White kids using a modified version of the "N" word

[LeighAnn]

Does anybody know any white kids who don't use this word? (see: Myspace.com)

This has bothered me for some time, but I've never had the courage to bring it up. With the whole Kramer thing, though, I'd like to see this addressed.

The white people I see using this word all seem to listen to rap music and have racially diverse friends... they all seem to be 25 and under... none seem to give evidence of racial prejudice.

Just wondering, how do African Americans feel when they come across this?

[angry_chuck]

1. i saw some footage of this question

I can't remember where though. It seemed like everyone had a different answer. Good luck with that.

[liberaltrucker]

2. From a cracka(midage white guy)

Hell fucking NO!!!!!!

:grr:

[LeighAnn]

5. That's how I feel, but it seems extremely prevelent

There's a lot of justified outrage at Michael Richards's outburst, and you think to yourself that the "N" word has basically gone away, then you go to MySpace.com and see the modified version EVERYWHERE.

But in all sincerity, I don't think I've ever seen "nigga" used in the Michael Richards sense.

Do you hear this in your part of the country?

[Kiouni]

21. Al sharpton said that blacks

and whites need to quit using the "n" word all together.

[nofurylike]

24. yay, al, speaking out. thank you for this info. eom

[Duke Newcombe]

25. Yikes!...something Al and I actually agree on?

excuse me whilst I shower....

Duke

[Kiouni]

27. yeah but richards hired a publicist

and the first thing he said was call sharpton, so whats that say

[Duke Newcombe]

32. That he's become part of that unfortunate cottage industry...

...the "befriend/buy/borrow this member of (insert name of group I've offended or screwed over) and I'll rehab my image" industry. Sad and sick if you ask me...

Duke

[Trajan]

3. With such a racially charged atmosphere ...

Why would anyone think it's 'ok' ? ....

People are stupid .... They will say it, but it really isnt ok ....

[LeighAnn]

7. I see it all the time, though

It's not just on MySpace, it's at McDonalds and the grocery store and the ball game... am I the only one that's noticed this? I'm in the Midwest.

[Trajan]

9. I have heard my kids using it ....

I shut them down, denying that it's ok ....

They do use it in youthful crowds as a joke, but they simply are ignorant of the significant ramifications of the word ..... Rap musicians use it regularly, and defend their use as a 'term of endearment' between other blacks .... but just today: Jesse mentions this, and agrees that blacks need to stop using it as well ...

I think progressives of ALL types agree: DONT use that word, it has no valid usage ... but kids are ... well, kids ....

Mine dont dare say it ....

[Duke Newcombe]

4. Since I haven't communicated with the Mothership...

...in quite some time, I can only speak for myself.


The use of the "N" word, in all of its forms, to me, is the sign of an intellectually bankrupt individual...regardless of their concentration of melanin.

Duke

[LeighAnn]

6. Are you African American?

I'm just curious... I need to know how African Americans feel about this.

[Duke Newcombe]

8. Err...yes!

The whole "Mothership" comment was snarky allusion to the fact that asking what "African Americans" feel about anything is as fruitless as asking what Democrats feel about anything. As both groups are not monoliths with a hive mind (although there are those who would find that comforting), individuals have varying ideas. Me, as an AfAm, do not care for the N word at all, no matter the weak excuses about "taking back the power", "it's different when WE use it", etc.

Duke

[LeighAnn]

11. Thank you for clarifying

And I'm glad for your response, that's what I wanted to hear, but what can be done about it? I don't think these kids think that they're doing anything wrong, but everytime I see or hear this I cringe. How on earth can this trend be turned around?

[Dean Martin]

44. my fiance is African American

I'm white, but my fiance is black. She for the record, is against anyone using the N word. I am too.

[Kiouni]

22. I love it

"concentration of melanin," I might use this in the future if you don't mind.

[Duke Newcombe]

26. all yours! n/t

[Jamastiene]

10. I don't like it.

I guess anyone can say it if they want to, but I really wish people would not use it. It makes no real statement and serves no real purpose, IMHO.

[LeighAnn]

13. Makes white kids feel cool

They're into the rap culture.

I wonder how many white DUers have kids that say this. Because I'm willing to bet that a good percentage of the talking heads I've seen on TV denouncing Kramer have kids that say that.

[nofurylike]

20. it makes them feel dominant, actually. they may say it's about

feeling cool, but it's not.


peace

[nofurylike]

12. no. and i am offended it is in the subject line of the OP. eom

[LeighAnn]

15. Sorry :(

But I'm glad to hear it's not okay!

[nofurylike]

19. i appreciate that. eom

[Freeusfromthechurch]

14. 2 words my kid were taught to NEVER say "N" or "Hate"

[LeighAnn]

18. How old are they now?

Just curious. That was an absolutely forbidden word when I was a kid.
But in the 80s and 90s, I never heard it used much at all. I wonder if parents got lazy about teaching kids not to say it in an environment where it wasn't often said. Just trying to figure out how this happened.

~*Peace*~

[nofurylike]

16. self-delete

[nofurylike]

17. thank you! i didn't see you'd already! thank you! eom

[LeighAnn]

23. Sorry, I was just trying to distinguish

They would seem to be two different words... The one I mentioned seems to be used primarily as a term of endearment. I'd like to see that stop, also, speaking on behalf of caucasians, I'd like to apologize for this phenomenon that I think America is ignoring, and to reassure you that when you come across it, it is more than likely not meant to be hurtful.

~*Take Care*~

[Duke Newcombe]

30. for me, no need to apologize...

IMHO, it more beneficial when one saves apologies for things that one ACTUALLY DOES or is RESPONSIBLE FOR.

But thanks anyways!

