NationStates Jolt Archive

I grew up in my towns "ghetto", so I was always around hip hop music(when my dad wasn't blasting his 80s rock :p), so consequently I like hip hop music a lot. Now, we all know that in many hip hop songs there are a lot of "niggas" being thrown around. So, when sing along with the songs, I say the word nigga a lot. Now, being that my skin is white, does it therefore automatically make it racist for me to say that? Or does intent play into a lot more? Or is it only acceptable for blacks to say nigga? Anyone else in a similar position?

(also, I know the answer already in my own mind, but I just want to see what NSG thinks)

No.

I think nobody, no matter what color his or her skin is, should toss that word around, any more than people should call each other spics, wetbacks, wops, guineas, krauts, kikes, ragheads, ho, bitch, etc. They're all degrading.

I think nobody, no matter what color his or her skin is, should toss that word around, any more than people should call each other spics, wetbacks, wops, guineas, krauts, kikes, ragheads, ho, bitch, etc. They're all degrading.

How do you feel about "Porkchops"?

Yo?

I for one, think racial humour is damned funny in the right context. That meaning its all about the intent. If you use such a with the intention of insulting, then yes, youre a douchebag. If its meant to be harmless, then it is.

Racial slurs have no more power than what we give them.

I think nobody, no matter what color his or her skin is, should toss that word around, any more than people should call each other spics, wetbacks, wops, guineas, krauts, kikes, ragheads, ho, bitch, etc. They're all degrading.

Bingo! With all the negatives around the word it can never be said without the negatives that surround it. Even Blacks that say it are in a sense promoting and advocating racism in my opinion.

I had some black co-workers at a previous job and I heard them saying it, so I asked them about it and they said that "nigga" was okay, at least as far as they were concerned, and that they only found it offensive when spelled (and pronounced) the "other" way (i.e. the way Chevy Chase said it to Richard Pryor on an episode of SNL).

Bingo! With all the negatives around the word it can never be said without the negatives that surround it. Even Blacks that say it are in a sense promoting and advocating racism in my opinion.

QFT. If they don't want us white people to call them those things, then they shouldn't call each other those things either. It should be the same for all races, not "tolerated from some but not from others".

Racist cracka.

I think nobody, no matter what color his or her skin is, should toss that word around, any more than people should call each other spics, wetbacks, wops, guineas, krauts, kikes, ragheads, ho, bitch, etc. They're all degrading.

What about Cracker, Gringo, Hick, Honky, Wasp, or Whitey?

Racial slurs have no more power than what we give them.

Indeed. And we, as a society, tend to give them far too much power.

Indeed. And we, as a society, tend to give them far too much power.

Hey, don't you include me in your silly society!

What about Cracker, Gringo, Hick, Honky, Wasp, or Whitey?

It's WASP.

And totally funny.

Hey, don't you include me in your silly society!

Ok. *adds Ruffy to The List*

Indeed. And we, as a society, tend to give them far too much power.

Words are used to communicate thought. If someone says nigga or ****** then it automatically portrays the thought of someone being either a racist or bigot in most minds.

Racist cracka.

Don't ever say that aggin.

Ok. *adds Ruffy to The List*

.. anarchist.. list?

I think nobody, no matter what color his or her skin is, should toss that word around, any more than people should call each other spics, wetbacks, wops, guineas, krauts, kikes, ragheads, ho, bitch, etc. They're all degrading.

Alright, but I'm still gonna say, "Cracker, please!"


...sorry...

Some of these problems stem from people having a 'on/off' concept of race and racial attitudes. The question has a tacit implication that there is racially sensitive 'colorblind' person on one end, and a Klu Klux Klansman on the other end.

It's not that cut and dry. Saying 'nigga' doesn't make you David Duke or anything, but it carries racial connotations that are obvious. And absolutely it does have more weight when a white guy says the word because of the history.

You can want the word to not have that weight when you say it, but frankly that's not going to happen. A lot of people in the 'black community' don't like other members of the 'black community' saying it, so you're going to have a pretty big uphill battle getting some sort of 'okay' to say it.

You can say it all you want. But it has a connotation and you can't escape that. That doesn't make you a 'racist' in the 'black people are inferior and should do my house work' sense, but it does seem to ignore the history of the word and the reaction and sentiment that goes with white people (or, again, anyone) using that word.

My family is pure white.
I have a Jewish cousin.
His name is Nigur.
It is pronounced "******".

Everyone laughs.
Then they realize that this is their only chance to say "******" and not get beaten by others' ethics.
So they say his name as much as they can.

