Yes. People of all ages know the word is taboo. They don't care because they think black culture is theirs to participate in as they so choose. News flash.
Casual usage of the n-word by non black people
- Thread starter Good Kid mAAd Poster
- Start date
- Status
Non-black people have a desire to use it because they see it represented a lot within popular culture (black culture is increasingly the predominant influential culture in modern American society), and simply use it because they see others using it and want to be cool. From there, it's easy to ignore the history of the word, simply because they don't care. The cognitive dissonance between saying the word and being a racist is a safety net for these kinds of people.
Just don't, but please take the time to listen to why it isn't cool (at absolute best) from people that have put the reasons out there.
Stop and think, work towards understanding.
Stop and think, work towards understanding.
Lol the shit cracked me up. The first time I visited Chinatown I had to ask my then GF, "I am hearing nigga nigga nigga alot, I'm not going crazy right??"
Thanks for the response. Since working here and seeing it so widespread, I have actually creating a thread like this myself on this board or our predecessor but felt it might be taboo for me to ask being a white person. Or be perceived as me wanting to play along and say it, too.
The feeling I always got because, like you said, it's only around people you trust or share the same attitudes that it seems to be allowed, is that people of Latino culture primarily have also had the same or similar struggles as black folk and it's an unspoken shared experience that allows that term to be used between both, regardless of skin color.
And me being the white dude who's regional ancestors caused the shared problems just sits back and nods and doesn't say anything as I should. Lol
Please go back and read my post. I never tried to rationalize it, I know its indefensible. I have never used the word nigger. And I most certainly don't use it towards black people. Only towards myself. Like I didn't even had to mention this shit but I am not trying to hide anything because I know my case is nothing like people who throw that word around casually in public towards others.
Shit is cringe. Especially when I see other Filipinos/Asian Americans use it. You have no history with that word, the most common thing we have is that we're, factually speaking, darker than whites.
It's trash that this sentiment would get me clowned in non black PoC circles in LA, but it is what it is.
It's trash that this sentiment would get me clowned in non black PoC circles in LA, but it is what it is.
Don't ever come to uptown manhattan OP, cause minorities from all over use the word. Might as well fight every person of the borough of Manhattan while you at it.
Actually the entirety of New York City now that I think about it.
Actually the entirety of New York City now that I think about it.
If word exclusivity works, it's because a certain group uses it only within their group. They don't sing it in songs that are heard by millions of people outside their group.
The fact of the matter is no matter what anybody says, or what arbitrary and contradictory rules people try to place on the word it has entered the common lexicon. I almost wonder if (especially with younger people) the meaning of the word is so far removed from it's original intentions that most people using it don't even consider it's abhorrent historical and cultural implications.
Black people, black artists, and black celebrities are responsible for what other people choose to say?
Horrible take.
Sorry but I don't buy that. Not when the word is still used as a slur pretty commonly. It still carries that hate. Anybody trying to claim they don't know the roots of the word is full of it. Especially someone who is in turn going to turn around and claim that hey are so steeped in black culture that they listen to hip hop all day and hear it used regularly.
The whole n-word thing is just weird. It's a super hateful and dehumanizing word but specific people are allow to use it and make catchy earworms with it. But beyond not speaking it, it's perfectly fine for those other groups to rock out to other people calling each other that word. I'm not sure how such a system is not going to lead directly to more hurt and perpetual "accidents".
This is a horrible take. How about people take some personal responsibility and not just parrot everything they hear. This idea that the onus to remove a slur from the public lexicon falls on the people it's been used to denigrate for hundreds of years is ridiculous.
There is no distinction if you're not black.
Do you think this guy isn't saying nigger?
You dropping the "I say nigger but I am not a racist." disclaimer was your attempt at rationalization.
Edit:
Hmm... only use it at home huh?
Are you talking about black people here?
Last edited:
No no, im not saying they don't know the roots of the word, just that the original intentions of the word are so far removed from how it is used nowadays in most forms of media. The word has been diluted to such a point that it doesn't even resemble it's original usage. It's fairly obvious this has happened already.
You know when Chapelle does his white guy voice? That's what I imagine a white person sounding like when telling Hispanics not to use the n-word.
