NEWS: NAACP Buries The Word “Nigga” – ALIVE!

It's derived from the Spanish and French for black (negro/nègre).

He has a point, though. Albeit it is mainly used to refer to those of massive melanin persuasions, can be used to identify activities that are below, in opinion, the expectations of the speaker when referring to anyone else.

See Chris Rock.

I grew up in the south. I grew up in a time when this word was used openly, without any embarrassment.

There were three variations - Negro in the formal press, Nigra in polite company and Nigger, when you wanted people to know how you really felt.

In my experience (I am white) the word has never been used as anything but an epithet. It was intended as an insult. Nothing more or less. I don't not use the word at all now

But, since epithets are a lingering need for human beings, I imagine that NAACP action or no, it will be around for a while.

I've never heard someone actually directly call an Irishman a "nigger", but I've heard the Irish in general referred to as "the niggers of Europe." I'm pretty sure it's 100% a back formation, comparing their socioeconomic status and the way they're viewed by the rest of Europe to blacks' status here.

Honestly, I think it's only overly politically correct white people who use the term "African-American", and, yeah, it's retarded. All the black people I know use the term "black" (or "nigger", actually).

Yeah, I guess nineteenth century British Empire types used the word to refer to any dark "natives" (who were, of course, obviously inferior to their white conquerors or would-be conquerors), not just Africans but Indians and the swarthier Middle-Easterners as well.

That pretty much fell out of fashion in the twentieth century, though, and now if you used the word to refer to an Indian, people would not only look at you like you were a vile racist, but also like you were stupid or unhinged.

Is it actually because he's black or because he's a good guy?

I've never understood why people think that members of certain races make better or worse partners. It's been my experience that people of all colours can be wonderful or complete douchebags.

I'll field that one for you.

While I don't want to know my stepfather's (you know, the college professor with the summer house in Spain and the five successful, college-educated children) attitudes about number seven, there, it's fair to assume that he's kept my mother happy enough over the course of their thirty-year relationship.

So as far as I care to know, there's not a single stereotype there that he and his family don't violate.

The distinction was really reinforced when I went to college and made friends with people who were actually Africans with American citizenship. Anyway, I use black unless someone tells me they prefer otherwise, but that's only happened once and they told me they weren't offended at all, so...

I had a friend in high school from Africa. He was white. It confused people when he told them he was African-American. With a British accent. I was amazed at the quantity of people who knew absolutely nothing about Africa.

Yeah, I mean it's not like white people actually stayed there or anything after they were done colonizing the entire continent!

I am constantly amazed at the quantity of people who know absolutely nothing about - well, almost everything.

I guess I should've learned by now.

[pedantry]Of course you mean "the entire continent except Ethiopia."

And it is true that the areas of white settlement were fairly few and limited (South Africa, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, and Kenya were the only colonies I know of that sustained any significant "permanent" European populations).

But it's also true that ignorance about Africa was one of the two reasons it used to be called "the Dark Continent." To this day, most Americans have no idea that there large and sophisticated (albeit preliterate) civilizations in sub-Saharan Africa, and if you were to tell someone that the University of Timbuktu was once one of the most famous in the world, they'd probably think you were joking.

"Timbuktu" is a funny-sounding word, after all.[/pedantry]

That sentiment that you were criticizing is pretty typical, though... At least in big cities with a large black underclass, like Chicago. I'm not saying it's valid, however...

The problem is this: Most people, when they think of black culture, they think of BET. In fact...

Yeah, I had a student this last year who was of Irish stock but was born in Kenya. We had fun calling him "African-American."

Ha ! Yeah. A wonderful sculptor I worked with for a while (Isaac Witkin) is a white English gentleman from South Africa. People were always very confused when he said he was South African. He was educated in London and so has a mild English accent but he's lived here in the US since I don't know when.

That's not what I meant, but true.
What I meant was someone can be referred to as a nigger if they are acting in a way that the speaker deems below them. e.g. like a nigger. My dad's usage is this way quite often. It racks my nerves to no end.

And I hope by now you realize how completely incorrect you are. Though, when you through shit like this into the mix:

It's gonna probably just make you sound like an asshole.

Wait, weren't you the one who called people who didn't know the history of the word "ignorant?" I guess it's ok to insult others, but out of line when your on the other end, huh?

So don't get bent out of shape because you are the one being shown your own ignorance now.

Ummm, well don't.

2, I think that video is hilarious. That wasn't SERIOUS. It was meant to be a mockery of modern hip hop. Black people aren't the only people who've made stupid videos and things. A white man created the concept of Borat. You don't see the nearest blond on this site saying "I apologize for the man who created Borat and anything else that anyone with blond hair did during their existence on this planet." It makes absolutely NO sense. So don't PLEASE, don't apologize for me or anyone else who is black. If you have to apologize for them, than I'll have to apologize for you being admitted into the gene pool in the first fucking place.

If you are apologizing for the NAACP, don't do that either. That organization has done amazing work towards advancing our race and giving us opportunities that were denied during the civil rights movement and after.

Your self-loathing is disgusting. Your black. Fucking deal with it like the rest of the race does. If you're so upset by the color of your skin than do a Michael Jackson and bleach it. Then dye your hair blond and maybe you'll feel BETTER about yourself.

I dunno. I've seen some of the stuff that you've said on the boards.

-TM

That my friend is the point. It's not racial. It's HUMAN.

Penultimate is my username. Don't bury it! I'm perfectly aware that it means next to last which is why it's so special to me.

Yeah really, way to catch up to 1992.

I had friends, who called me "nigga", they were African American and I am not so the slang term is different than the racist, hateful term.

For Kwame to say anything is really funny being called the "hip hop" mayor and supposedly to be the young spirit Detroit needed to start it's recovery and help bridge the gap between black, white Detroiters and suburbanites.

Economic troubles with GM aside, Detroit has never been able to get over the racial divide started in the 60's and it will probably be another 30 years more.
Truly sad.