The definition of nigger goes back much farther than
> > >the dictionary. While I was a college student at the
> > >University of California at Irvine in the 70's, I took
> > >a linguistics class taught by a very colorful "change
> > >agent" named Professor "Sweet Ernie" Smith. One day
> > >in class, the word nigger came up and people wanted to
> > >know where it came from.
> > >
> > >Professor Smith indicated that it orginated from the
> > >merging of Greek, Latin and Roman languages. When the
> > >first European and Middle East peoples encountered
> > >Africans from the Sudan, they called them
> > >Niger,..Hence the Niger River. These white people
> > >were shocked by the dark skin color of the Sudanese
> > >and Nubian peoples and literally thought they were the
> > >walking dead.
> > >
> > >That is the original meaning of Niger. The land of
> > >the "dead" dark people. Eventually, because the Nigers
> > >were primitive, in comparision to Europeans, the
> > >connotation of being dark and ignorant merged.
> > >Therefore the land of the "dead" dark people meant
> > >they were dead in the mind as well. When languages
> > >merged, sometime "G" was substitued with "K." In the
> > >German language, you probably need to check this
> > >source, when you substitute the "g" with "k", a word
> > >like Niger becomes Nike. I remember an old TV show,
> > >in which, Sammy Davis, Jr. play an American soldier
> > >in World War II.
> > >
> > >When the German officer insulted him, he called Sammy,
> > >"You Nike!" It is quite interesting today, that Nike
> > >shoes uses a black spokesman, Michael Jordan, to sell
> > >highly expensive shoes to inner city black youth, who
> > >will kill one another for them. It appears to me,
> > >that the Europeans, through language, have still put a
> > >chain around our necks. Nike makes money for "Da
> > >White Man," and kills each other in return. Something
> > >to think about, right?
> > >
> > >In addition, to the word niger, as the word went from
> > >the Middle East to Europe and then the America's the
> > >spelling and meaning changed. The word Niger changed
> > >when uneducated English, Spanish and Portuguese
> > >slavers
> > >slurred the word until it became nigger or niggah.
> > >So, don't become confused by Webster's dictionary
> > >definition. Nigger still means what it originally
> > >means,..the land of the dead and the "dead" dark
> > >skinned peoples who are "dead" in the mind. Guess
> > >what? The new River Niger are any streets
> > >named Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. or Malcolm X Ave.
> > >I can bet my last dollar that on any given day on any
> > >of these throughfares in any inner city,that a black
> > >person has committed a crime against another black
> > >person or killed another black person. So, whenever I
> > >hear our "hip hop" or Generation X'ers or Generation
> > >Now youth call out to each other by saying,"What's
> > >happening my niggah, " or "Wus up Niggha," they are
> > >just solidifying what the European slave masters have
> > >set in motion, thousands of years ago. Until we wake
> > >up, like Lazarus, in the mind, we will always be the
> > >niggah we don't want to be.


OKplayers, what are YOUR thoughts on the usage of the term, or its variants(nigga, Negro, etc.)?


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

hmmmmmmmmm.....its kinda fucced up...but the word Nigga is quite different in connotation from the word Nigger....

despite its origins, The word Nigga, as in MY NIGGA,(especially down south) has become a term used outa luv. kinda to describe how close you are to someone.

Nigger...wheneva the "er" is pronounced, its user usually implies hatred. its a funny phenomenon. but thats how it is.

I myself as a lyricist and performer use the word carefully. I dont like to say it in front of white folk, cuz they dont understand what the word means to us. I even had a white person tell me the new definition of nigga is anyone ignorant or foolish, and they use it in their circles....WTF?????

It is one of those words deeply ingraved in my vocab, although I dont think thats all that good a thing. MY aunt used to call me lil nigga boy when I was lil. I hated that shit. but as I got older and learned how the word was used, I deeply questioned her motives behind that, since she high yellow and im a lil bit mo choclate. needless to say, FUCK HER.

but in short, Good question My nigga.....take that how ya want. but thats all luv on this side.

damn straight dawg.

