NYC Bans “Nigger”
Now YOU won’t be able to open your brand-new Hip Hop Thug shop:
Seriously, the city of NYC has banned the use of the word “nigger,” thus preventing schools from teaching Huck Finn, and the homies in the hood from saying hello. Reuters has a hilarious quote from Chris Rock on the issue:
“What, is there a fine? Am I going to get a ticket?” Rock mocked in a Reuters interview when asked about the City Council move. “Do judges say, ‘10 years, nigger!’”
As a linguist, I think all words are useful tools for expressing ideas. What if you want to express a distasteful history of slavery and modern linguistic rebellion and rebranding? Then it’s the perfect word.
Update: The hip-hop/rap music link to the revitalization of this word is well known and controversial enough–I’m not interested in discussing it here. What is interesting though, is that I just realized that rapper (unfortunately) Jay-Z calls himself “Jigga Man.” Of course, Jigga is only a slightly more corrupted form of the N-word, and he’s taken it as his name. I’m not going to draw conclusions.
Update 2: Here are some others’ opinions on the matter:
“I used the word nigger to defuse its negativity,” he told us by phone. “When Puerto Ricans call each other the Spanish word ‘negro,’ it reflects feelings of love. I think New York blacks picked up ‘You my nigger’ from Puerto Ricans.” writes NYMag
“The word word originates from the Latin “niger,” meaning black, to its first documented written use in 1786 as a term slave masters used to label their African slaves.” writes A Welsh View
“Sorry, banning words you don’t approve of is infantile at best and fascist at its worst. Forbidding the use of a word usually only gives it more power. Besides, racism is a complex cultural and historical issue that goes far beyond a two syllable word.” says Cynical-C
“My fantasy is that I could have made a citizens arrest and then tortured him for hours upon hours, tied up in my apartment, by recounting every act of racial hatred and discrimination that I have ever endure…” writes Black Looks
“How would we feel if the city had been Memphis, Tennessee, and the word had been “Jesus Christ!” (when used as an expletive). Most of us here would agree that both expletives are a bad thing, but would we want both of them outlawed?” says World Views
“Perhaps dialogue encouraging the black community to hate using the word ‘nigger’ as much much as they hate other people using it would be far more productive.” notes Amy Proctor who I remind does not need so many italics
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 1st, 2007 at 9:59 pm and is tagged with homies in the hood, huck finn, syllable word, history of slavery, citizens arrest, african slaves, slave masters, hip hop rap, rap music, puerto ricans, music link, n word, feelings of love, spanish word, nigger, word word, reuters, linguist, negativity, chris rock. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback.
on March 2nd, 2007 at 12:15 am
Let’s get real. The ban is nothing more than a symbolic gesture. Their are no First Amendment rights being threatened here. This is really about African American’s loving and respecting one another. Getting some self-respect, pride, dignity and honor.
If you want to use an endearing term towards me then call me your brother and not your n***a. There is nothing respectable about the n-word and there isn’t another word in the English language that comes close to emulating the negativity that this word does. To even want to take a word like the n-word and use it affectionately suggests that one should be visiting a therapist.
We need to dispense with all the falsehoods as to why it’s okay to use a word that’s a racist definition drenched in complete ignorance and degradation. We need to and must learn to define ourselves as being equal to the rest of humanity and not beneath everyone else. Enough of this 400 year old tradition of, “Ya suh, master, I am a N***er.”
Back in 1945 when the black soldiers came from WWII they were greeted with jeers “Remember your place, you are a n***er always will be”. Based on the name of your bookstore it appears as though you are a very obedient soul. You seem to know your place 100%.
on March 2nd, 2007 at 1:55 am
It’s a misplaced symbolic gesture. The idea of it represents thought police in the worst way. Controlling the words we’re “allowed” to use is a powerful way to control the way people are able to form ideas.
Personally, I never use that word. It’s not a suitable word for friendship and compassion and all the things that make society good. It’s a word either laced with modern gritty african-american life, or the overtones from those terrible days of slavery.
My point isn’t that it’s ok to use the word. It may or may not be, depending on who wants to, and when. My point is that no one can decide it’s *not* ok to use a word ever. Every word, no matter how foul, is a vehicle that can be used to communicate some unique idea. The word “nigger” is no different, only the issue a thousand times more political.
I illustrate my complaint with that image because it’s not in the far reaches of my imagination to think of a hip-hop store with that name. And it would be pretty funny if it didn’t actually happen already.
on March 2nd, 2007 at 7:06 am
Most youth use this word because they don’t know the real history of it or of America or of the world — and they don’t know it because they’re not taught it. Their parents often don’t know much about it either because they were taught through the same centuries-old racist American educational system that was started when enslavement was America’s only source of profit through FREE slave labor, which built America. That educational system was designed to support the false notion that Blacks did nothing and came from nothing, so that’s what’s been perpetuated through today because not enough people take a stand on this issue and those that do are hurried into a closet or promoted as being “radical.” That’s what Blacks are up against in this White supremacist society, but the more people who work against this type of system the better of we’ll all be. Starting with keeping the N-word in its historical is the beginning to enlightenment and empowerment for all of us, regardless of “race.”
on March 2nd, 2007 at 7:09 am
As meant above, the better OFF we’ll be and keeping the N-word in its historical CONTEXT.
on March 4th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I need to say that as a young Haitian-blooded man living in the States, I’ve seen alot in my time. I was born in New York City, into a Haitian family, and I’ve been raised in the “ghetto” just like most other black males and females in this country, so I have the same amount of knowledge about poverty and minorities as others do, if not more. No matter what whites used to use the word for, it is ridiculous to limit what we feel like calling each other. This can’t be anything but another limit placed on the black society in America, because the government simply can do what they feel like.
