NationStates Jolt Archive

(I hope) Everyone is familiar with the way African-Americans (or in Europe, African-Europeans(?), or blacks, if you want to risk having your head chopped off in a zealously liberal, politically-correct region) consistently call each other the n* word (I'm guessing actually saying it will get me banned or whatnot). Do you see this as self-degrading? Or is it a unifying word used to, well, unite members of a race? What kind of social/cultural impacts do you think it will have in the future? Will it ever fall out of vogue? A penny for your thoughts...

(or in Europe, African-Europeans(?)
Negroes or blacks
What kind of social/cultural impacts do you think it will have in the future? Will it ever fall out of vogue? A penny for your thoughts...
No it won't.

I have heard that the consistent use of the N word by black people in a non racist context helps nullify the harmful conotations of the word. Its harder for a non-black to use the word in such a context as it could easily be confused for this racism. Now among close friends this may not be the case, but in a general sense its harder to tell. For example, how many times have you heard the worrd used recently in a racist as opposed to non-racist context? I here it much more often in the non-racist, almost never in the racist.

Now I'm not saying I completly agree with this assesment of the situation, but it raises many interesting points to ponder. Is it really derogatory, if it is not allowed to be? If it becomes a completely acceptable word for everyday usage is it still obscene?

Are you talking about the word "niggardly"?
Because there isn't anything wrong with that word.

nig·gard·ly ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ngrd-l) adj.
Grudging and petty in giving or spending. Meanly small;
scanty or meager: left the waiter a niggardly tip.

Are you talking about the word "niggardly"?
Because there isn't anything wrong with that word.
Main Entry: nig·gard·ly
Pronunciation: -lE
Function: adjective
1 : grudgingly mean about spending or granting : BEGRUDGING
2 : provided in meanly limited supply
synonym see STINGY
- nig·gard·li·ness noun
- niggardly adverb

Correct, but I still wouldn't use it in casual conversation if I were you.

****** was taken from the Spanish description of their slaves,
using it along side the term negro. The hatred for the word
came from the hatred of Slave Masters using the word towards
African Americans. Today's WHITE MAN's use of this word suggests
we are still slaves and they are the master - as we use it amongst
ourselves it defines we are master of ourselves.

Correct, but I still wouldn't use it in casual conversation if I were you.

It would be like using "Jew" as a verb.

I would suggest for you young thinkers posting here
to read "******", by Randall Kennedy. It deals with the
history of the word and it's impact on today's youth.

****** was taken from the Spanish description of their slaves,
using it along side the term negro. The hatred for the word
came from the hatred of Slave Masters using the word towards
African Americans. Today's WHITE MAN's use of this word suggests
we are still slaves and they are the master - as we use it amongst
ourselves it defines we are master of ourselves.
What if a Latino, Arab or Asian uses the word ******?

Black people calling each other niggers(or niggas) is like jews calling each other kykes or mexicans calling each other spics. Anyway I just think its funny how they all willingly degrade each other.

It would be like using "Jew" as a verb.
Jew you!!

Blacks calling each other niggers is like gay people calling each other queers. It's a way to take a slur and turn it into something positive; taking an insult and turning it into a compliment. Like, "Hey, society, this is OUR word now!" Kind of like when someone made fun of Cyrano de Bergerac's big nose and he instantly rattled off a list of big-nose jokes that were funnier.

"******" is the actual offensive word.

"Nigga" is the word, you're talking about. "Nigga" is no different than saying, "what's up bro?"

Where I live, Hispanics say it to blacks and in some cases blacks say it back to hipanics. If a caucasian says it...I feel sorry for his physical health lol

See the difference?

It would be like using "Jew" as a verb.
This is where a lack of knowledge leads to anger. Niggardly comes
from an Old English term; "nigard" or "nig" which is of Scandinavian
origins.

You can find it in great literature from Milton to Shakespeare.

This is where a lack of knowledge leads to anger. Niggardly comes
from an Old English term; "nigard" or "nig" which is of Scandinavian
origins.

You can find it in great literature from Milton to Shakespeare.
Scandinavian eh? Maybe it then comes from the Nikker or Nekkar. Which was an evil Germanic water spirit who tried drowning unsuspecting travellars who came to close to the water where he dwelled.

Just like how we anarchists say "Sup, my fellow Unabomber worshipping, hedonistic, godless, commie terrorists."

Blacks calling each other niggers is like gay people calling each other queers. It's a way to take a slur and turn it into something positive; taking an insult and turning it into a compliment. Like, "Hey, society, this is OUR word now!" Kind of like when someone made fun of Cyrano de Bergerac's big nose and he instantly rattled off a list of big-nose jokes that were funnier.
Queer is now acceptable for everyone to use. It generally denotes anything that fall under the "Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender" catergory but in the convience of a single word. Fag is the gay equivalent to the N word.

The N word is offensive,and hurtful. Although it is stupid for black people to call eachother that,because they are insulting themselves.

"******" is the actual offensive word.

"Nigga" is the word, you're talking about. "Nigga" is no different than saying, "what's up bro?"

Where I live, Hispanics say it to blacks and in some cases blacks say it back to hipanics. If a caucasian says it...I feel sorry for his physical health lol

See the difference?
I'm surprised someone on NationStates would be 'street-smart' enough to know that...thanks for the info.

some white people in my school have said it and received no retribution but some have. just the way things go, nigga.

The N word is offensive,and hurtful. Although it is stupid for black people to call eachother that,because they are insulting themselves.

Apparently its not, because they aren't offended or hurt.

I think it's kinda funny that White people put Black people through hundreds of years of slavery and we're getting bent outta shape cause they can use a word we can't. BIG FLIPPIN DEAL! If you really think about it, what do you even care? Do you need to say this word to feel good about yourself?

Look, I'm a white guy, and I use the N* word all the time, especially at Klan meetings. I don't get what the big deal is.

Where I live, Hispanics say it to blacks and in some cases blacks say it back to hipanics. If a caucasian says it...I feel sorry for his physical health lol

i'd say that white people are sometimes allowed to say nigga, but only in certain circumstances. it really depends on who says it to who, and if that person has done the necessary work to be consider 'in' the group. and they certainly shouldn't try it outside of whatever restricted context it has become accepted for them.

The N word is offensive,and hurtful. Although it is stupid for black people to call eachother that,because they are insulting themselves.

wow, patronize much?

I think it's kinda funny that White people put Black people through hundreds of years of slavery and we're getting bent outta shape cause they can use a word we can't. BIG FLIPPIN DEAL! If you really think about it, what do you even care? Do you need to say this word to feel good about yourself?

It isn't really the need to use it that's such the big deal. It's whether or not whites, or asians, or whoever should be "allowed" to use it... That is, does a black have the right to get mad when a white (or other race) uses the term in an affectionate manner... And I say no, because then it's still being racist... just the other way around.

Look, I'm a white guy, and I use the N* word all the time, especially at Klan meetings. I don't get what the big deal is.

I think you're being sarcastic, but I'm not sure. So just to be safe, why don't you let us all know?

It isn't really the need to use it that's such the big deal. It's whether or not whites, or asians, or whoever should be "allowed" to use it... That is, does a black have the right to get mad when a white (or other race) uses the term in an affectionate manner... And I say no, because then it's still being racist... just the other way around.

you can call your friends a bunch of assholes, but i can't. so what? that's how in-groups and out-groups work.

you can call your friends a bunch of assholes, but i can't. so what? that's how in-groups and out-groups work.

I'm not saying it in terms of "assholes" here. I'm saying that nobody has the right to yell at anybody else for being racist when they themselves are being racist in not allowing the other race to take part. By saying "you can't say that because you're black," that's racist, isn't it? Or for any other race?

I'm not saying it in terms of "assholes" here. I'm saying that nobody has the right to yell at anybody else for being racist when they themselves are being racist in not allowing the other race to take part. By saying "you can't say that because you're black," that's racist, isn't it? Or for any other race?

being black in america is to be part of a socially created identity that has only in the past 2 generations even started coming up from overt oppression. part of that oppression saw expression in the dominant group calling the oppressed niggers. so without making yourself part of the in-group, you can't say nigga without pissing people off. deal with it.

(I hope) Everyone is familiar with the way African-Americans (or in Europe, African-Europeans(?), or blacks, if you want to risk having your head chopped off in a zealously liberal, politically-correct region) consistently call each other the n* word (I'm guessing actually saying it will get me banned or whatnot). Do you see this as self-degrading? Or is it a unifying word used to, well, unite members of a race? What kind of social/cultural impacts do you think it will have in the future? Will it ever fall out of vogue? A penny for your thoughts...
You mean the term ******? Why sound like a preschooler who doesn't want to get soap in their mouth and just say it? It's a friggin' game for you and those who play the other side of the same trip. You get to say that the word has never crossed your lips and they, as long as they are black or mildly milk chocolate brown and feign (or display actual) ignorance, can say it. All the Eminem wannabes are wiggaz who be wishin' they be niggaz. The term 'niggaz on the other hand, should never be confused with the whitey version of '******' - or as LBJ used to say, "Nig-roes", aight?

Now who in hell decided 'black' is not beautiful. Huey Newtown & Co. thought it was and they were pretty much totally into the chauvinistic Nubian Prince & Princess thing. Now they were about as authentically black as someone can get. Is this the same crowd who has decided to cure division by adding a continentally hyphenated descriptor?

In summation, "Bite my hairy, chromatically impaired, European-American ass" with that sanctimonious, pretentious PC crap.

What i want to know is why we call blacks that have never been to africa African-Americans and never hear "oh he's European-American" for white people.

As a interracial kid, I have a lot of experience with this topic...So I will try to inform as best as possible

1) Nigga and ****** are different words.....Nigga means "Whats up my African Heritage Brother", while ****** is not really used that much..

2) I personally hate both words, but I believe that the general amoung black people is that white people have abused their "****** Privalige Rights"

3) Now, it is generally acceptable one black to be able to walk up to an unknown person that is black and say "What's up Nigga"....However, if the person that ingages in the conversation happens to be white, the situation will decline rapidly.

4) I much rather prefer the title African American to, ******, Nigga, Negro, or Colored

If you have any other questions, I'll try to answer them

What i want to know is why we call blacks that have never been to africa African-Americans and never hear "oh he's European-American" for white people.
For the record I am not albino so while chromatically impaired I am most assuredly not white. Having been to Scotland I have seen white people. Which beings me to my second point: I have been to the continent so unlike African-Americans who have never been to Africa I am entitled to be classified as European-American and in the future demand that this term be used or me and my Euro homies gonna bust yo head wide open my wigga.