That is interesting. I wonder how that has played out psychologically in your Life, that your earliest memories of this elder in your family was of referring to you in a derogatory manner.




>MY aunt used to call
>me lil nigga boy when
>I was lil. I hated
>that shit. but as I
>got older and learned how
>the word was used, I
>deeply questioned her motives behind
>that, since she high yellow
>and im a lil bit
>mo choclate. needless to say,
>FUCK HER.
>
>"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

well it has not so much affected me psychologicly as it has affected how I see people who use the word. Obviously my aunt had and has issues. It just shows me how lost and confused alota folk are. the way someone uses the word shows alot(especially if they are black) about how they view themselves.

some are mad that they are black. some luv being black

I LOVE BEING BLACK. yup..sure do...even wit the bullshit, I wouldnt trade it for anything.

but if I had a second choice it would be Latino. just cuz I LUV THEY WOMEN AND FOOD....but I still would be a black latino. yup..sure would. just like ya boy sammy sosa...you cant tell him he black.

Him NOR Tiger Woods....notice how in saying he is Cablanasian, he put the c-a- for Caucasian FIRST, whereas genetically, the b-l-a in Black is what is manifested in him FIRST.


I still
>would be a black latino.
>yup..sure would. just like ya
>boy sammy sosa...you cant tell
>him he black.


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

We have taken the term nigger/nigga and made the shit fraternal. When I take the time to think about it, it's sad and sick. But I can't judge anyone, because I am guilty of using it myself.

Follow me on Twitter, and talk shit LIVE!
http://twitter.com/dlemoncomedy

i agree with most of the article,however this is the first time that i've ever heard of the greeks or barbarian invaders refer to nubia or the sudan as the land of the "mentally dead".especially since they were going there to learn from them.i think this is another tamhu tactic to discredit our ancient forefathers.still in all,this is an excellent topic for the boards,i just think we need to examine in more detail the actual perception of blacks according to whites during antiquity.they couldn't have seen us as intellectual inferiors since we were schooling them well into the dark ages.just my to cents.....

~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

What is tamhu, Friend?

Has anyone read Black Athena? I was wondering what it said about Blacks in Antiquity with regards to Europeans referring to us as Dead People.



i think this
>is another tamhu tactic to
>discredit our ancient forefathers.still in
>all,this is an excellent topic
>for the boards,i just think
>we need to examine in
>more detail the actual perception
>of blacks according to whites
>during antiquity.they couldn't have seen
>us as intellectual inferiors since
>we were schooling them well
>into the dark ages.just my
>to cents.....


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

tamhu is egiptian for white(people).i haven't read black athena but this is the first time that i've ever heard of us being referred to as "dead people" or even "mentally dead".death wasn't necessarily a bad thing for egiptians beacause they equate life with death.i just want to know who referred to them as mentally dead during this era.

"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

Saul Williams has an interesting take on all this...

"I am that Negro
Negro from Necro
Meaning death
I overcame it
So they named me after it"

From "Sha Clack Clack"

in Greek.

As in, Athena Nike (Winged Victory), that big sculpture in the Louvre.

RED
I'm like that guy who used a pointed stick instead of a rock.

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com

I don't use the word. I'm more prone to say, "negroes get on my nerves" than I am to use "nigger"...

I think I drew the line when I was in college & I heard several of my Latino friends calling each other "nigger". I knew where it came from, the positive & negative connotations, etc. But something about another culture of people using it floored me.
And I thought of it another way. What's stopping a white person from using it, if we're calling each other by that name? Haven't they named and renamed us enough?

From then on, my use of "nigger" has been rare, to say the least. And never in mixed company.



