If you have to ask, then you are too far removed. Solution #1: Get to know more black people. Solution #2: Just don't use the word, continue to live your blissful life and feel lucky you aren't on the receiving end.
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bInQ-MrOtW4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bInQ-MrOtW4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> I don't think its that big of a deal. We watch this and say i guess its okay to say if its on TV. Just don't say it KKK style and mean offense
This generation of white people did not enslave black people. And yes black people were enslaved many years ago. The black people of this generation have not been enslaved and slavery has never directly affected theirs lives.
BTW, I started a thread on the N-Word a long time ago. Might want to check it out. I got smoked by some posters but I was just looking for opinions. Here: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=57426&highlight=N-Word
You are kidding right? If not, run to a library and start reading. A biography of MLK, Jr. or Thurgood Marshall or Charles Houston would be good a good place to start, as would this one... Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality by Richard Kluger The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past. --William Faulkner
This makes sense to me. I've even heard of some Asian Americans trying to do the same thing with the words "Gook" and "Chinaman."
As a tangential sidenote I've been called "N^gger" as both an insult by whites and as a compliment by blacks even though I'm not black.
Again, it's about intent - or actually - more importantly - perception of intent. I don't think a black person would be offended if a white person said - that ***** can play some ball. Or if a white person said - now that a fine looking ***** Not if the white guy fit in to the hip hop culture and spoke the slang. But now if some country hick called out and said "Hey *****, want some watermelon" well, that is going to piss people off. These are cases where the intent is clear. It's not the words really that offend, it's the intent. Of course, there's a lot of time when intent ISN'T clear. Then focus becomes on the words...and the use of the word is used as a measure of intent. SO the lesson is - not to choose your words carefully, but make sure people understand your intent. And if in doubt, choose your words carefully.
My question is, why do people care if black people use it? There is no reason for a non-black person to use the word, so why worry about it?
This is so uninformed and ignorant that it doesn't deserve a response, but it will get one. Ever heard of segregation and racism? That is something that was heavily influenced by slavery.
Responses like yours is EXACTLY why black people are still pissed. As soon as the median income level for blacks is similar to whites, we can talk again about how slavery has never directly affected people's lives. As soon as 80% of death row isn't made up of blacks, we can talk. As soon as America doesn't call New Orleans a city full of looters and refugees after the worst natural disaster in American history, we can talk.
This only could have been better if you added a sentence about racism only existing because black people bring it up. That would have been the awesome! Krosfyah - stop trying to talk to these white people. You have NO idea how hard it is to be white in America these days. Black people get all the breaks and get to use all the cool words.
Those who benefited from slavery go far beyond the generation who owned slaves. When you die, your estate is handed over to your surviving heirs. The decendents of slaves would be lucky to have an estate to inherit. Furthermore, most of their original culture and traditions were destroyed a few generations before. So yes, the effects are still felt today. It was purposely done this way centuries ago in order to make sure Blacks were still slaves.
Yeah, it's our fault that black people have it so terrible. I guess we should bend over backwards to accomodate all black people because they have been the only people in the entire history of the world that have been oppressed. Sorry, but I get tired of hearing it. If you don't like your circumstances, change them. Everyone has to deal with adverse situations in their life, some more than others. You either deal with it or you don't.
Yes others have been oppressed just not in this country. You seem to forget that compared to the rest of the world the U.S. is still very young. I mean can you name me a time when there were whites enslaved on the scale that blacks were in this country? White people did come and drove out the Indians and brought black slaves over here as well. Then add to the fact that blacks didn't even have the same rights up until what 1965, that just add another element to it. I'm not saying blacks should blame whites for all their troubles but the way the system was and fell into place didn't help blacks much either.
