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Post by Johncoyne on Apr 4, 2010 11:12:01 GMT -5
I still don't get it... Jk, jk, that's what I thought you meant.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2010 12:34:24 GMT -5
I always found it strange when I was younger that people were more offended by "Neger", which is the dutch word for "Negro" thand by "Zwarte" ("Black"). It seemed to me that it was more offending to call them by the actual colour of their skin. Of course when I learned the history of the word, I understood.
IMO there should be a serious debate in the black community on whether or not they want that word gone or not..
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RabbitWho
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Post by RabbitWho on Apr 4, 2010 12:40:13 GMT -5
IMO there should be a serious debate in the black community on whether or not they want that word gone or not.. There actually is! all the time. A lot of people want to own it and a lot of people want it dead. I think if you want to own it it should be by changing it's meaning completely, not by still using it to refer to yourself. So for example "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm This is great. I love x flavored ice cream." "What!?!?" "Strawberries. It tastes like strawberries." "Oh.. yeah me too." Then it would loose its power.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2010 12:41:38 GMT -5
well if they are debating about this, they should try to come to a conclusion asap imo XD though yeah, I know that's not always easy
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RabbitWho
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Rebecca - How 'bout we all put or real names somewhere in our signatures or titles? [SKB:]
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Post by RabbitWho on Apr 4, 2010 13:00:28 GMT -5
well if they are debating about this, they should try to come to a conclusion asap imo XD though yeah, I know that's not always easy Ha ha! If only "the black community" were as organized as "the pogo-tribe community" Do you see what I'm saying? They're a bunch of people with one tiny thing in common, skin color. It's not being discussed in meetings and on message forums, it's being discussed by individuals who are each making up their own minds. It's okay, in the end it won't matter because the whole human race is evolving and there just won't be room for words with connotations like that in our vernaculars.
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Post by hawdon on Apr 4, 2010 13:16:49 GMT -5
As a response to the original question:
The picture you painted in my head was (correct me if I'm wrong) that you would talk about the word's history and usage in the book etc. , and if so then:
I absolutely think you should use nigger.
To be afraid of using it (or to be punished for using it) in a context like a school text, when discussing the usage of the word and it's history, is like for a writer of a dictionary to be afraid of writing the definition of the word "sex", because it's a tabu to speak of it in the society the writer lives in. (Couldn't come up with a better simile)
What I am trying to say is that it is pointless and stupid to be afraid of using the word "nigger" when you use it in a neutral context.
In contrast, it would be very tasteless to use the word in a regular text, for ex. "A nigger walked into the shop" instead of "A black man walked into the shop".
Just my opinion.
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Post by Johncoyne on Apr 4, 2010 19:42:44 GMT -5
Err... the project is pretty much done. It had to be a little book thing with a different thing on each page. There would be one page for each letter of the alphabet. N is now done.
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jaw
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Post by jaw on Apr 6, 2010 13:40:24 GMT -5
Well, if it's such a derogatory word, why do black people go to other black people and say "What's up nigga?!"
If they seriously get offended by the word they shouldn't use it themselves. (I know not ALL black people call eachother niggers, but a lot do) Thats my opinion.
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Sammi
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Post by Sammi on Apr 6, 2010 14:23:21 GMT -5
I did a project on this too and I filtered every quote I put with the N-word "african american"... I am also an 8th grader :3
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Post by Trey on Apr 6, 2010 14:32:42 GMT -5
White people should not use the word "Nigger", and neither should black people. some black people say "Nigga", but they also pronounce "badger" as "Badg-ah". The accent is different, but it word isn't. Racial slurs will be around forever, but we should still make an effort to not use them, and teach our youth the same. Oh, btw. Yes, I said "Black People". I dunno what the real name for you guys are, but you're not "African American" lol. If you insist that you are, that means I'm British American
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Post by RandiKthxxx on Apr 6, 2010 19:41:45 GMT -5
I prefer "black" over "African American". I'm not from Africa lol
And to answer jaw's question, you should watch Roots. It's kind of like a slave thing, they'd call each other "niggas" and I think it carried over. The reason I say it, personally, is mostly because I see it as just a word, I've never heard it used in a negative way in my life.
