokingly or not, any self-respecting person would refrain from using this racist terminology. It shows a lack of character and values.
It sounds as if I’m attacking you, Baekho but I’m not and I’m sorry that it comes across that way. But this topic does get me worked up. Don’t take offense for none was meant.
December 31, 2007 at 4:57 pm
No offense taken, Raatkiranii.
And justice and racism are certainly not bad topics to get worked up over! Would that more people could get as worked up over them as you. 
I agree that the way the word is used by some Africans isn’t logical, but then, much human behavior and even language isn’t logical. Regarding the orgin of the word, while origins are important, I don’t think an origin necessarily “fixes” a word once and for all. Meanings change, and words can drift away from their origins.
I suppose I look at it like this—when I was younger, schoolyard bullies would of course dish out nasty names to children. Some of the children who were called names would adopt the names as their own, refer to themselves with those names. They made the names their own, and in doing so, they took away a weapon of the bully.
I guess I look at the usage of the n-word in a similiar light. Obviously, not everybody else does, and certainly not every African looks at it that way. Even with attempts at re-claiming it, it certainly does remain a more vulgar term. Given that, I agree, and there’s no need for me to use (or any desire on my part to use that word). But if I encounter an African who does use that word, I accept it as a way that particular person is dealing with their past.
January 7, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I have no use for such a word, and it grates on me to hear it — even in jest. I guess it reminds me too much of racism. At any rate, I have an emotional reaction to it such as I don’t normally have to words alone. Maybe the only one or two other words get that same reaction from me.
January 7, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I agree, there is much i can tolerate but this word evokes an reaction from me unlike any other.
February 21, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Hello,
What a great post! I am so glad someone has put their thoughts out there..and I hope others read and learn from it.
I think part of it has to do with how selfish people have become. We may all be aware of slavery and segregation but how many have taken the time to think about what that actually means.
Take care,
Farhana
February 22, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Farhana – Thank you for taking the time and reading this post. I’m glad you dropped by and left some of your thoughts here.
I agree with you that selfishness plays a part in this type of degradation. Learning about a certain aspect of history in which this crime committed by humanity took place does not mean that people understand its horrors. Mankind it seems is just as ignorant when knowledge is available to them than when it’s not.