"After all, it’s just a word, right?"

[Sapphire Blue]

THE BRIDGE: I’m Sick, Niggers!
Michael Richards finally let it off of his chest.
By Darryl James

.... Of course it’s not just a word.

It’s a powerful slogan. It carries centuries of ignorance and evil, stained with the memories of strange fruit hanging from bloody trees.

The word carries the message of hatred and violence, of intolerance and injustice.

Even when it is unspoken, many of us who are aware realize that it is on the tips of tongues of many white Americans who pretend that they want us all to get along while they attack Affirmative Action, and while an entire entertainment industry thrives on deliberately and singularly targeted, acquired, contracted, promoted and purchased music denigrating our image—made by us, but not for us.

They realize that if you want to keep us down, it’s important that we are treated like Niggers and that our most negative behavior is encouraged and marketed while we are duped into thinking that we are so free in the world that the verbal symbol of racism no longer carries meaning.

Even when it is unspoken, many of us who are aware realize that the word is still held near and dear to the same white Americans who sit next to and work with us.

The word has not been put to death, nor has its negative emotional impact, even as other groups protect themselves against similar verbal assaults.

Continued @ http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur29923.cfm

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. hearing that word has always made me feel sick to my stomach

and I'm a redneck white girl.

[Warpy]

6. I grew up hearing it in the south

so it makes me queasy, too, suburban cracker that I am.

In fact, I think it might make those of us who grew up hearing family and friends use it and who rejected what it stood for almost as queasy as its intended targets.

Unfortunately, hate speech is protected. Unfortunately for the speaker, it tells us a whole lot more about him/her than it does about hate's targets.

I think of it as an asshole indicator. Anyone who uses it falls straight into the asshole category and I don't have to waste my precious time.

[TahitiNut]

14. There are few words I won't utter ... but that's one of them.

Even seeing it or hearing it makes me feel as though I've been soiled, somehow. :puke:

[badgerpup]

24. Thanks...

nice to know that I'm not the only one who feels uncomfortable in the presence of 'the n-word'.
:hi:

[QuestionAll...]

2. k&r and thankyou Sapph.

holocaust is just a word as well. isn't it or is it?
if that Kramer creep said something like 'to the ovens with you' with spittle rage and hate, if the target was jewish....

I really don't think that would be as acceptable as the holocaust of lynchings of black people.

[Sapphire Blue]

3. Thanks, QuestionAll... and you're very welcome.

[Mnemosyne]

4. k and r n/t

[omega minimo]

5. wow K&R

"while an entire entertainment industry thrives on deliberately and singularly targeted, acquired, contracted, promoted and purchased music denigrating our image—made by us, but not for us... They realize that if you want to keep us down, it’s important that we are treated like Niggers and that our most negative behavior is encouraged and marketed while we are duped into thinking that we are so free in the world that the verbal symbol of racism no longer carries meaning."







"Gonna Take It To The World Peace Love The Gap"

[tonka023]

7. However

Not to anyway offer any excuse for this,
the word sickens me as well, and I agree
totally that its' use is more an indicator
of the ignorance of the speaker than
anything, but.... on the other hand,
it's just a word. The meaning is what
we attach to it --- like Robert Anton
Wilson has said, it's a collective
hallucination. We can change the
meaning. There are many words
that have been reclaimed. Queer
and Canuck spring immediately
to mind. Rather than owning a
language that is more like a mindfield
with Voldemort-isms, do we want to
change it? Maybe holding onto these
old meanings is ignorant too.

[wickerwoman]

17. For every word that's been reclaimed there are dozens more that have

been allowed to go away forever.

I always find it amusing that at 30 I'm still learning words of hate that I'd never even known were out there. Like "Macaca" or "lawnjockey"- where the hell did they even come from and who has used them in the past fifty years? And I always feel a kind of pride reading quotes from FR and I have absolutely no idea what those racist troglydytes are even talking about.

I don't want to reclaim b*tch or c*nt or towelhead or f*g. I want them to go away forever so that people reading something from our time 200 years in the future will need to have them glossed. When was the last time you heard a woman called "baggage" or "shrew"... even "ho" thank God is finally going out of fashion. I don't want to call other women "ho's" just to prove that the word has no power. We take power from words by not using them until they're forgotten- not by saying I'm going to use this word but in my own way and if you don't understand the word the way I intend it, that's your problem. Communication involves two people and unless the word has the same affect on each of them, some words are offensive no matter how they are intended.

