African American Casual Use of the N-word
Jul 12, 2023 18:04:47 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jul 12, 2023 18:04:47 GMT -5
African American Casual Use of the N-word
As anyone who frequents the Internet can plainly see, the usage of the N-word has become very popular today among African Americans. They can be heard constantly referring to one another casually in that way, and even using it when addressing persons of other races and ethnicities.
Of course, the meaning isn't what Anglo Americans intended when they used it during the slavery years, or when they use it in anger against blacks today.
However, among African Americans themselves, it seems more like a way to call a person foolish or else insinuate that his behavior is inappropriate in a sort of comical way. Sometimes it is used merely as a social bonding gesture in recognition of a common history and ancestry.
So within that context, it might appear as harmless. But is it really harmless? Below are described three ways in which using the N-word can be problematic.
Disrespectful to Persons in authority
Well, not everyone addressed with the N-word accepts it as benign. For example, teachers, police officers, parents, physicians, employers, job interviewers etc. will not react positively to being addressed in that way.
Utter it during a job interview, and you won't land the job. Say it to a police officer questioning you, and it will anger him and your chances of winding up in jail are significantly increased. Use it when addressing a college professor, and he will not want you in his classroom. Same with parents and grandparents who expect respect.
Racial Insinuations
It can also be perceived as racist. For example, the Non-African American persons being addressed with the N-Word might feel that they are being racially classified into a category that they don't identify with. So the speaker will invariably be perceived as being antagonistic via striving to impose his personal, biased, racial views on the listener.
A Constant Reminder of Injustices
But the most socially-harmful effect of using the N-word, is that it continuously fuels resentment for past injustices. You see, such serious injustices as committed during slavery in the USA, cannot be easily forgotten, especially if they are being continually contemplated as they traditionally are within the African American community.
If we add to this volatile recollection the present, popular and effusive routine use of the N-Word, and it becomes tantamount to constantly irritating a festering unhealed wound. Or similar to the prodding of an already enraged bull with a sharpened goad.
Below are two excerpts expressing opposing views concerning the N-word's usage:
The usage view:
Prof Andrews: "If you understand the history of the word and how it's been used, it's not for white people to use, it's not for anybody else to use.
"If you look at the way that we use the word, which would be more acceptable - and I'm not saying I'm pro using it - it's about endearment, it's about family, it's about connections, it's about recognizing the situation that we're in.
"So if you're not black you can't do that. You actually can't use the word in the way that we use it. It's not possible, because you're not in that space. So any other usage of it is completely wrong."
"If you look at the way that we use the word, which would be more acceptable - and I'm not saying I'm pro using it - it's about endearment, it's about family, it's about connections, it's about recognizing the situation that we're in.
"So if you're not black you can't do that. You actually can't use the word in the way that we use it. It's not possible, because you're not in that space. So any other usage of it is completely wrong."
The non-usage view:
But there are some people who feel the word shouldn't be used by anyone - whatever their race.
"It's actually probably the most offensive word in English," Labour MP David Lammy said on LBC radio in August.
He said he understands the history of reclaiming and owning the term of abuse, but added: "I say the time has come to do away with it. If black lives matter, don't own it, reject it."
www.bbc.com/news/stories-53749800
"It's actually probably the most offensive word in English," Labour MP David Lammy said on LBC radio in August.
He said he understands the history of reclaiming and owning the term of abuse, but added: "I say the time has come to do away with it. If black lives matter, don't own it, reject it."
www.bbc.com/news/stories-53749800