Why doesn't the NAACP stand up against the use of racist terms by the black community

[Deleted]

Serious question, why doesn't the NAACP stand up against the use of racist terms by the black community?

We have all been out and heard black people use the N word towards one another yet if this were to be said by a member of a different race they would cry racism in its highest form. Why doesn't an organisation like the NAACP ask them to stop if they find the terms so offensive? It might not work but they could at least show where they stand on the issue.

Im sick of turning over the channel and seeing a rap video with the N word being used. It just makes me turn over again. Not that I'm a big fan of rap anyway but this nonsense is just stupid. Having one rule for one and not another is idiocy in its highest form and should be clamped down on by the authoritative figures.

What is your view on this?

[Dezerte]

I try not to use the N word, but I end up doing it anyway. It's hard to change your habits, especially when there is no harm meant. I know black people can find it offensive, but I don't understand why. Here's what I found at wiki:

"... because they associated the word Negro with the long history of slavery, segregation, and discrimination that treated African Americans as second class citizens, or worse."

Thing is, it's just history. There are no living black people today from this period (afaik ), so there's no reason to get upset about it. If it's because you were taught to be offended by it, isn't that a fault by your teacher/parents? Not those of us who don't see anything wrong with the word. And to add, I'm from Sweden and there's really no long history about black people here. Maybe it's more of an US thing? Call me white, paleskin or whatever you want. I couldn't possibly find it offensive, only humourus.

Still, I try to not use the N word when I'm amongst people who could potentially be offended by it, I do it out of respect and it's not such a big deal for me if I can't go up to a black person and call him a Negro.

[Deleted]

At least spend more than 1 minute researching before you make a thread. It took me all of 10 seconds on Google to find multiple articles detailing how the NAACP is against the N-word, and specifically against it being used in rap music.

In fact, the NAACP and other leaders are being criticized for being out of touch with black youth. This thread is based off a false assumption and hence pointless.

"Hundreds of onlookers cheered Monday afternoon as the NAACP put to rest a long-standing expression of racism by holding a public burial for the N-word during its annual convention. "Today we're not just burying the N-word, we're taking it out of our spirit," said Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Black leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, have challenged the entertainment industry and the American public to stop using the N-word and other racial slurs. "They wouldn't make rap songs if you didn't buy them. Stop supporting the stuff you don't want to hear".

The Rev. Wendell Anthony, pastor of Detroit's Fellowship Chapel and member of the NAACP national board of directors, said the efforts were not an attack on young people or hip-hop. The NAACP has been criticized with being out of touch with young blacks, but Tiffany Tilley said the organization is moving in the right direction."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...070900609.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-funeral_N.htm
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/200...-funeral-naacp
http://sparkaction.org/content/naacp...r-n-word-again

[Catta]

I try not to use the N word, but I end up doing it anyway. It's hard to change your habits, especially when there is no harm meant. I know black people can find it offensive, but I don't understand why. Here's what I found at wiki:

"... because they associated the word Negro with the long history of slavery, segregation, and discrimination that treated African Americans as second class citizens, or worse."

Thing is, it's just history. There are no living black people today from this period (afaik ), so there's no reason to get upset about it. If it's because you were taught to be offended by it, isn't that a fault by your teacher/parents? Not those of us who don't see anything wrong with the word. And to add, I'm from Sweden and there's really no long history about black people here. Maybe it's more of an US thing? Call me white, paleskin or whatever you want. I couldn't possibly find it offensive, only humourus.

Still, I try to not use the N word when I'm amongst people who could potentially be offended by it, I do it out of respect and it's not such a big deal for me if I can't go up to a black person and call him a Negro.

Its less than 50 years ago the Jim Crow laws were repealed in the US...

[jb247]

Bill Cosby has openly stated his disappointment in the black youth and parents today, and the use of the N word within their own culture. I have tremendous respect for him because he said what needed to be said at the risk of being ostracized by his own peers who choose to blame everyone and anything else for their troubles.

[Dezerte]

Its less than 50 years ago the Jim Crow laws were repealed in the US...

My bad.

10char

[Lynarii]

The short of it though is that it's a very difficult thing to make a ruling on, because there isn't actually a clearly defined line. The fact of the matter is that I can call my friends all sorts of names when we're amongst ourselves that I would NEVER use in public, and while they're okay with me using them (because they know me) they would be horribly offended if a random person called them some of them. The rules of acceptable behavior are simply different in private than they are in public.

This becomes even more complex when you start looking at things like a lot of rappers. Most rappers are not famous people who put out albums to the masses. They're mostly people who made music for themselves and their local community, and happened to be pretty good at it. In the process of becoming famous though, the songs that were intended for a specific audience is now being played for a much larger one... but changing your music to reflect the larger audience is something most people call 'selling out'.

Ultimately, all cultures and sub-cultures change over time. It will either fade out or it won't, and if it stops being profitable to make music of a specific type, you won't see many people putting out albums of that type.

[FathomFear]

What is your view on this?

The argument is that you take the power out of words by repurposing them. When a black man uses the "n" word or when a gay man uses the "f" word as a term of endearment, for example, this act strips the power out of the word and essentially works to change its meaning.

Ultimately, the idea is to take the "oomph" out of the word vs. letting the words keep their power and just remain unspoken.

[Deleted]

I find it very hard to pronounce a black man's identity. Is it a negro, black person, african, south african? What is the less discriminating term for a black man? I feel that "black" man already sounds a little to dark?