[goclark]

8. Sapphire thank you for continuing to educate us

and build our awareness about this issue.

As Progressive Democrats ,IMO, it is important to live up to the true meaning of "liberty and justice for all."

I hold Progressive Democrats to the highest standard.

My standard would be, what would Cheney think about this incident?
I am sure that he would feel the African Americans need to "just deal with the words, so what?"

After all, he shot his "friend" and didn't even bother to follow the law and report it until many hours later.

My standard would be, what would Clarence Thomas,Trent Lott,or GW feel about the incident?
I'm sure they could care less and only uphold "their laws" to kill thousands of people and suppress the votes of African Americans.

No thank you ~ I want MLK Jr. to speak for me!

I want Thurgood Marshall to speak for me!

I want Progressive Democrats to speak for me! Ones that have the ability to see both sides of an issue and STAND for JUSTICE, not HATE or RACE BAITING.

Progressive Democrats that only lift people UP not try to put other races down.

I want Progressive Democrats to take the lead and make this world a better place!

I want Sapphire Blue to speak for me!

[flying_monkeys]

10. Personally, I think Progressive Dems

should stop nattering about Entertainment News and spend more time YELLING about Darfur....


Yes, it is important to raise awareness about issues involving the usage of degrading words - - but I think focusing on real NOW physical abuse issues like rapes, maimings and deaths in that region trump hurt feelings over insulting words....


I know, I know, talking about Richards is far easier than trying to get a handle on Darfur.... I just wish we at DU could spend 1/10th of the time discussing Darfur as we do on things like a Comedian saying the N word.

[Sapphire Blue]

11. ...

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue/90

[flying_monkeys]

12. Thank you :)

I am very pleased you care about Darfur, too :)


It sickens me that so many want to avoid a discussion on Darfur, kwim? THANK YOU for putting it front and center :)

[Sapphire Blue]

13. Justice comes in many different forms. All are important.

[goclark]

21. I wish we could focus on Darfur but it seems

that until we get our act together at home, we will never be able to reach out to other countries.
The issue of how we address Civil Rights is embedded in Darfur and in a Comedy Club in America.

Same issue, some not able to see the connects.
Glad to know that you understand.

One more point, as an African American is is not easy to talk about the Richards situation, it is really very painful.

It may be easy for some to throw around their opinions about how my people should just "move on" and not take this issue seriously, but we will keep on struggling for the people of Darcar and the people right here in America to realize how WORTH and DIGNITY for all people is vital to ALL of us.


PEACE

[angry_chuck]

9. this is the same discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=225x1133

[undergroundpanther]

15. I cuss like a sailor

but there are two words I don't use.
N and Bch.
Both words are the voice of evil speaking through a person.

N is racial hate.
B is sexist hate
F is homophobic hate.
Hate words are hate because of the Intentions of speaking such a word ..which is to tear a person down, to verbally abuse them, inflict them in their soul and wound them..

I'll call people other names when they cross the line,and piss me off past a certain point. But for me certain epithets are so loaded with poison they cross the line of retort to some asshole, and cross into sheer evil intent, and a verbal dart of such an evil intent can poison the sender as easily as the intended target..

[bobbolink]

25. I thank you for that.

How 'bout the "c" word? Some of us find that particularly hurtful...

[Mythsaje]

16. I'm really not sure I've ever used that word myself.

I certainly wasn't brought up to think it was cool. I'd hate to see the look on my dad's face if I used it as if it belonged coming out of my mouth.

My ex, the mother of my children, used to use it, but she had a serious redneck streak. But, as she used to say, she wasn't prejudiced, she hated everyone. There is a bit of truth to that, unfortunately. Somewhere deep inside there was a decent person, but I was one of the few who actually saw it. Most of everyone else saw her anger, cynicism, and brittle strength.

[hfojvt]

18. one other point the author tries to make

is that black people use that word quite commonly to each other and about each other.

"And ask yourself: “Don’t white people hear Stupid Ass Negroes calling each other “Nigger?”

Here’s the fifty thousand dollar question to be asked: “Were the two Black men in the club referring to each other as ‘Nigger’?” Or did racist old Kramer hear Black comedians sprinkling the word around liberally on the same stage he graced?

