...while I wouldn't normally make an issue of this, but I think it's high time I gave my take on the matter in light of a recent discussion I had with a friend of mine the other day. Let me share a story with you. (Note: Names were changed to protect the guilty...)
"When I was in junior high school, 7th grade, there was this girl name Jasmine Morales who I really had a major crush on. She was really pretty, but very bossy. She knew I liked her and took advantage of the fact often. I was young and naive and let her too. One day we were in Math class and we were all in different groups working on a project. The group Jasmine was in was right next to mine and I had heard them laughing and carrying on. Because she was in the group, I wanted to be part, so I got nosy and heard what they were laughing about and I made a comment. She then said to me, "Why are you even saying anything you stupid nigger?"
...the rest was a blur. I got up and smacked the girl so hard her head flew back. Now, please understand that I don't condone ANY violence toward women ON OR IN any level or way. I was young and this was the first time ever in my life I had been addressed as such.
The whole class stopped.
She looked at me and started screaming and swinging.
I didn't hit her back because I wasn't about to fight a girl, so I just blocked the few hits she got in before my teacher grabbed her.
The dean gave me "pre-suspension". That was pretty much "probation"."
I tell you that story because for a while, I've been seeing this whole use of the word nigger like it's a sign of affection when quite honestly, it's like a sign of regression. The word isn't a nice one. It isn't one that paints a beautiful picture in your mind. In fact, Google it and see what images come up. You'll be surprised.
We use the word in our music for what? Are we really empowering the word with love when the word actually means "dumb, lazy, ignorant"? How can I really call you, "My nigga!" and expect you to produce anything? That's like people who eat from the garbage saying that it's food and you and I both sitting there saying it's garbage and the person saying to us, "Well, it's food because I eat it."
HUH?!
Okay, while I know this blog won't change the world, perhaps it will get one or two of you to start thinking. At the end of the day, that's all that matters...
wow, you got us thinking, kinda reminds me of Oprah and JayZ's exchange.I watched an episode this week that sounded like she embraced his point of view. I like yourself, find no honor nor respect in the Word. I am a born and bred southern girl reared during the late sixties and 70's. Never ever was I taught that my name was nigga nor that I was to respond to it. Oh, it was spoken in my presence more times than I care to mention, and I still remember the colored section in the court house, stores and buses, but in my voice of my girl in The Great Debaters...RESOLVED: I ain't nevah evah gonna accept being called a nigga because that is not who I am, and never will be!
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