“The N Word: An FAQ”
Reblogged from crashleyratchedourian
[Multiple paragraphs about why the N word is bad edited out - PostSatire]
I’m white, can I use it? I’m a non-Black PoC, can I use it?
After reading the above, why would you want to? No, you can’t.
Why anyone would want to is irrelevant and not your concern. You don’t get to choose what words people use. What you can choose is how offended you want to get by those words. That’s the only choice you have.
So why can Black people use it?
Because when used amongst Black people, it is a reclaimed slur.
No, it’s because black people are the same as anyone else, and they can use any words they like for any reason they see fit.
HEY! That’s not fair! Either everyone can use it or nobody can use it!!!
Well, no. Reclaiming slurs doesn’t really work like that. When used by non-Black PoC or white people, it still has that power to oppress and trigger, even when used in a camaraderie sense. When used amongst Black people, its power as a slur is reduced.
No it doesn’t. Black people these days can’t be “triggered” by hearing the N word. The only thing that could cause that sort of situation is everyone in their daily lives, since the day they were born, insisting that they should be driven into a blind rage any time white people use that word. You have the choice to be as offended as you like by any word I use. That choice is out of my control, but don’t start giving me magical “power” that I don’t have. Take some responsibility for the choices you make!
Words are only offensive if you let them be offensive!
I would say that Black people, and marginalised people as a whole, let a WHOLE lot of shit wash over us for an easier life. Considering how dehumanising the N word is, I don’t think it’s a case of “letting” it be offensive at all.
What you “think” is, thankfully, irrelevant. If you are willing to give a word power, then that’s nothing to do with me. White people have been using the N word for centuries to oppress black people, but in these times, black people have a unique opportunity to completely emasculate the entire process at committee level. They have an opportunity to make certain that no one is ever offended by that word again. Why wouldn’t they take it? Why would a group of people be so hell-bent on insisting on their right to be offended? I mean, I can guess, but you’re not going to like the answer.
What if I’m quoting a song?
Don’t do it.
You know things are going crazy when a bunch of people are singing along with Snoop Dogg and when he drops the N word, all the white people either go quiet or replace it, USA-network-style, with something that sounds like it. How can you not see this as a ridiculous situation?
What can I say instead?
The best option is to just not say anything, or quote the ‘Radio Friendly’ version. If you must, there are a few options. Katy Perry said ‘ninja’. Glee said ‘jigga’. There’s also ‘knickers’. They all skirt VERY close to the line, so you could also say “brothers”. But really, saying nothing at all is the best way to avoid problems.
I’m a fan of Stephen Colbert’s “reggin” myself. I live for the look on faces which tells me “Wait - should I be offended? I don’t… what?” Not just from black people. I’ll take that from anyone.
What if I’m just saying it for reference, not even calling anybody it e.g. telling someone “It’s not okay to call someone a nigger”?
Censor it out, or say ‘The N Word’.
Jesus Christ. I can’t even tell people not to say it! Can’t you see what you’re doing? You’re engineering a situation that plays right into the hands of the racists. You’re driving up to the houses of people that hate you, knocking on their doors, and presenting them with a neatly-wrapped gift that says, “Hey, I heard you hate me, so I thought you might like to know some of the things that you can use to hurt me.”
This is what you’re doing.
I’m not Black. What if I say n*gga, rather than n*ggER? That’s not as bad, right?
It’s much of a muchness when coming from non-Black mouths, avoid BOTH if you like having an unbroken nose.
Because beating the shit out of someone is better than saying a word that you find offensive. Again, I hope you can spot the problem in that logic. If you can’t, please consult a copy of the US Constitution.
So hang on, why is it different to when PoC call me a cracker?!
Firstly, cracker is short for ‘whipcracker’, as in someone who whipped the slaves. Already this denotes a position of power over PoC, and whilst you may denounce any association with slavery, this connotation doesn’t OPPRESS you in any way. Whilst “cracker” might not be nice word, and might hurt your feelings, the N word isn’t about hurt feelings, it’s about dehumanisation and oppression. White people are not racially oppressed, so “cracker” does not have the power to do either of those things. THAT’S why it’s different.
Someone sent me a message once that was full of “cracker”. I didn’t give a shit, but not because of what the word means, or whatever. Call me whatever you like. It reflects badly on you, not me. But I would never tell you to stop saying a word, or try to control your vocabulary in any way. It’s not my place. And it’s not your place to try to control mine.
N*gger N*gger N*gger N*gger N*gger! HA! FUCK YOU I’LL SAY WHAT I LIKE!