My goal is not to defend Michael Richards and his racist outburst. My point is that before we can continue to be up in arms about white racists hurling the N word at us in anger, we must first be angry at those of us who think that the word is no longer ugly and hurtful. We must first be angry with those of us who think that using it in front of other races and/or allowing other races to use it around us and/or with us is okay."

In my, admittedly limited, experience, he is wrong about that. The rough crowd uses the word 'nigga' which to them is a different word - a word that sounds different and has a different meaning.

[Toots]

19. I am not black and the word sickens me especially when I hear blacks use it

They think they are devaluing it by using it often. IMO it only re-enforces it and it still is a force for hatred only from the other direction...The word is pure hate no matter who uses it....

[LWolf]

23. Who is the "rough crowd?"

Pronouncing it differently doesn't make it mean anything different. If some white man stands on a stage and screams "You're a nigga!" we're all going to know what he means.

If it's a word that is only acceptable within one small part of one ethnic culture, and anathema everywhere else, is that ok? Or should language be able to cross cultural barriers without attaching, or detaching, hate tags?

[Sapphire Blue]

27. This is what happened in the club...

Audience member describes Richards' racist attack: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2791569

[cali]

20. This article makes some good points but

blaming the entertainment industry for rap is over the top. There are plenty of black producers and impressarios who market rap. I really, really doubt that the aim of the entertainment industry is to "deliberately and singularly targeted, acquired, contracted, promoted and purchased music denigrating our image...". The aim of the entertainment industry is to make money.


Yes there are plenty of bigots in this country. Racism is alive, but the author posits a vast conspiracy in this piece and I don't buy it.

[goclark]

22. Cali you make a good point

I read the article and appreciated hearing from a voice that may not say everything that I believe but I did want to read and build more awareness of what various people are thinking.

The most important message that I got from his article ...

>Some Blacks are up in arms, but I’m wondering why anyone is surprised.
After all, it’s just a word, right?
Of course it’s not just a word.
It’s a powerful slogan. It carries centuries of ignorance and evil, stained with the memories of strange fruit hanging from bloody trees.
The word carries the message of hatred and violence, of intolerance and injustice.

That is meaningful to me
***********************************************************************************************

There are so many multi millionaire African Americans that started in Rap in the Music Industry that I don't see RAP as totally bad for them. They are big money makers in an Industry that has used their talents and stolen their money for many many years.

I see that more and more of them have grown away from the "street rap" and moved to levels such as Ludicrous, Queen Latifah,John Legend and JZ and Sean Combs, venturing into fields such as Producing, Clothing, Movie starring roles that would have never been offered to them..Russell Simmons is another example.

Those doors were slammed shut for African Americans and other minorities in the past.

So I don't see RAP as all bad, I see it as a urban cry out to be heard, by any means necessary.

Should the Urban Rappers take a look at how they present themselves, they sure should do that and so should Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith.

[bobbolink]

26. Why is it so hard to remember that most domestic physical abuse

begins with emotional and verbal abuse?

Why do we keep having to re-address this?

Is it really that difficult to absorb the fact that speaking hurtfully to people causes hurt, which does NOTHING to strenghten our nation?

Really--is it that hard to grasp?

With all the freedoms we have in this country, does it really pinch us that much to remember to be considerate of the feelings of others?????

[goclark]

28. Love what you said bobbolink~

"Is it really that difficult to absorb the fact that speaking hurtfully to people causes hurt, which does NOTHING to strenghten our nation?

It really is something that we should have learned in Kindergarten.

[bobbolink]

29. THank you. I'm really beginning to think I've outlived my usefulness.

:(

[goclark]

36. No way! You have the real answers nt

[Sapphire Blue]

32. So very true... and speaking of kindergarten...

... I'll post this again, from Robert Fulghum's book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten...

In the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific some villagers practice a unique form of logging. If a tree is too large to be felled with an ax, the natives cut it down by yelling at it. (Can't lay my hands on the article, but I swear I read it.) Woodsmen with special powers creep up on a tree just at dawn and suddenly scream at it at the top of their lungs. They continue this for thirty days. The tree dies and falls over. The theory is that the hollering kills the spirit of the tree. According to the villagers, it always works.

Ah, those poor naive innocents. Such quaintly charming habits of the jungle. Screaming at trees, indeed. How primitive. Too bad they don't have the advantages of modern technology and the scientific mind.

