Comments on: The Burden of Being, The Weight of Words http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/ ~ all shades of beautiful Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:07:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Island Princess http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2493 Island Princess Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:10:28 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2493 The fact is that I chose not to use the N-word because, as you stated Afrobella, it is foreign to me. While I understand where the Black defenders and users of the word are coming from, in their attempts strip it of its dehumanizing power, the fact still remains that the people who initially gave the word its power still hold on to its ascribed power. Therefore, while many of us when using the word have a totally different understanding and objective for it, there are many, for whom (both Black and White), the dehumanizing status still stands. In addition, while many of us assert that the word has now been reinvented to be a term of endearment, why do so many of us get so offended when it is used by someone of a different race? I think that our reaction to outsiders using the N-word is a clear indication that it is still embedded with it given dehumanizing power. As a result, I think that many of us need to take a different approach to the N-word. The fact is that I chose not to use the N-word because, as you stated Afrobella, it is foreign to me. While I understand where the Black defenders and users of the word are coming from, in their attempts strip it of its dehumanizing power, the fact still remains that the people who initially gave the word its power still hold on to its ascribed power. Therefore, while many of us when using the word have a totally different understanding and objective for it, there are many, for whom (both Black and White), the dehumanizing status still stands. In addition, while many of us assert that the word has now been reinvented to be a term of endearment, why do so many of us get so offended when it is used by someone of a different race? I think that our reaction to outsiders using the N-word is a clear indication that it is still embedded with it given dehumanizing power. As a result, I think that many of us need to take a different approach to the N-word.

]]> By: Lita http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2483 Lita Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:44:54 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2483 I am a white girl in Australia and am really into Hip Hop. I often sing along and try to rap... It's really quite pathetic! But I get confused singing or rapping when that word comes up. For example in "Jigga that N'" by Jay Z. Even alone, I look around like 'Should I be saying this?'. I've never said the word to a black person and I dont agree with the negative white connotations assosiated, but I still get kind of scared when it rolls around. In Australia we dont have many black people, and those who are are mostly from Africa. I recently went to Hawaii and met two lovely African American women and I found a strange feeling that I had to watch my words.. Even though I felt nothing negative towards them. I think maybe it's just the stigma of being white among black people. Im in no way racist, I want to make that clear, but I still feel a bit strange when that word comes up in a song or meeting an African American. I dunno... I am a white girl in Australia and am really into Hip Hop. I often sing along and try to rap… It’s really quite pathetic! But I get confused singing or rapping when that word comes up. For example in “Jigga that N’” by Jay Z. Even alone, I look around like ‘Should I be saying this?’. I’ve never said the word to a black person and I dont agree with the negative white connotations assosiated, but I still get kind of scared when it rolls around.
In Australia we dont have many black people, and those who are are mostly from Africa. I recently went to Hawaii and met two lovely African American women and I found a strange feeling that I had to watch my words.. Even though I felt nothing negative towards them.
I think maybe it’s just the stigma of being white among black people.
Im in no way racist, I want to make that clear, but I still feel a bit strange when that word comes up in a song or meeting an African American.
I dunno…

]]> By: Tricia http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2431 Tricia Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:37:40 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2431 Great post. I don't know if I could add anything diverse enough to add substance to what has been written before me. But people underestimate the power that words have, definitely. And thank you for linking to your friend's post. Great post. I don’t know if I could add anything diverse enough to add substance to what has been written before me. But people underestimate the power that words have, definitely. And thank you for linking to your friend’s post.

]]> By: Anouk http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2409 Anouk Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:11:33 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2409 Here's another reader from the Netherlands. The situation here is somewhat similar to the situation in the US, but at the same time it's not. I'll try to explain it. We have two words, that are similar to negro (neger) and nigger (nikker). Yet, in our dictionary, neger refers to nikker and more 'strong terms' like that. Neger is quite a 'normal' word in our everyday language, but lots of people don't like the word because of its history and what it implies (I guess the meaning of it is defined by who uses it in what context, just like other people here stated before). A couple of months ago, a company that makes the chocolate candy angel kisses (named 'negerzoen', which translated would be 'kiss from a negro') changed the name into 'kisses', because people were complaining about the use of the word neger. That says a lot about the feelings towards the word, which is not the general feeling. The general feeling is: 'it is not meant in a harmful way and there are greater problems out there so shut up'. The situation here is quite different from in the USA, because of two things: - Black people in the USA feel they are Americans and they belong there, while here, everyone who is not white is not Dutch and feels not Dutch, no matter what this person's passport may say (very generally speaking off course). We even have special terms for people whose parents were born abroad. The other difference, is that nigger is not common here. But I see it is becoming more and more accepted, mostly by urban youth because they take rap music and black entertainers as examples. Nigger is like our nikker, and everyone knows that is a 'bad' word. It can't be used in a positive way, so when someone says it, you know they intend to hurt/downgrade you. For short: I never use nigger nor nikker. Neger as in negro, I do use, to refer to black people in general and only in my own social circle, because I know there are people that are very offended by the word. OK, hope my message comes through. We Dutch people always think we're excellent in English, but when you have to speak or write in it, it's kinda tough. Loooove your blog Afrobella! Here’s another reader from the Netherlands.
The situation here is somewhat similar to the situation in the US, but at the same time it’s not. I’ll try to explain it.

We have two words, that are similar to negro (neger) and nigger (nikker). Yet, in our dictionary, neger refers to nikker and more ’strong terms’ like that. Neger is quite a ‘normal’ word in our everyday language, but lots of people don’t like the word because of its history and what it implies (I guess the meaning of it is defined by who uses it in what context, just like other people here stated before).

A couple of months ago, a company that makes the chocolate candy angel kisses (named ‘negerzoen’, which translated would be ‘kiss from a negro’) changed the name into ‘kisses’, because people were complaining about the use of the word neger. That says a lot about the feelings towards the word, which is not the general feeling. The general feeling is: ‘it is not meant in a harmful way and there are greater problems out there so shut up’.

The situation here is quite different from in the USA, because of two things:
- Black people in the USA feel they are Americans and they belong there, while here, everyone who is not white is not Dutch and feels not Dutch, no matter what this person’s passport may say (very generally speaking off course). We even have special terms for people whose parents were born abroad. The other difference, is that nigger is not common here. But I see it is becoming more and more accepted, mostly by urban youth because they take rap music and black entertainers as examples. Nigger is like our nikker, and everyone knows that is a ‘bad’ word. It can’t be used in a positive way, so when someone says it, you know they intend to hurt/downgrade you.

For short: I never use nigger nor nikker. Neger as in negro, I do use, to refer to black people in general and only in my own social circle, because I know there are people that are very offended by the word.

OK, hope my message comes through. We Dutch people always think we’re excellent in English, but when you have to speak or write in it, it’s kinda tough. Loooove your blog Afrobella!

]]> By: Papillion http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2405 Papillion Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:32:11 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2405 The word “niggardly” or a "niggard" is NOT an ethnic slur. It has *nothing* to do with the n-word or black people, never has been, never will be. It may superficially sound the same, if mispronounced, but the idea that this is an ethnic slur is incorrect. The word “niggardly” or a “niggard” is NOT an ethnic slur. It has *nothing* to do with the n-word or black people, never has been, never will be. It may superficially sound the same, if mispronounced, but the idea that this is an ethnic slur is incorrect.

]]> By: Priscilla http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2397 Priscilla Mon, 11 Dec 2006 20:37:30 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2397 I am born and raised in The Netherlands so the N-word isn't a part of the duth language. But we do listen to rapmusic from the US and that is how we are also exposed to the word. What pisses me off is young people who are a part of my race are coppiying the word coz it's cool. Not knowing the history or true meaning of it, I'm mixture of West indian, Antillian and African people. Never have I felt that I was a nigger neither shall I ever feel that way. I am born and raised in The Netherlands so the N-word isn’t a part of the duth language. But we do listen to rapmusic from the US and that is how we are also exposed to the word. What pisses me off is young people who are a part of my race are coppiying the word coz it’s cool. Not knowing the history or true meaning of it, I’m mixture of West indian, Antillian and African people. Never have I felt that I was a nigger neither shall I ever feel that way.

]]> By: BRI http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2379 BRI Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:02:01 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2379 when people of my own race use the "n" word I don't get offended because they gave it another whole meaning as in "friend", "homegirl/homeboy", and/or "buddy". They mean no harm. When someone outside of my race calls me the "n" word, yes, I would get offended because a certain race preferably a group of Caccacines has not been through what my ancestors had to go through, and it hurts me because they have no idea what pain is. Yes, their ancestors may have gone through some struggles like the Irish and the Germans but I feel that African Americans and our ancestors have been through much more in the past and that pain still continues to this day. On behalf of myself I'm young but mature. I do use the "n" word only if I am trying to call someone ignorant or uneduacated when it's true no matter what race they might be. when people of my own race use the “n” word I don’t get offended because they gave it another whole meaning as in “friend”, “homegirl/homeboy”, and/or “buddy”. They mean no harm. When someone outside of my race calls me the “n” word, yes, I would get offended because a certain race preferably a group of Caccacines has not been through what my ancestors had to go through, and it hurts me because they have no idea what pain is. Yes, their ancestors may have gone through some struggles like the Irish and the Germans but I feel that African Americans and our ancestors have been through much more in the past and that pain still continues to this day. On behalf of myself I’m young but mature. I do use the “n” word only if I am trying to call someone ignorant or uneduacated when it’s true no matter what race they might be.

]]> By: mark http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2354 mark Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:12:29 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2354 Jay-z, is culturally ,politically and financially in a position to permanently erradicate N---- from the Hip-Hop vocabulary. THAT would be a legacy!! Jay-z, is culturally ,politically and financially in a position to permanently erradicate N—- from the Hip-Hop vocabulary. THAT would be a legacy!!

]]> By: mark http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2353 mark Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:12:07 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2353 Jay-z is culturally ,politically and financially in a position to permanently erradicate N---- from the Hip-Hop vocabulary. THAT would be a legacy!! Jay-z is culturally ,politically and financially in a position to permanently erradicate N—- from the Hip-Hop vocabulary. THAT would be a legacy!!

]]> By: Cartoon Central http://www.afrobella.com/2006/12/06/the-burden-of-being-the-weight-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-2350 Cartoon Central Sat, 09 Dec 2006 18:57:05 +0000 http://afrobella.com/?p=116#comment-2350 <strong>The Weight Of Words</strong> Some thoughts on South Park and words.... The Weight Of Words

Some thoughts on South Park and words….

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