If this makes folks mad, sorry. It’s been bugging me since there was a conversation about it…

Someone wanted to know why, since some black people use the "n-word", everyone can’t without being identified as a racist. The short answer is easy: racists are [b]still[/b] using it.

But I don’t understand why anyone who isn’t black and doesn’t see him or herself as a racist would [b]want[/b] to use a word with such an ugly history attached to it ?

As to why some black people use it among themselves (I don’t), I know the reasoning. I don’t [b]agree[/b] with it, but I know what it is: supposedly using the word takes the "power" out of it. Newsflash: it [b]doesn’t[/b]. And that’s why the popular wisdom is, you can’t use it if you’ve never been [b]called[/b] it (in a disparaging way) yourself.

Personally, I [b]hate[/b] the word, and I wish everyone would delete it from their vocabularies. It will never mean what some people want to make it mean—not [b]any[/b] form of it.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

HikingMan · 51-55, M

It could be that they use it to illustrate and personalize the struggle their race was put through for the last 100 + years ? But no matter their reasons, there is no reason for anyone other than them to use it as any kind of denominational adjective.

bijouxbroussard · F

@HikingMan As someone whose childhood was spent hearing the word directed against myself, often with blows, I wish it would go away. I see nothing constructive in trying to "own" a term used to tear us down as a people. It is generational; many black people my age and older feel as I do. It’s some younger people, possibly removed from the day to day experiences of in your face racism, who feel differently.

HikingMan · 51-55, M

@bijouxbroussard I cannot claim to know, or even understand why young black men might choose to use the word. I can only suppose why they might. I definitely mean no disrespect with my reply here at all. But even if people of color choose to use the word as a term of endearment or camaraderie, I can see no good or viable reason for fairer skinned folk to ever use it at all. Even if they might live within the culture of the modern-day black American. I personally find the word repulsive and ignorant to say the least.

bijouxbroussard · F

@HikingMan I agree with that. I think keeping the word alive is perpetuating ignorance.

HikingMan · 51-55, M

Life is weird. People are weird. Put the 2 together and you get what we've got.

I wish you peace, love, and happiness for all of your days forward.

Be well,
Live happy,
Die trying,
Rob

SW-User

@HikingMan I completely disagree with that mindset though. It's undeniable that there's two completely opposite cultures where that word is thrown around, And that context used are polar opposites. I was pretty much raised to be racist living in the Midwest racism is all over the country and there are people who are real victims to it and this word carries all those emotions with it. But if the black community stop normalizing the word it would be used less or not at all in non racist context. It's not uncommon to hear the word thrown around by all races just because the context has changed in main stream culture but the original context is still being used to attack and degrade people even to this day.

HikingMan · 51-55, M

@SW-User My mindset is that the word is defunct and serves not legitimate purpose in this world at all. But much like my point of view on abortion..., my views hold no legitimate sway upon the subject matter. If young black men wish to use the word as a misnoming type of camaraderie-like phrase, I am more than willing to accept that and leave them to it.

I do however take exception to anyone other than someone of color using the word in any type of terminology that isn't specifically pointed as a discussion of the word itself and it's possible uses and worth as a word in the English language.

If Will Smith wanted to slap a word out of someone's mouth, it should have been that word.

SW-User

@HikingMan I agree I don't care one way or another if they use the word I have no fight in it I don't care personally if they use it and how it's used mainstream. But my point was it's a little hypocritical and damaging to use it so loosely with it's baggage

bijouxbroussard · F

@SW-User "The black community" is not a single entity, and there are disagreements about the use of the word, mostly generational. I’m among those who find it foolish to use a word that racists still use as an insult. I’m aware of the justifications that some people use for hanging onto it; I just don’t happen to agree with them.