Duke

[nofurylike]

31. i understand what you're saying. it is, in reality, always an

expression of feelings of supremacy when used by whites - including supremacy over whites who say it is offensive.

thank you for caring enough to remove it.

take care, you, too.


peace

[CarbonDate]

28. White kids have a history of co-opting black culture.

(I am white.)

Given the prevelance of the use of that particular word in rap and such, I think it was only a matter of time before white kids started using the word without understanding the history or context in which the word was used.

I get the impression that the original intention of rappers using it was to be ironic, but the irony is lost on kids who didn't grow up around it being used in a hateful context.

For myself, I won't use the word even if I'm quoting somebody. It's a complete taboo for me. But then, I'm 28 and was never one of the "cool kids".

[pnwmom]

29. I'm the mother of teenagers and I've never heard them or any of

their friends or cousins use any form of the word.

[LeighAnn]

33. Do they listen to rap?

Just wondering if this extends beyond the rap-loving community, or if there are kids who like rap that don't use this word.

Thank you.

[pnwmom]

34. Neither of them is big on rap.

The older one might have listened to some rap several years ago -- I know his sister was offended by the sexism of some of the music, and she let him know it.

[LeighAnn]

35. Sounds like you've got good, smart kids

Nice to hear that :)

[pnwmom]

36. Thank you. But as I said, it's not just them -- I haven't

heard any of their friends do this either. Could it be a regional thing?

[LeighAnn]

37. That's what I'm wondering...

You mind me asking what part of the country you live in?

~*Gracias*~

[pnwmom]

38. Washington state -- the blue side.

[MuseRider]

39. Bookmarking this thread

for later reading.

I am so happy to see this thread, I had this discussion in the car for an hour yesterday with my 20 and 22 year old sons. While I have never heard them use this word and they say they have not (I believe them because they were brought up to never ever even consider this word as appropriate under any circumstance) they were defending the use of it because "words are just words". This went on and on. My oldest seems to have a bit of libertarian developing. I am very interested in reading this discussion when I get home later.

IMO it is never appropriate to use that word or anything like it and although words are just words I believe we are all responsible for creating a better society and that means not hurting others even when you think what hurts them is stupid.

[ellacott]

40. The word is never appropriate

I am an African American female and I find the word offensive whenever I hear it.

Sam Sedar used the word on the radio during the macaca incident with George Allen. I cringed everytime I heard him say that word. I called and sent emails but got no response. Sam's response to others who called in was that he was trying to take the power out of the word and wasn't sure whether he would stop using it. He claimed to be using it as an educational tool.

I've tried listening to his show since that episode but can only tolerate a couple of minutes of his show.

[bliss_eternal]

41. There's blood on that word,...

which many youth today just don't understand. There are people that were willing to lay down their lives to give the generations that followed them the right to never have to be called that name again. People died over that word, and i'm not at all cool with kids using it as a label for themselves (and adding a w to change it and make it more applicable in their minds).

There was a time when schools still showed films featuring footage prior to and during the civil rights movement. Now it seems little more than a mention in some history books. Poof--the pain associated with the word is gone and now too many seem to associate it with what is "hip and cool" as opposed to a hate-filled slur. :cry:

When I see the word and hear it, I have the ability to also factor in "context." But I'm seeing and hearing far too many people that feel they have the ability to deem context and when it should or should not be heard or used--though they lack a fundamental understanding of the history of the word and it's use. I'm not cool with that at all. :mad:

Roots aired on television for the first time when I was a child. It is my understanding that when it aired some that didn't have exposure to the word or the way it was used previously, did once Roots was shown. Because of that exposure some awareness was developed regarding the pain behind it, the humiliation, the hatred.

In the early 90's (I think) Mississippi Burning was released, and more people were exposed, some were merely reminded of times past. Over the years short lived series on television were also I'll Fly Away, America Dreams and Any Day Now. Shows that featured such times prominently as part of their storyline. Unfortunately, despite large fan followings such shows didn't do well (according to the ratings, etc.) and were cancelled.

Where are today's Roots? Today's Mississippi Burning? There's very little today that is exposing and/or reminding youth of their history and the need to honor and respect that history.

I shudder to think that if a film such as that were released today, it would largely be ignored, considering the kinds of films that do well. :eyes:

[noconz]

42. As an African American...

...I think it's just as bad as that from which it is derived. It's been common in the African American youth community for quite some time, and white kids who have adopted the hip-hop lifestyle feel just as free using it. Like many African American leaders, I think it just serves to perpetuate the low self image thing. Some may recall that Richard Pryor gave up using the N-word after his first trip to Africa - and he used to use it all the time in his routines.

[LeighAnn]

43. Welcome to DU

Hi and welcome to DU! :hi:

This issue has been bothering me for a long time.
I've been working on this website for the last week or so

http://www.stopsayingthat.com

It's very much under construction and I would appreciate any ideas or resources that anyone here thinks would make this more effective. Right now I'm writing letters and trying to contact influential people to see if they will offer a statement for the website. I'm very unsure about what kinds of pictures to use on here. I want to make graphics that people can use on MySpace but I'm lost about the tone of what those pictures should be. Any suggestions and recommendations would be widely appreciated. And thanks to one of the posters above who has given me so much help.

~*Peace*~

[shanti]

45. well...

my son (16) is b/w biracial and he uses it too. i don't myself, don't like the word and call him on it if he uses it around me, but he still uses it with and around his friends who are all races.

[samscafe]

46. No One Should Use It. Period.

[Dervill Crow]

47. My kids don't use it, and one of them does listen to rap music.

I know adults who use "the N word." I rarely fight with my husband, but he was raised in an affluent whites-only suburb of Pittsburgh, and when he slips up and says that word I make sure he wishes he hadn't.