My online dictionary says that "nigger" is legal enough to use... and shouldn't be thought of as insulting. Like "whitey" and "white man"

[Deleted]

Just say the dam word for gods sake Nigger , fag , faggot there you go i just sed! `WOOT HE JUST SED THE N AND F WORD!!!` big deal....

[FathomFear]

...and shouldn't be thought of as insulting. Like "whitey" and "white man"

Only if you've been living under a rock your whole life and use words with zero historical context. Otherwise, doing that would be very stupid.

[Drakain]

Sometimes things take on a cultural significance that varies according to context.

[Televators]

"Nigga" is a black colloquialism. "Nigger" is a racial epithet in the non-black lexicon. These are practically different words for all intents and purposes. I have met very few blacks who'd get upset using the word "nigga", especially in the context of song lyrics or in an obvious joking manner.

I don't know what the issue with white people is when it comes to these words. It's pretty easy to understand. If your friend walked up to you and said, "Hey asshole, we're going to 7-11, wanna come?", it'd a lot different than a stranger coming up to you and saying "Hey asshole, fuck you!"

[jb247]

"Nigga" is a black colloquialism. "Nigger" is a racial epithet in the non-black lexicon. These are practically different words for all intents and purposes. I have met very few blacks who'd get upset using the word "nigga", especially in the context of song lyrics or in an obvious joking manner.

I don't know what the issue with white people is when it comes to these words. It's pretty easy to understand. If your friend walked up to you and said, "Hey asshole, we're going to 7-11, wanna come?", it'd a lot different than a stranger coming up to you and saying "Hey asshole, fuck you!"

I get called cracker on a weekly basis, but it's mostly because of my career and I'm sure they believe they're insulting me. It doesn't bother me one bit, and has every bit the historically negative connotation of its counterpart. The thing with being offended is that it's a choice. As long as we give power to a word, the word has power and will be used for that purpose. I learned a long time ago there are way more offensive things than words.

[namelessone]

Think about it this way. When you say "I'm a bad-ass motherfucker!" - it's cool. When someone you don't know you tell you "Hey, motherfucker, come here!" - it's not cool. Same with "racist terms". Their use is unwelcome when it's unwelcome.

[Booshman]

I get called cracker on a weekly basis, but it's mostly because of my career and I'm sure they believe they're insulting me. It doesn't bother me one bit, and has every bit the historically negative connotation of its counterpart. The thing with being offended is that it's a choice. As long as we give power to a word, the word has power and will be used for that purpose. I learned a long time ago there are way more offensive things than words.

Can't tell if trolling....or just really REALLY lunkheaded. Is your job to flip hamburgers? Because there is NO WAY you passed US History in High School (let alone graduated college) if you believe this foolishness.

---------- Post added 2012-08-01 at 05:58 PM ----------

Bill Cosby has openly stated his disappointment in the black youth and parents today, and the use of the N word within their own culture. I have tremendous respect for him because he said what needed to be said at the risk of being ostracized by his own peers who choose to blame everyone and anything else for their troubles.

And I have tremendous respect for numerous (and far more credible) whites who have come out and gone into full detail about the continued history of common and deep seeded dangerous white pathologies. Responsible whites who have been lambasted by their peers or have been outright unheard by them.

Also the end of your last sentence was very off the cuff and was quite telling.

Infracted: Please, keep responses civil and constructive and avoid getting personal.

[baldcore]

Every race, creed, and ethnic identity has their own insults towards each other and other groups. The difference is when someone outside that race uses it towards a person of that race. When rednecks call each other rednecks its a sign of pride but when a city boy calls one of them a redneck their likely to get quite unhappy. The trick to these situations is no different than knowing the lingo of a particular country. There is certain words you can and can't say towards certain people. If you are of that same background and group than its not so bad if you use it but if you are not than it can be a far bigger insult. Here is a few example of words you don't use towards certain people. Never call a mexican a gringo. Never call a black person a nigger. Never call a homosexual person queer. Never call a white person a redneck or inbred. Never call a polish person a pollock. Getting the idea?

[Tinykong]

I think it's pretty clear:

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Any racism against non-colored people is a non-colored people problem.

[s_bushido]

I get called cracker on a weekly basis, but it's mostly because of my career and I'm sure they believe they're insulting me. It doesn't bother me one bit, and has every bit the historically negative connotation of its counterpart. The thing with being offended is that it's a choice. As long as we give power to a word, the word has power and will be used for that purpose. I learned a long time ago there are way more offensive things than words.

Yeah, I'm not sure the connection to being "poor white trash" is *quite* as bad as the connection to being someone else's property. Either way, as others have pointed out, within your own circle, friendly insults are common practice. A stranger insulting you out of legitimate hate/ignorance...is not quite as friendly.

I don't care for the word regardless of the connotation, but I do recognize that there *is* a different connotation.

[jb247]

[QUOTE=Booshman;17807552]Can't tell if trolling....or just really REALLY lunkheaded. Is your job to flip hamburgers? Because there is NO WAY you passed US History in High School (let alone graduated college) if you believe this foolishness.

---------- Post added 2012-08-01 at 05:58 PM ----------



Why don't you look up the origin of the word cracker and then get back to me? Also, learn to be an adult and have a debate without acting like a five year old. I was raised by my grandfather who emigrated to this country in the early 1900's, when guess what- it wasn't pleasant to be a European immigrant. The term they used back then was "DP" or displaced person, and he always told me he loved this country and words like that didn't bother him one bit. Please, do tell me how my statement is "quite telling".