Black males and females most likely don’t mean any type of harm in calling each other “my nigga” or describing others that way. It is simply a part of our lifestyle, the only way we can live it. Blacks in modern America, for the most part, can only live a life that was paved for us, and make the most out of it, which is what the fortunate ones do.
As far as us black people bashing each other, wise up. It’s sad that some people can’t tell when the government has nothing better to do and is just pitting us against each other as usual. It’s not the first time, folks.
What we need to do is understand that there is a difference between what was happening many years ago and the lifestyles that we have in our modern day black culture. There is a line between being called a nigger and a slang reference. Nigger is STRICTLY offensive. Nigga is not. I know a few white people who I don’t have a problem with when they use nigga. That’s because we’ve been close for many years, and I know their backgrounds well.
However, just because we choose to call each other nigga, doesn’t mean that white elites can categorize the black race in saying NIGGER. There IS a difference.
on March 16th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I think its not going to matter if you ban the word- people with still say it- By the way we do not live in a white supremacist society. We live in a hypocritical society- but not a racist one. The people of this country are racist not the government. And if you are then you arent even as smart as animals, I have 5 dogs all different breeds and colors and sizes. guess what? They dont discriminate!! They all play and sleep next to each-other. Horses you can have 30 different breed in a pasture and you wont see the black horses staying with the black ones and the white ones staying with their kind. This only happens with humans b/c ignorant people have children and teach them their ignorant ways- my mother who is white told me that anyone can be a nigger- white black, didnt matter- b/c it meant an ignorant person. Maybe if more people were taught tolerance growing up from their parents instead of ” hate niggers” or ” hate crackers” we wouldnt even have to have this discussion. B/c me being white- I experience racism on a daily basis- and the difference between white and black racism
I found is–Almost all blacks hate whites, and I am white, dont hate anyone, and in my whole life never knew one person in a kkk or anything, It seems that black families teach racism, whereas most whites dont, The funniest thing about this RACE- thing is - The government- made slavery legal- not everyone had slaves- they were rich enough to have one, There was a war - b/c the north wanted to abolish slavery and the south didnt, Then the government abolished slavery, But blacks hate all whites, even when most of our families didnt arrive in this country until after slavery, never had a slave, and ARENT RACIST! Stop the madness- slavery stopped over 241 years ago, There is not one slave alive, so no-one should b holding a grudge against anyone. If everyone would stop teaching your children to hate, And then as adults we can finally know peace. And if you
are black and want to hate someone- hate the government- not white people, we just want to stop being reminded (and blamed) everyday about something that happened over 241 years ago, that none of us even had any part of, you dont see any jews still complaining about Germans? And to me that was just as bad if not worse than slavery, most of the jews didnt get picked as workers, they got killed. Christians dont hate jews b/c of what happened to Jesus. Let the hate go, or be consumed by it. It is a viscous cycle, that is continuing its life well into its next cycle, b/c people cant let things go.
on November 11th, 2007 at 1:18 am
all niggers are beasts
on February 24th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
As a white guy, I have started to think a little more deeply about this kind of thing. I have always been one of those white guys who gets pissed off when I see a “Black Power”, or a “Stop Black on Black Crime” shirt. I found them both offensive, in different ways - and I still do.
However, you have to think about this -> As a white person in America, you can live your entire life without ever really having to engage African Americans in any mandatory way. I mean, that’s by and large - of course, there are exceptions, like if you have a black boss or what have you. But still, even in that case - you dont really have to engage in, or understand African American culture in any meaningful way. But the same cant be said for black people - they have no choice, they must engage white America, everyday - if they want to succeed.
I was arrested for Drunk Driving a few years ago in Queens NY. In “The Pen” - the holding cell where everybody is shoved into a tiny, dirty, cement room, I couldnt help but to notice - that I was one of 2 white guys, out of about 18 people. At first, I was like, “see - this is no big deal, everybody’s cool, race makes no difference”. About 15 minutes later, myself, and the other white dude were standing in the corner together chatting, and we stayed there in that corner for about 4 hours until we were called in for arraignment - and yes, it became uncomfortable.
This was the first time I had ever been forced to engage with African Americans, with no alternative. I couldnt help but to think that for an ordinary black man, or woman, going on a job interview, or what have you - this is what they feel all the time.
It gave me a new perspective…just something to think about I suppose.