It's cute.
It's cute.
Get the hell out of here. I was responding to a post that is talking about word exclusivity. You can talk about ideals and what people should do but that's not how language works. If people hear a word they will fucking repeat it, especially if it's in a catchy song. We can talk about not using words and what people should do but we don't live in that world. Both of you don't live in reality if you think you can police what other people say or expect them to police themselves. People don't care that much at the end of the day.
Many people, especially young people and especially non-americans, really don't know any better. I'm greek, I'm 39 years old, I'm out of touch with many elements of american culture and youth culture and I had no idea that singing along with a hip hop song would be problematic. I learned that by reading posts from people on this forum on the topic of that girl that a singer brought up on stage. Now imagine young people in non-american countries who grow up listening to music in which the word is used constantly and watching youtubers that use all sorts of vile slurs casually.
Except I never said that or tried to rationalize it. I literally said "I can't defend it" in both my posts. I have been admitting from the start that it will never be ok because I am not black and thus can never relate and truly understand the trauma the word causes when used by other races. Trying to rationalize and defend it is exactly like saying, "I am not a racist, I have so many black friend", in one word, dumb af. I feel like this is misdirected anger.
I mean, you must get this is far fetched right ? You are now comparing me to the KKK bro. I am out of this thread.
Last edited:
You claimed that you never said nigger and I asked you if the Klansman who said nigga is saying nigger. This little victim act you're putting on is not fooling anyone. Answer the question.
Also, I am not your "bro."
Only use it at home huh?
Yeah, it was super awkward at first when I was taking Chinese courses lol.
If you see it in the context of my post, you will see that I am again, just talking out loud to myself. I don't know why are you trying to do a gotcha moment here, I never did denied use the word ?
As for the question which is a thinly vield attempt at what aboutism, of course the word nigger and nigga don't have the same connotation, regardless of how the fucking KKK thinks and uses it. What does matter is how black people feel about it, and I can't say for certain, but I would think most of them consider both words ignorant and one of them particularly hostile and racist. And most of them would not be ok with non blacks using either of those words.
Sorry then. My mistake. It's easy to misunderstand an argument when well... the argument isn't there. All I saw was "Don't say it." Not "If you're white don't say it."
You're so full of fucking shit. You're not black and you're using the word, there is no "gotcha," this board isn't your home but you thinking it is perfectly acceptable to use it led you to using it here.
I am black, unlike yourself and if you're not black there is no distinction between nigga and nigger, they're the same fucking word. You can also stop right there trying to tell me what black people feel about it's use. "You can't say for certain" you can't say at all. Stay the fuck in your lane.
You expect people to show a level of concern that they have not. You expect people to live by ideals that they've shown time and again that they don't care about. You're the one being absurd and delusional here.
When only white people used the N word, I would say it worked for its intended purposes.
It's pretty clear...what you said is nonsense. Just think about it.
Lol, great rebuttal. Please don't @ me if you have nothing to say.
Their post says everything that needs to be said to you, you're making excuses for people using that word who shouldn't be and trying to find any way you can fighting to justify the unjustifiable.
I am trying to get it out of my vocabulary all together. I need to stop watching Boondock reruns. So Yes ?
Also, thank you for asking nicely without yelling and accusing.
I could not care less if they are allowed to use it or not, it's the lack of consideration of just using it in public that bothers me the most. I just feel like these individuals are going to be fucked for life without the ability to consider basic ass shit. They become societal drains unable to consider an alternative.
It's mostly just asians folk and white folk, that really shouldn't participate.
Not shocking. As a k-pop fan, I've heard at least a dozen idols say it over the years.
I'm not making excuses for anyone. I'm just being realistic about the world we live in. I'm not even for anyone using the word, I just know that it doesn't matter what my opinion is on it people will do what they want.
You know what the hilarious part is, every single black artist and actor could stop saying the word completely in all forms of media. Every single black person in the world could stop saying it completely.
Yet white people and other ethnic groups will still say it.
Why? Because the "X artist says it in his song" is just an excuse.
Yet white people and other ethnic groups will still say it.
Why? Because the "X artist says it in his song" is just an excuse.
- Status