One of the
most divisive controversies going on today is the use of
the “n” word.
The controversy? Should blacks
continue to use this word with “a” at the end rather
than “er” as a term of endearment for their fellow
blacks?
Should there be a moratorium on its use? Blacks and whites
alike have split into different camps and a compromise
seems distant if at all possible.
Author
Randall Kennedy says that the “n” word did not originate
as a slur, but took on a derogatory meaning over
time.
Originally, it derives from the Latin word
niger,
which means
black. In
Darryl Littleton’s book, Black Comedians on
Black Comedy, he writes that the word was invented
and devoted to slaves as an insult by Whites. “It was supposed
to mean a person who is lazy, stupid, and
good-for-nothing…,” he writes.
Many young
people, black and white alike, feel that people should
understand that the meaning has changed over the years
and that its impact depends on whether a white or black
is using it.
In fact, in the stand-up comedy special Doin’ It Again,
the white comedian George Carlin contends that the word
itself is neutral, as are all words. “It’s the racist, bigoted a—hole using it that
you gotta watch out for,” he says.
Tyrone
Brooks, President of GABEO
Tyrone
Brooks, President of GABEO (Georgia Association of Black
Elected Officials) feels very strongly about the
word. "It should be banned from
our vocabulary and therefore from the hearts and minds
of civilized people here, there, and everywhere. I
thank God my mother and grandmother never allowed it to
be spoken in their homes or near their children.
Continuing to live by their creed, it shall forever be
banned in our family today, tomorrow, and
forever."
Hip Hop Artist Common
Some say
it’s OK for black people to use the word, but not
whites.
Says Hip Hop artist Common, “It’s like cultures
that can call one another certain things and it’s
embracing.
If you’re not part of that culture, you really
can’t understand it fully and you shouldn’t use
it.” Others
say that’s a double standard and want it banned. But, many people
of all races still consider it the most offensive racial
slur in the English language.
Roy Miller
Old-school
civil rights leaders are calling on a ban, urged by
people like Roy Miller, a black attorney in
Atlanta,
Ga. Miller has been
working since 1994 to have the word removed
from the
dictionary as well as conversation. “I tell people
that those who demand respect are on the top and those
that allow disrespect remain at the bottom,” said
Miller.
“Using this word can only lead to black
America going
downward.”
Miller has succeeded in convincing Funk and
Wagnall’s to remove the word from their dictionary and
continues to campaign for other dictionary publishers to
follow suit.
Congresswoman
Maxine Waters has asked that people voluntarily stop
using the word.
“I don’t believe in censorship,” she said. “I’m not
involved in legislative actions about the word. I would simply like
people to understand how detrimental that word is in our
society and simply voluntarily stop using
it.”
Maxine Waters
The Rev.
Jesse Jackson has publicly made his feelings known on
the matter.
“One thing is that we should stop using language
of degradation.
We should stop trying to make a term of
endangerment be a term of endearment,” he said. “People around
the world feel free to refer to us as niggers, and we
must be insult-proof. We must have a dignity
level.”
Rev.
Jesse Jackson
Robin
Lakoff, a white professor of linguistics at UC Berkeley,
said the “n” word is unique among negative words that
have been “reclaimed” (adopted and the meaning turned
around.)
For example, the word “queer” is a former slur
that the gay and lesbian community has embraced. But the “n” word
is different because it has remained confined to that
group. “In
order to reclaim a word, you have to allow it to be used
by everyone in society,” Lakoff said. “That wouldn’t be possible with this word because
of its historical meaning.”
Floyd
Griffin, recently elected to the Board of Directors of
NCMEC (National
Center for Missing
and Exploited Children), doesn’t feel that the “n” word
should ever be used. “The “n” word is
never appropriate in any setting,” he said. “African
Americans should not use the word or teach their
children to use it. We have come
through too many trials and tribulations over the
years. The word should never be used.”
Floyd
Griffin
Here are some comments from four
Middle Georgia young people about the
controversy:
“I
personally don’t use the word because it is offensive to
blacks. I
think people should be more sensitive to others
feelings, regardless of their race. But I do get
tired of blacks calling me “cracker” and saying “you
white people” and thinking that I’m not offended by
those remarks.
There’s definitely a double standard in young
blacks and whites today.”
Erica,
student, 20 years old
“Whites
shouldn’t use the “n” word; only blacks because of the
bad history between the blacks and whites. But I don’t
think it should be banned because that would take away
from Black History; it’s now a part of our
culture.”
Shemika, fast food, 20 years
old
“I don’t
think it should be banned, but I don’t use the word
because I have black hip hop friends who told me how
offensive it was and that I shouldn’t say it. I don’t use it in my
lyrics because I think it would be career
suicide.”
“Jaes,” hip hop artist, 26 years
old
“I use the
“n” word colloquially, in general speech as a common
discourse.
But it would make me irate to hear other races
use it. The
younger black generation needs to be educated about the
origin of the word if they are going to use it. It should be
held sacred among blacks.”
Tobias, office aide, 31 years
old
Regardless
of the outcome, it seems glaringly apparent that those
who continue to use the word, knowing its background of
hatred, are either indifferent, ignorant, completely
insensitive, or just downright
racist.