I think that it's also a general consensus that "nigger" and "nigga" are two different words. Nigga is supposed to be a term of endearment (ex: "My nigga") and nigger is supposed to be a derogatory term.
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jaw
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Post by jaw on Apr 6, 2010 22:50:32 GMT -5
Im gunna feel like a douche but that made me lol for some reason. And honestly dude, just because one letter was changed, doesn't mean the word is different. If i said to an average black man "Whats up nigga" I'd get in trouble, and if i said "What's up Nigger" I'd also get in trouble. Haha
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Post by Leo McGinnis on Apr 7, 2010 0:50:49 GMT -5
It's interesting how this word is perceived differently among different "tribes", so to speak.
People always use "what's up, nigga" as an example. Many people think, including blacks, that the word should not be used at all, because in most cases it's a racial slur that carries a lot of hate (I studied American History so I'm very well aware of this). The problem is that when blacks say nigger, it's just not the same as when whites (or others) say it.
True, the word itself does not change, but the context does. This is primarily about ownership. For those blacks, they are two different words entirely, and the meaning is wholly dependent on the context. They feel that they "own" the word, and using it amongst themselves is a sign of brotherhood and unity. When anyone who isn't black uses the word to refer to a black person, it just feels different to them. When used amongst themselves, the word simply does not carry all that extra baggage. Usually only when it's used inter-racially do problems arise. It's interesting, of course, that most of the people who want to get rid of the word are black themselves.
The thing is, a word only carries as much power as people give it. To give a non-racial example: I could say to my friends, "what's up, motherfucker?" and they would not perceive it any differently than if I'd simply said "hi." But I would never, under any circumstances say that to a stranger, not even in a friendly tone, because I simply don't know how they'd react.
I don't think it's right to tell people to not use the term among people and in situations where they know they won't offend anyone. But it's certainly a good idea to make some of the people who sling it around at everyone more aware of the word's laden past.
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Post by RandiKthxxx on Apr 7, 2010 9:36:14 GMT -5
Im gunna feel like a douche but that made me lol for some reason. And honestly dude, just because one letter was changed, doesn't mean the word is different. If i said to an average black man "Whats up nigga" I'd get in trouble, and if i said "What's up Nigger" I'd also get in trouble. Haha You'd be surprised to know how many black people won't do anything to you if you say the word nigga. I know I'm one of them lol. I guess it all depends on who you say it to, but the average? I don't think so. Try it on a black friend (assuming you have any) that you've known for a very long time, he/she will more than likely be cool with it. Now that I think of it, it's kinda like an unwritten rule (lol), "if you're cool with me, then you can say nigga" (not MY rule, like I said, I don't care, it's just a word) But yeah, I'd say you'd have a 10% chance of being beaten up and a 10% chance of getting a stern talking to.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2010 10:42:34 GMT -5
I don't have any black friends Not cuz I don't want to, I just don't know any black people :s
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Post by RandiKthxxx on Apr 7, 2010 11:23:04 GMT -5
I specialize in being "the black friend" haha
You should try and find one, we're fun people :]
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2010 14:40:45 GMT -5
you can be my black friend! no, seriously, there wasn't even 1 single black person in my high school, and there's none in my university classes either.. Am I scaring black people off? A lot of racists would be jealous of me I have asian friends though :/
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Post by bombmaniac on Apr 7, 2010 15:00:39 GMT -5
personally i think this thread is just trollin but maybe thats just me lol
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Cortney
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Post by Cortney on Apr 7, 2010 15:08:49 GMT -5
Bomb, not everybody is a troll like you.
Also, Conjoin, just because the project is done doesn't mean this thread is done. It's a good discussion. ^_^
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Post by RandiKthxxx on Apr 7, 2010 15:54:02 GMT -5
I love my Asian friends! I really love when they invite me over for dinner, Vietnamese and Filipino food is SO good haha
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