The N-Word Backlash. What r ur thoughts?
928972
Jesse Jackson has a point.  By black-media's (not all of course) insistence on adopting the term in order to (fill in whatever justification you have heard over the years) they have basically stripped away the true negative meaning of the word.   It's just a word that non blacks think is a "term of endearment" among blacks.  While that couldn't be further from the truth it does make clear the fact that African Americans do have some measure of control of how the world views us.  Personally I feel that rap artists and black comics share a major role in this.  These are the two main groups that are capable of influencing our young ones.  If no one was using the word in the first place a person wouldn't be able to play off their racial outbursts as just using the words they have heard used.  \n\nUnfortunately this goes way beyond just the use of a word.  The negative aspects of black culture gain far more attention then the positives.
953731
Why can't we make the "N" word powerless for our generation and from now on. It's been a long time now since the slave days.  Let take the hurt out of it, after all the origin of the word is the spanish word for black.
902344
Those of you who accused this joke teller of being a twat and racist read all the writing if you're able. He did say it was a joke. Also look at Al V's response....\nI wish you lot woul lighten up...after all let's have a laugh before the buggers blow us up.
461554
its retarted... i dont mean to offend anyone here... but this is my opinion.\n\nfirst of all... i think its ok to say black sheep on tv. if people interpret it differently thats they own dam luck... they shouldnt watch the dam show.\n\nsecond of all... tv censorship is getting out of control... children hear stuff on  the streets and at home (faul language). there is no need to censor certain words.\n\npeople change things because they are afraid of getting sued or something like that. racism or anything should not be the answer to everything. otherwise i could walk down the road and see a sign in a shop that says "sizzling sausages on sale here". i could interpret it as sexual.\n\nin the longrun its all bullshit. unless its something real not like a black sheap, it should be left alone. i mean come on, get real !
763521
Yes, seen the footage, heard the apology and still not satisified!!! What is really a shame is where is the public outcry!!! Why is it that when a the "N" word is used, you hear about it for a few days, and then nothing. So what he apologized, but unlike Mel who was under the influence of a mind altering substance, Michael Richards was stone cold sober and being angry is no excuse. You can't be funny all the time, and he wasn't funny. Rework your material and come back the next night and try again, but proclaiming about lynching, and putting foriegn objects up in anus' is just not funny and neither is he. I wonder how the other minority groups would have felt had it been them he shouted slurs at!!!
587213
I'm white and I agree. It's just like the black college funds, colleges, television etc... Lord forbid there be a white college fund or white college or a white tv station. I agree with your boyfriend that because of the history looooooooooong ago it puts a damper on things now. But we shouldn't have to suffer for the actions of others. I am proud to be white and I am proud to be an American and I am pround to be from Oklahoma. Shouldn't I be allowed to flaunt it?  And it's also ok for other races to make fun of us in their comic gigs or whatever and say the work "Cracker" referring to us but we aren't allowed to say the word "Nigger" referring to them. I don't think either word should be used. I don't think any word like that  should be used to describe anyone. But I can't say I am upset about the slaves being brought over here. I am glad their offsprings are here. They are my friends. If it weren't for the slaves being brought over we may not have some of the great people we do have. I am disappointed in what happened to alot of them though. I feel for them. Though thank God that thinking is different now.\n\nOMGOsh!!!!!!!!!! \nI wrote out that so horrible "N" word to make a point and it got substituted with symbles but the word CRACKER is still there. See my point people. If we are supposed to be equal lets be equal.
727692
I'm sure that there are some people that post things they would never say in public comforted by the anonymity and getting satisfaction from offending people.  I think that more often though people posting offensive language do have these same views when they aren't online and among close friends and people of like minded viewpoints spout off the same slurs that they post.  I would even say that a lot of these people don't even think they are racist or biased, because its all being said with a wink and a laugh, but it is still being said.
851527
Responding to THEY LIVE, it's not funny and you're just as ignorant as the people who use the word!!! Black people especially shouldn't use the word that degrades them. I don't know why they use it. they're just as ignorant as the people who made it. we need to come together as a black community and get it together!!
859291
i just wrote a letter today to the editor of a newspaper on this very subject. when people make the statement that "blacks use it", they make it seem like its a universal thing throughout the entire black community. it is not!! a small segment of society, namely the hip-hop industry has taken to using this word. as usual, society had chosen to take the actions of the few to mean the attitude of the many. it is a hate filled, ugly, vile word that should not be used by anyone & it's especially ugly when used by young people who have no clue as to its origins. it is not a word that can be adapted or "taken back" or any of the other nonsense people (who are looking to capitalize on its usage) come up with.\n\nThe main think I want people to take away from this answer is that  ALL Blacks DO NOT USE THE WORD "NIGGER" NOR IS IT OKAY WITH US. Its usage IS AN ACT OF SELF-HATRED BY WEAK MINDED, IGNORANT INDIVIDUALS. \n\nSorry about the caps. I just hate to think that there are folks out there who think we all use this ugly word.
