Disclaimer: This piece is not by any means to offend any of my readers. The term mentioned throughout this text is still acknowledged to be controversial concerning who can and cannot use it, and whether or not the word should be used at all. I, as the writer, am not entitling myself to be an individual allowed to use this term. The purpose is simply to share the ideas, research, and history I have found, and to further ask questions concerning its use.
Everyone has at least heard this quote at least once in their life, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. A widely known quote which reinforces the idea that physical matters may hurt us, however, words will not. Although many will agree with this idea, others will argue that words are in fact, very powerful in which the language, context, and tone one chooses to use– and therefore, can absolutely hurt. In our constantly evolving world of communication, language has either united us with one another, or it has completely destroyed and divided us. In regards to such opposing principles, who is solely to decide who can and cannot use certain language? Furthermore, is it exclusively a person’s capacity to decide whether or not language, or more specifically, a word, can insult them?
After meticulous and diligent research, there are a great number of interesting, opposing perceptions about the term “nigga” –a progressively used slang term which seems to be casually used in today’s American Millenial language. Exposure of this term is incredibly predominant in today’s hip hop and rap, and even more so in the infinite world of social media. While newer generations are seemingly conditioned to perceive “nigga” more as a term of casual slang and endearment, others view such as a derogatory racial slur.
In regards to the historical origin of the word “nigga”, it is a newly spelled, “desensitized” version of its derivative, “nigger”. As mentioned in chapter 15 of Jabari Asim’s The N Word, who can say the word, who shouldn’t and why, there are many warring ideals behind the new spelling. By taking a word that had once oppressed, degraded, and held many negative connotations towards African Americans; and turning the insult into affection gives the colored community immense empowerment. Advocated by Mos Def, a well known American rapper and activist, such logic behind the new spelling turns the word “nigga” into a term of endearment and comederie. Another significant contributor to this epochal shift is hip hop’s introduction of “gangsta rap”. Rap legends N.W.A. and Tupac Shakur gave the term a new and positive connotation. The word was acronymed into “Never Ignorant, Getting Goals Accomplished”, giving it a positive spin. By the same token, is the word “nigga” analoguos to the term queer or gay? If we can use the word many times that it becomes normal and are frequently exposed to it (via social media and songs on broadcast radio), may others– by others I mean non-blacks– use its empowerment as well without any consequences?
In fact, even in hip hop’s community, not all artists even see a distinction between its origin and new spelling (nigger vs nigga). Davey D, a respected hip hop artist and historian, enforces “The use of the word with either spelling is disparaging.” Other socially conscious rappers such as Common and Lauryn Hill, use the hip hop and rap platform to address and further educate touchy issues of black inferiority such as city poverty and racial discrimination, as opposed to N.W.A.’s odes of urban dysfunction: gang culture, extreme violence, drug trafficking, sexual activity, pimping (sex trafficking), prison references, and police oppression. This shows that even beloved Tupac’s –a very well respected African American artist– clever acronym in attempt to remove the negative connotation, triggers equal amounts of attraction but still yet, repulsion in the black community.
Apart from mentioned above, who gets the responsibility to decide whether or not this term shall be used or not, and furthermore, by who? A sketch featured on Dave Chapelle’s show demonstrates the difference between the word “nigga” and numerous other racial epithets that have transitioned into today’s modern launguage. As exaggerated the performance was, he essentially asserts that any other racial term such as “honkey” or “cracker”, (in reference to Chapelle’s sketch) has “No tradition of racial folklore grounded on centuries on instinct, habit, and thought”. Therefore, anyone at all using the newly found slang– without the awareness and or consideration of African American history– are being flat out disrespectful, and absolutely have no right to use it. Other writers such as Paul Beatty further affirms Chapelle’s perception; he reiterates the word is, “A symbol of this nation’s failure to make unsatisfactory amends for its long tradition of racial injustice”. Another African American figure, David Sylvester, strongly contends that he blames himself and other African Americans for using and allowing the word in everyday, casual conversation, “We are wrong, there is no justification for an infraction of this magnitude. The word and sentiment are flat out wrong. We have denigrated and degraded ourselves to the point that our backwards mindset has spread out like a cancer and infected our source, our brothers, our sisters, our Motherland.” “A sensible rule is that blacks can use the word and white people can’t.”, John McWhorter declares from his article from The Atlantic.
Now, how can we as a nation make it up to our fellow African American population? Additionally, what may be the solution when there are opposing views of their own people of descent saying it? One would think that perhaps complete elimination of the word will alleviate tensions as well as rid the slur confusion amongst our nation. We should wipe the entire words existence along with its history right? Poof, it all goes away? One would think it is realistic to initiate such activism, however, this would require complete unanimity across the entire minority. With what was mentioned during previous paragraphs, is this possible with such diverse black reaction towards this word’s usage? Furthermore, would this mean that Tupac, Stevie Wonder, and N.W.A., and other artists’ work will be entirely dismissed– all of who have skillfully delivered the epithet in positive connotation in the history of rap and hip hop?
While our younger generation of society– including those who are black– proceed along heedlessly with the word “nigga”, others advocate to forbid such inappropriate and foul use; for that it threatens the black legacy that brought them to existence. This is quite paradoxical, wouldn’t one think? Attempting to transform a term– (not even the exact word) into a term of endearment and or camaraderie– that once greatly demeaned their entire existence, however not having the willingness to to evolve beyond its history of racial injustice. How can we live in like-mindedness while America’s once distorted image of the African American man, forever lives in the heart of the black man– or even more frightening, remaining in the heart of the white man as well?
Consolidating all viewpoints and research above brings me to my final question, why haven’t such amends been made? Why must we all be shackled and unbudgeable to corrupt white delusion? This term sparked my interest because of its unique use. Yes, those may consider it a racial slur, but what’s different is that African people today refer to it as a lingo of endearment and sentiment. In contrast, those of Asian descent, specifically myself, we don’t use the term “chink”, “gook”, “flip”– the list goes on, as applicable to any ethnicity– when addressing our own people. It’s just unique, different, and just a small example that language is powerfully complex, yet very fragile to its audience, and not universal.
In conclusion, the connection with language today and opposing views of use is that human beings as a society do deeply long for understanding, clear communication, and reconciliation– but what can we do to address this issue that our forebears have left unresolved? We, as the United States pride ourselves so strongly as being a “melting pot”– land of the most diverse and most importantly, the Free. Very strongly conditioned to love, respect, and pride in who we are, however we are so segregated by this illusion of racial hierarchy and exclusivity of language use.
Platinum thoughts... 