First of all, let me start by listing the only three reasons a person can use the word nigger, or any of its variants:
1) You're black
2) You're racist
3) Discussing the topic, like this instance
3) Discussing the topic, like this instance
Although susceptible to some subjectivity on my part, I believe that most people will agree on this proposition of the use of the word nigger. I base this assumption on the historical background of the word. Nigger, historically, is a term that was used by whites to label black slaves in America. It was used in a derogatory manner that was meant to devalue slaves.
This history shows the original context and participating parties involved in the concoction of this word in American culture. Although complex and rich in its history, I will proceed with this brief historical context for the sake of simplicity and to focus the discussion on its use in modern America.
Personally I could care less about the use of the word and if given the option, would prefer if no one used it. It is not a word that I deem necessary to be in my vocabulary and can very well get by without using it. For some people this is not the case. As mentioned, nigger is a word that has a strong relationship between whites and blacks. For some, they might have grown up hearing and using this word based on their location. For this reason, the word will be more natural and embedded in their vocabulary, making it difficult to communicate without this word. This is understandable. But for a while, there has been a steady increase in the use of the word amongst people not situated in the original context of the use of the word.
For whites, saying nigger is not a real issue because the word was initially devised by them for the purpose of expressing their distaste towards blacks. For blacks, saying nigger can mean whatever they want it to be because the word is "owned" by blacks. By that, I mean that the word was used exclusively to describe blacks, sort of like a name or a nickname. The recipient of the name can in turn accept/decline that name, choose how to respond to that name, or dictate the meaning of that name. So, in this sense, blacks saying nigger is not really an issue. So what's the problem?
As mentioned, there have been increases in the use of the word amongst people not situated in this "group" (racists and blacks). White teenagers and young adults now casually refer to each other as nigger. Mexicans and other Latino groups do similar things referring to each other as nigger. And there are cases where non-blacks refer to their black comrade as nigger. The aforementioned situations cause me to scratch my head. To me, I will never see a white person calling me a nigger as a form of endearment. If blacks want to refer to each other as niggers as a term of endearment then that is fine; as mentioned, the bearer of the name dictates the value of that name. But what is it that makes people not exclusive to this "group" feel the need to say nigger so casually. White people are called crackers/honky, Mexicans and Latinos wetback/beaner. If there is such a desire for groups to have some name that they can use to refer to each other, how come these groups are not taking control of their designated terms and using it. There are plenty of racial slurs that exist for different groups but I don't go looking for them because I have no use for racial slurs in any context. I am neither a racist nor do I belong to any of those groups so it will be illogical and inefficient to incorporate such terms into my vocabulary. This doesn't make me a better person than someone who uses racial slurs.
I will acknowledge the rise in the prominence of rap music in American culture as a major player in the desensitization of the word in our culture, but it has to be more than that. I listen to rap and I am black but yet I don't get the urge to spew the word whenever I speak. So what is the real underlying reason for the casual use of the word nigger amongst out-groups? Share your thoughts on the situation. I would love to hear especially from someone in the out-group that uses the word casually.
One love
This history shows the original context and participating parties involved in the concoction of this word in American culture. Although complex and rich in its history, I will proceed with this brief historical context for the sake of simplicity and to focus the discussion on its use in modern America.
Personally I could care less about the use of the word and if given the option, would prefer if no one used it. It is not a word that I deem necessary to be in my vocabulary and can very well get by without using it. For some people this is not the case. As mentioned, nigger is a word that has a strong relationship between whites and blacks. For some, they might have grown up hearing and using this word based on their location. For this reason, the word will be more natural and embedded in their vocabulary, making it difficult to communicate without this word. This is understandable. But for a while, there has been a steady increase in the use of the word amongst people not situated in the original context of the use of the word.
For whites, saying nigger is not a real issue because the word was initially devised by them for the purpose of expressing their distaste towards blacks. For blacks, saying nigger can mean whatever they want it to be because the word is "owned" by blacks. By that, I mean that the word was used exclusively to describe blacks, sort of like a name or a nickname. The recipient of the name can in turn accept/decline that name, choose how to respond to that name, or dictate the meaning of that name. So, in this sense, blacks saying nigger is not really an issue. So what's the problem?
As mentioned, there have been increases in the use of the word amongst people not situated in this "group" (racists and blacks). White teenagers and young adults now casually refer to each other as nigger. Mexicans and other Latino groups do similar things referring to each other as nigger. And there are cases where non-blacks refer to their black comrade as nigger. The aforementioned situations cause me to scratch my head. To me, I will never see a white person calling me a nigger as a form of endearment. If blacks want to refer to each other as niggers as a term of endearment then that is fine; as mentioned, the bearer of the name dictates the value of that name. But what is it that makes people not exclusive to this "group" feel the need to say nigger so casually. White people are called crackers/honky, Mexicans and Latinos wetback/beaner. If there is such a desire for groups to have some name that they can use to refer to each other, how come these groups are not taking control of their designated terms and using it. There are plenty of racial slurs that exist for different groups but I don't go looking for them because I have no use for racial slurs in any context. I am neither a racist nor do I belong to any of those groups so it will be illogical and inefficient to incorporate such terms into my vocabulary. This doesn't make me a better person than someone who uses racial slurs.
I will acknowledge the rise in the prominence of rap music in American culture as a major player in the desensitization of the word in our culture, but it has to be more than that. I listen to rap and I am black but yet I don't get the urge to spew the word whenever I speak. So what is the real underlying reason for the casual use of the word nigger amongst out-groups? Share your thoughts on the situation. I would love to hear especially from someone in the out-group that uses the word casually.
One love