993649
disagree. what they DIDN'T tell you about that meeting was that only black people can say it. If a white person says it we get in trouble. I personally think we should outlaw the word in it's entirety as socially unacceptable, but that's never gonna happen.
43675
there is a lot of history behind the n-word. It was originally used to hurt black people, and to make them feel inferior however, some black people have taken it and flipped the meaning in an effort to give it a pos. connotation, like how women sometimes refer to each other as hoes, b*****s, etc. but if you'd like more info on the topic read "N*i*g*g*e*r: the strange career of a troublesome word" by Randall Kennedy.
700807
You know, Jesse's a trip.  Sometimes he seems a complete wacko and other times he makes very good sense.  I think he's right on target with this one though.  I agree with many people in the black community - Oprah, and my stepmom for example - that feel the use of that word, even the altered use among blacks, is never anything but degrading and just causes the word to be used carelessly by those who are ignorant.  We all know white people who love to try and "act" black, talking ghetto and using the "n" word because they want to fit in with that culture.  They are laughed at and deserve the derision they receive for doing so.  So even though many black people feel their use of the word negates the negativity of it for them in their culture, it still serves to propel the word forward as fodder for those who just aren't too bright.  I can't even count the times I have chastised someone for using that word and have them reply back to me "well black people say it why can't i?"  At that point I realize they are too much of a moron to even continue with the conversation.
788612
I agree 100%.\n\nAnd I just knew someone would call you a bigot! For me, that slur only increases the validity of your post.  A lot of people who use that word in here need to look up its true meaning.
548910
The Violation of chatting is about the only one that seems to get results. I have seen the F word the B word the S word\nand a few letters in between used openly and have yet to see one being removed. I am beginning to suspect that Y/A is not as Neutral as it should be.
755814
I've seen whites call each other the c-word, but I don't call white people that word. That's up to them. Yep, whites reserve the right to use that word and all though by definition it cannot be used derogatorily towards a white person, I will continue NOT to use it towards white people. It's just out of respect and common decency to just let it be.\n\nI wish white people will look at the n-word in the same light as I do, because if we start nitpicking we're going to start getting into freedom of speech issues. \n\nBlacks and other subcultures of the United States (i.e., Italians, Latinos, Irish, Polish) also reserve the right to use their respective racial epithets within their respective groups. \n\nNow if everyone agrees to accept this and not use racial epithets against other groups of people we will all be able to move on with our lives peaceably.\n\nI have a sub-question and I hope you can answer it:\nWhy are whites offended by blacks using the n-word amongst themselves? \n(A) Is it a "I don't want to hear it used in public"-thing? \nOr\n(B) Is it a "I feel that if they can use it amongst each other, I should be able to use it towards them, too"-thing?\n\nIf it's B, tough noogies, no one black person in their right mind is going to co-sign that BS.\n\nGood day!
161102
I think the N word is very crass for both blacks and whites,and it should be taken out of the vocabulary of every person on earth!I dont think its cool and everyone should stop using it.And to answer your question why do you care if blacks use it verses whites?I mean just because they are talking with dirty mouths doesnt mean you have to stoop to that level.Just dont use the words,and ignore others who do! they are not nice at all coming from anyones mouth whether,black,white,mexican,chinese u name it...its just racist slang and its just plain rude.
250529
I think a little creativity on your part could certainly make the "n word" non-existant in your learning environment.\n\nHave you considered writing a lesson plan about the origin of this derogatory term, it's original usage, and how it is being "reclaimed" by newer generations in popular culture?  Have the students write a paper what the word represents to them prior to beginning the lesson, and then have them write how they feel about that word after you teach them the origin and history of this term.  \n\nOpen it up for discussion in your classroom, or even stage a debate as to why it should or shouldn't be used in everyday language.  Pose questions to them like, "How do you feel when people who are not African-American use the 'n word' in everyday speech?"  and "How does it make you feel when people use that term in a negative connotation to demean people?"\n\nYou can conclude the lesson by sharing your point of view on the matter and saying, "Because I do not believe this word has a place in our classroom or in any other profession setting, I will not be tolerating further use of this word in this room."\n\nToo many teachers turn their back on this subject.  Thanks for taking a stand and wanting more for your students.