Me? I yell at my wife. And yell at the telephone and the lawnmower. And yell at the TV and the newspaper and my children. I've even been known to shake my fist and yell at the sky at times.

(snip)

Don't know what good it does. Machines and things just sit there. Even kicking doesn't always help. As for people, well, the Solomon Islanders may have a point. Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts...

Yes, folks, "words will break our hearts"

[bobbolink]

33. "Words will break our hearts"

And, hence, I've posted "Don't Laugh At Me" below.

[bobbolink]

30. Time to repost "Don't Laugh At Me"

Since This nation seems to be determined to get more and more tough, and more and more insenstive, it's time for those of us who remember it IS possible for us to be human beings, to be bolstered by this song:

http://www.operationrespectct.org/song.htm

While you're there, look around at Peter Yarrow's handiwork. There are lots of things to download. I've passed this around to librarians, churches and teachers and been received with enthusiasm.

We must start somewhere to counter all this insensitivity and cruelty!

[Sapphire Blue]

34. Thank you for posting this wonderful song & the suggestion :)

:hug: It really helps those of us w/o titanium skin.

[bobbolink]

35. Yup, I considered puttting it in a post of it's own.. but it would just sink.

:(

[goclark]

38. Truer words were never spoken Sapphire

I am so tired of the combative mode.

Why does it have to be?

Especially on a Board that should be Justice and Truth Friendly.

[goclark]

37. Bobbolink please make it a Post and maybe

just maybe, if only one person can find it in their heart to understand, it will help somebody.

It is so much easier to be kind instead of cruel.

The heart has a soft spot that is waiting to be used.

Our voice should like a bird reply
Instead of blasting rocket words that pierce us to the core.

Enough of this George Bush cowboy kinda world.

Let's try reaching out to others and give the Mean a rest.


Bobbolink Rocks!

[Sapphire Blue]

41. I'll second goclark's suggestion to make it a Post!

As you said, "We must start somewhere to counter all this insensitivity and cruelty!"

[walldude]

31. To the listener it's just a word.. to the speaker it's a statement.

No white person on the planet uses the "n" word if they don't mean it as a racist insult. Pretty simple. Blacks however can use it as a term of endearment, the word always depends on who you are, and where you use it. After all, yell "fag" in England and 20 people will try to hand you a cigarette. ;)

[Solly Mack]

39. It's not "just" a word and it never will be

Words seldom are "just" words...

Language is a tool and sometimes a weapon...and that word is most definitely both

[Sapphire Blue]

43. No, it'll never be "just" a word. Never.

[kdpeters]

40. White people can be reached. I know. I was.

It was a long road that I couldn't have made without the imtolerance and enduring patience of a dear friend and his family.

Trent Lott and Michael Richards are cautionary tales why watching one's mouth in polite company is not even close to the point. If there are things you shouldn't say, then you shouldn't think or feel them. It's not that hard to change one's heart and mind with a little effort. That's progress.

[goclark]

44. Beautifully said and welcome to DU

Those that put others down with unkind or thoughtless remarks show their real personality.

The best things we ever learned in school we learned in Kindergarten.

Be kind to others is real simple.

[ismnotwasm]

42. I grew up listening to my parents use that word

My mother and father. My mother's grandmother for that matter was a horrible racist. As an aside, my Dad was a big Swede and worked as a "garbage man" one of the very few whites who worked that job back then. He knew blacks, but his racism put them into categories with race as the first defining characteristic.

As a teenager I listened to Richard Pryor "reclaiming" the word, and I began to understand. I understood the NEED to reclaim it. To me a word that's gathered that much negativity and hatred about it shouldn't be used ever by those who aren't the targets of it. I know there is some debate in the black community ala Bill Cosby and others whether it should be used at all.
But when you grow up hearing "nigger" and you know it means black, dark, dirty, wrong, different, unworthy, less than, less than human. When black men are emasculated by it and black women turned into nannies and whores by it, and black children damaged immeasurably by it, I still understand the need to reclaim it as much as I'd like to see the word laid to rest

It reminds me, in a way of the Swastika, which although was a positive symbol at one time, can never be cleansed from the horrible symbolism of genocide and hatred.
And whites and others use the word in a racist manner every single day.

Not in front me, not twice anyway.

[bobbolink]

45. kicking for the Sunday crowd...

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

46. ...

:kick: