Thursday, November 14, 2013
The N word
With the increased conversation over the morality of the N word and usage. We have inadvertently given this word power beyond power; like the Confederate flag. When we let it die and stop talking about it it dies away like a uncared for plant.You feed it with comments, articles, specials and constant lobbying for its removal from our vernacular. But the truth is it will never stop. This word pushes the serenity prayer to its limits. As long as African Americans use it and take offense to the word they have embraced. There are racists that use it in anger and hateful dialogue we will never get rid of it. To deter people from using it is a noble idea, but not realistic. We can't stop saggy pants,Racism or homelessness. So what makes us think we can stop a word from being spoken. This is like Harry Potter. This word is never to be spoken aloud. Really?!? Wake up folks. Teach your children right from wrong and trust that your teachings and example will then make a change. We have to pick our battles and the folks on their soapboxes are really preaching to the choir cause the truth is they listen for now. But soon as the conversation or lesson is over then it is back to the business as usual.
I don't claim to have all the answers and I may be bringing light to the obvious, but really there are so many more battles we can put our interest into. We can control gun laws, homelessness, crime and the economy. Stop giving power to a word that truly can not hurt anyone! It may make you feel bad with sting but you will live. See the people who use it in anger are small minded people and we have to just step above it and remember the values you were taught at home.
Just food for thought
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
the n word is a term of endearment..it ain't about the origin its bout how we use it now...I'm mean white people used it in a deragatory to be little black people...african american..but not we got their kids calling each other the N word.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you to a point but we have to keep trying. If the problem is just ignored, we ignore signs of future injustices. If people aren't held accountable for their actions/words, our ancestors' sacrifices I feel would be somewhat diminished. We don't want to condone ignorance and contribute to our childrens' acceptance of a word that they fought so hard to overcome. I agree that there are a lot of major causes that deserve a greater focus but this is one that we cannot afford to lose focus of. There are too many injustices to ignore blatant signs.
ReplyDeleteThe problem I have with 'N' word, is how it's communicated and who communicates it. It has become our everyday vernacular! The one race (African American ) that the word is used to belittle, is the race that use it the most!!! But, we're offended when another race address us ( African American) with the 'N' word! When we stop using the 'N' word, Then others would stop. It doesn't matter how we use the 'N' word, it still has one meaning. Poor, ignorant , uneducated, black person.
Delete