I was reading a forum post in which the college student was discussing something that happened in class that day. The students got into a discussion about the word nigger, if using it was ever appropriate and if it should be acceptable for Black kids to use while being unacceptable for most White kids to emulate.
Sadly my generation had high hopes that the current generation of 20-30 year olds would be the one to make race irrelevant. Now they tell us they don’t have a clue either. Great. We’re screwed for another twenty years. Maybe their grandkids will finally work it out.
First of all I don’t hesitate to use the word nigger if that’s the word we’re discussing.* I don’t care for it, and won’t use it unless it’s called for. But I also realize it’s just a word, one with a well-understood etymology, one that elicits strong emotional reactions in people of many colors. I do not consider it profane. As long as it still has the power to shock our sensibilities it will remain in use and divisive.
One thing to consider is “ownership” of certain terms. There are a few words that society seems to have agreed may be used by a certain group yet aren’t appropriate used beyond that group. Nigger is one of those words. Queer is another, and faggot. Certain words are owned by certain groups. Group members can use them with impunity, non-members are expected to refrain from tossing them about, especially in a negative way. Self-depreciation isn’t restricted to the Black community. “Redneck” can be a proud title or an insult. Was it said by a member of the “redneck” group or a non-redneck? That’s often the only difference between self-depreciation and insult.
Words create thought by their context. Context is vital to communications. These words exist in a narrow context with strong boundaries between who can and who shouldn’t use them. I usually respect those boundaries. Not always. In this matter I follow the teachings of George Carlin, master jedi.
People like George and me hoped the 60s would have at least helped ease racial tensions and misunderstandings. Instead the problem persists. Stereotypes are tenacious. They don’t die easily. But we can hope they do die eventually.
(* This comment was prompted by the other person spelling nigger as “nigg*r”, a practice I understand but don’t accept. As I said, it’s a word. Spell it properly. The euphemistic * doesn’t fool anyone. Words aren’t scary; it’s the thoughts behind the words.)
Thursday, October 30th, 2008, 8:42 pm | 
Free Thought, Society | 
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