Well that just goes to show how insensitive and entitled you are. You get asked to not say one word in the extensive English language, and instead of thinking “Hey fair enough, I guess I don’t really want to use a word so horribly loaded anyway” you care more about your “freedom to say whatever you like without reproach”
You just threatened to break my nose two replies above. Which invalidates THIS ENTIRE RESPONSE. You are either making an appeal to the better nature of people (good luck with that by the way) or you’re breaking my nose for saying something you don’t like. You can’t have it both ways.
Actually, I think n*ggers are just the bad Black people. Good Black people, like the Obamas and Morgan Freeman and my friend Chris are just Black people, not n*ggers.
Despite what a certain famous comedian has said, you can’t rewrite history like that. And if you think such a thing as “good Black people” and “bad Black people” exists, you are racist.
What are you talking about? Why are you afraid to mention Chris Rock by name? He has since disowned that routine, by the way, because he feels too many people were using it as an opportunity to say the N word a lot. Which I guess is fair enough. That’s his business, and he’s a funny guy. You don’t get to disown his routine, however.
But how is it racist to say there are good black people and bad black people. Surely there are good people and bad people of every color? Do black people get a free pass on being good or bad? Surely that’s racist?
Hey, so my Black friend gave me a “pass”, so it’s okay for me to use it, right?
Only around your Black friend. Nobody else.
Oh great. Way to go. Way to marginalize one of the few people who have decided to take responsibility for their own responses and feelings. Instead of giving that black person a fucking medal, you want to put him in a box where only certain words may be used in the presence of certain specific people? You are getting this whole thing ass-backwards.
My Black friend disagrees with all of this!/I’m Black and I disagree with this!
Your Black friend/you are entitled to disagree with this, of course, but just know that many people disagree with YOU and you should respect that.
So I should always aim for the lowest common denominator in any social issue? Whoever takes the most offence at the most things - that’s who we should respect? Why? WHY? WHY? Why not aim for the highest common denominator instead? How about that?
My non-Black teacher studied African American Studies and he said you’re wrong.
I’m so glad your non-Black teacher studied Af. American studies and now thinks he is entitled to speak on the oppression of Black people.
You’re really not impressed with anyone who disagrees with your opinion, are you?
I’m gay and I think it’s okay for anyone to say the word f*g, so Black people should be okay with the N word!
Being marginalised on another axis does not give you permission to dictate how other marginalised people deal with their oppression. So, no.
No one’s dictating anything to black people. You’re the one dictating to me, telling me what I can or cannot say. Stop it.
Actually, I’m white and I agree with Louis CK on this one.
Louis CK is misguided. And if you’re white and look to other white people to explain racism to you, you’re doing it very very wrong.
Oh, come on. You’re having a go at Louis CK now? You just lost all credibility.
Can I say it when there are no Black people around?
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO?!
WHO CARES? That’s not your concern. You’re seriously suggesting that I can’t use certain words even when there’s no one around to hear them? Are you fucking insane?
THIS FAQ IS STUPID AND YOU’RE STUPID!!
Welp! Have fun saying the N word, and mind someone doesn’t punch you in the face.
Again with the threat of violence. I’m not sure why you think that would convince anyone in an internet argument, but intimidation is the tool of the schoolyard bully, not of a reasonable party in a debate. If you’re in an IRL situation, and someone says something to you, no matter what that thing is, and your response is physical violence, then you have failed. You are the failure, not him. Without question. Every time.
I’d like to get into a situation where people are more horrified by the racist institutions which adversely affect black people in this country than they are by the N word. Because you know what, they’re not. And this is partly your fault. You’re feeding into this irrelevant psychosis: a bunch of black people and white people running around trying to stop people saying the N word is exactly what these pigfuckers in charge want! They want you to be distracted and arguing over irrelevant bullshit so nothing gets done about the real problems, about the racist profile of the prison system, of the health epidemic affecting black people (who report higher rates of almost every Western disease (such as diabetes)), the racism in higher education, and so on.
You can claim that you’re just as concerned about this as you are about the N word, but that’s a fucking lie. You’re not. You fail to get as worked up about ANY of those things as you do about that one word. And that’s what they want. You are playing the power game the way the power people want you to. And you think you’re a black rights advocate. My god, could you be more of a shill? Could you? Could you be more of a fucking clueless patsy? Look at what they have done to you. All the white people in Washington must be masturbating over posts like yours.
QUICK TEST
This test identifies how offended you are by racism and systematic oppression (which, remember, is supposed to be the reason you find the N word so awful) compared to how offended you are by the N word.
Which of the following sentences do you find more offensive:
- Black people should be treated as second-class citizens, denied healthcare and education, and forced to take low-income jobs.
- Niggers should be equal citizens under the law in every way.
Examine your answer with complete honesty and open-mindedness, and you won’t need me to explain where you’re going wrong.