The fun lasts for a few months, usually.
Then they tire of it.

Don't ever say that aggin.

Whew! Good thing you didn't tell me never to say it AGAIN!

Cracka.

Indeed. And we, as a society, tend to give them far too much power.

Absolutely.

Sadly, people dont keep the old phrase "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me", in thier heads.

Now, Im a white boy, and if I ever heard anyone call me a "cracker", or a "honkey", I would probably die laughing. They almost sound like nonsense words, and the irony I find delicious.
Particularly since with a little more effort, they could have come up with "Triscuit".

"Triscuit"...even worse than a cracker!

See, now thats funny!

.. anarchist.. list?

Oh, right, sorry. That list. I'll add you to that one instead.

Whew! Good thing you didn't tell me never to say it AGAIN!

Cracka.

Never say 'ackarc' either.;)

Oh, right, sorry. That list. I'll add you to that one instead.

There's more than one list? And how dare you group anarchists!

If you aren't singing the song for the purpose of being racist, then I think it's fine to sing it when singing along with a song. You weren't the one who chose the word.

Another person who thought about how "triscuit" should be added! I'm not the only one! YAY! ^_^

I think nobody, no matter what color his or her skin is, should toss that word around, any more than people should call each other spics, wetbacks, wops, guineas, krauts, kikes, ragheads, ho, bitch, etc. They're all degrading.

What about Cracker, Gringo, Hick, Honky, Wasp, or Whitey?

I am not offended by the racial slurs themselves nearly as much as by the double standard that allows it from some races, but not others, and aimed at some races, but not at others.

If a black person calls me "whitey", even if s/he means it offensively, the racial slur itself is not what offends me, it's the cultural double standard allowing him/her to call me "whitey" or "cracker" but not allowing me to call him/her "n-----".

The point I'm trying to make is, ban it in both directions and from all races, or allow it in both directions and from all races; don't play favoritism with this race or that race; treat them ALL EQUALLY.

In order to use the word with impunity, you must first defeat Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem.

And I don't s'pect any of you people got the Glow for it.

Absolutely.

Sadly, people dont keep the old phrase "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me", in thier heads.

Now, Im a white boy, and if I ever heard anyone call me a "cracker", or a "honkey", I would probably die laughing. They almost sound like nonsense words, and the irony I find delicious.
Particularly since with a little more effort, they could have come up with "Triscuit".

"Triscuit"...even worse than a cracker!

See, now thats funny!

QFT. And LOL. :D

If you aren't singing the song for the purpose of being racist, then I think it's fine to sing it when singing along with a song. You weren't the one who chose the word.


If that were true, I'd say that everything's cool in the mind of a gangsta, cause real gangsta ass niggahs think deep, up 365, 24/7 cause real gangsta ass niggahs don't sleep.

I am not offended by the racial slurs themselves nearly as much as by the double standard that allows it from some races, but not others, and aimed at some races, but not at others.

If a black person calls me "whitey", even if s/he means it offensively, the racial slur itself is not what offends me, it's the cultural double standard allowing him/her to call me "whitey" or "cracker" but not allowing me to call him/her "n-----".

The point I'm trying to make is, ban it in both directions and from all races, or allow it in both directions and from all races; don't play favoritism with this race or that race; treat them ALL EQUALLY.
In what way is it really 'allowed'? It might not carry a proportionate response, but then they haven't had a proportionate history. But if someone starts calling me 'Whitey' or 'Honky' in anger it is frowned on. I think this is more illusionary than anything else.

In order to use the word with impunity, you must first defeat Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem.

And I don't s'pect any of you people got the Glow for it.
This will be where the thread peaked.

I am not offended by the racial slurs themselves nearly as much as by the double standard that allows it from some races, but not others, and aimed at some races, but not at others.

If a black person calls me "whitey", even if s/he means it offensively, the racial slur itself is not what offends me, it's the cultural double standard allowing him/her to call me "whitey" or "cracker" but not allowing me to call him/her "n-----".

The point I'm trying to make is, ban it in both directions and from all races, or allow it in both directions and from all races; don't play favoritism with this race or that race; treat them ALL EQUALLY.

I agree 100%.

If you aren't singing the song for the purpose of being racist, then I think it's fine to sing it when singing along with a song. You weren't the one who chose the word.

Another person who thought about how "triscuit" should be added! I'm not the only one! YAY! ^_^
I remember the awkwardness that came when as a kid I would find myself singing the hook to Run-DMC's I'm Proud to be Black...ah yeah...

I remember the awkwardness that came when as a kid I would find myself singing the hook to Run-DMC's I'm Proud to be Black...ah yeah...

I wasn't a kid at the time, but there was an awkward moment when I was listening to the God's Son album, specifically "Last Real Nigga Alive", and my friend happened to hear it playing as I opened my car door.

I remember the awkwardness that came when as a kid I would find myself singing the hook to Run-DMC's I'm Proud to be Black...ah yeah...

When I was a kid, it was I am Woman that embarrassed us when we were caught singing it. Standards change-while I don't think it's racist to sing along with a favorite song, I've been told I'm racist for liking Holiday in Cambodia. Back in the seventies, racist humor was acceptable as long as you hit everyone equally-tell a Jewish joke, a Catholic joke, an African-American joke, a Chinese joke-it extended everyone's act to about five hours, so we changed the standard so the only racist humor acceptable to modern sensibilities is the Catholic joke, the WASP joke, and the hillbilly joke, unless you're a member of the race targeted by the joke, when you can still tell it, but the "Enlightened Few" will look down their nose at you-and repeat the joke to each other so they can spot the racist who laughs.

It's not racism unless it involve oppression. I mean there's no point getting all moralistic about singing the lyrics of a song not directing it toward anyone. And it's not racist if you say it to a black person and he/she don't mind. Racism and discrimination comes hand in hand. Actually I don't even find it problematic to say "most nigga likes fry chicken" racist. It only becomes problematic when it turns into, "he's a nigga, he must like fry chicken".

Of course keep in mind that black people aren't all the same. I think it's a very racist thing to assume all black people don't mind just because one of two black friends tell you so. True is we can never be sure if the person you are talking to won't find it racist. I suggest that if you not sure, ask the person who you intend to use it on first.

How do you feel about "Porkchops"?
Great with apple sauce!! :)

I am not offended by the racial slurs themselves nearly as much as by the double standard that allows it from some races, but not others, and aimed at some races, but not at others.

If a black person calls me "whitey", even if s/he means it offensively, the racial slur itself is not what offends me, it's the cultural double standard allowing him/her to call me "whitey" or "cracker" but not allowing me to call him/her "n-----".

The point I'm trying to make is, ban it in both directions and from all races, or allow it in both directions and from all races; don't play favoritism with this race or that race; treat them ALL EQUALLY.

I agree 100%.

*sigh*

I'll steal an idea from D.L. Hughley: blacks would be glad to trade -- they can run the world and you can say "******" all you want. They'll even throw in sickle-cell anemia. Do we have a deal?

I wasn't a kid at the time, but there was an awkward moment when I was listening to the God's Son album, specifically "Last Real Nigga Alive", and my friend happened to hear it playing as I opened my car door.

Haha. I was just listening to that song myself :)

If a group of people insists on running around calling each other 'nigga' all day, it seems somewhat low and discriminatory of them to claim that others should not say the same word in the same context, based upon the color of their skin.

*sigh*

I'll steal an idea from D.L. Hughley: blacks would be glad to trade -- they can run the world and you can say "******" all you want. They'll even throw in sickle-cell anemia. Do we have a deal?

Is it just me, or do you also find that comedians have some of the most insightful things to say about racial issues?

well if people are getting bashed up for saying it ,i guess so

I'm black, and I'm not offended by the off-hand nigga.

If someone looks at me and calls me a ******, or something like that, I'm going to get mad. No one likes to be called a dirty ******, ever.

But if it's like, "Nigga pleze!" I'm cool with it.

I'm black, and I'm not offended by the off-hand nigga.

If someone looks at me and calls me a ******, or something like that, I'm going to get mad. No one likes to be called a dirty ******, ever.

But if it's like, "Nigga pleze!" I'm cool with it.

Let me ask you this:

How different would it be if you directly laughed at the person who called you that, instead of getting mad. Do you think it would take the "power" from that particular word, or would it make a difference as to what you feel when you hear it?

In order to use the word with impunity, you must first defeat Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem.

And I don't s'pect any of you people got the Glow for it.

WHO IS THE MASTAH?


http://haacked.com/images/ShoNuffFullSize.gif

Only if you are racist.

What about Cracker, Gringo, Hick, Honky, Wasp, or Whitey? You shouldn't include hick, it is a way of life, not a skin color. I've met Cracker Hicks, ****** Hicks, Gook Hicks, Ingin Hicks, and Du Hicks. Hicks is a personality, not a race.