~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

the linguistic irresponsibility of the preceding piece. carry on.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

V I V R A N C E 2001:
TinkyWinky - Posdnuos
Vivrant - q-tip
bfnh - dres
guinness - ju-ju
Mosaic - common
ILLWILL - Chi Ali! hahaha!!!
SqueegieXM - Prince Paul
Kay Dee - Ali Shaheed
Nickelz45 - psyco les
Raina - monie love
Phil - Jarobi
Donwill - trugoy

"Where the F*CK is my purse icon??????"

:::::::::::::
"And I know what the fuck an option quarterback is. He's the black QB under six feet that ends up being converted to wide receiver once he's selected on day two of the NFL draft because he can't hit the ocean from the edge of a boat."

--

check the archives...

that said, i'd like to comment on a piece of what was said subsequently.

in regards to this whole "use it as a term of endearment" thing. i marvel. we don't say "what's up you fat bi*ch", or "hey now, you cross-eyed, no legged, two faced f*cker"? we also donb't say "hey massa" or "them's my rapists" so why can't we choose a better term of endearment?

tey as much as you like to do the whole "take it and flip it" thing (i'mma chage the letters at the end) -- you haven't taken/appropriated anything, you're merely singing the SAME SONG and denying the historical/social effects of being in the choir with the very people who you supposedly fight

do ME a favor (to anyone reading this) -- don't call me (or mine) that. it'll avoid huge problems.

"If I took the 't' out would I still mean 'bitch'"?

"I've been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech"--Being John Malchovich

but the point is that i wouldn't pretend that i've created a new meaning...just as i wouldn't pretend that it should suddenly become a term of endearment

thats what I'm sayin...just trying to reference a damn fine rap group in the process

"if I call myself a gangsta then I'll rob you with a gat
if I call myself a brotha then you know I got your back
if I call myself oppressed then I'm clear on where I'm at
but if I call myself a nigga what the fuck is that?" --Boots

"I've been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech"--Being John Malchovich

they ARE one of my favorites...for many reasons

I'll post-jack this into a Lesson thread (and in a discussion with a moderator, no less)

you know what Boots (or anyone else affiliated) is up to lately?

"I've been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech"--Being John Malchovich

I'm not sure, but I coulda sworn Boots was in Romeo Must Die. In the club scene when Aaliyah and Jet Li are dancing. I thought he was one of the guys (with a girl) dancing next to them.

But then again I still think Raekwon was in Juice at the DJ competion.

When there are extras in movies, there's no real way to find out if they actually are the people unless you ask the person themselves.

kevan

they had put the music thing down for a minute and were deeply involved with grassroots activism. social and political in the san fran area.

i miss their music, but i admire their convictions and activism

i'd like hiphop a whole lot more if we had more cats like these

Davey D talks about a lot of Bay Area hip hop activism and has a newsletter that is completley engrossing and off tha hook. He has talked about many rallies and activities involving Boots and other hip hop activists across the country in his weekly newsletter. Check him out at http://www.daveyd.com. Sign up for the newsletter. I love it.

___________________________________________

>in regards to this whole "use
>it as a term of
>endearment" thing. i marvel. we
>don't say "what's up you
>fat bi*ch", or "hey now,
>you cross-eyed, no legged, two
>faced f*cker"? we also donb't
>say "hey massa" or "them's
>my rapists" so why can't
>we choose a better term
>of endearment?

still lmao@ "them's my rapists"...

I know that shit was not funny...I know it...but I can't stop laughing...

you're the best, BoohDaah...




~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

and too much like common sense...


↑ yours

"unadulterated hate, so ugly" - binlahab

™ & ©

*May is Hate Prince Month at OKP*

don't be fkn evil.

I agree with your point, but not the logic behind it. The modern english language is full of words that used to have one meaning and now have a different meaning. Of course, if you were to call me on that, I can't think of any examples right now. But they're there.

And on a slightly different subject, what is the statute of limitations on previously discussed and archived subjects? It seems that once a subject is discussed, it can no longer be brought up.

I understand about reposting information that has already been posted (like this perhaps), or asking specific questions the answers to which could be found with little effort. But is it not valid to get opinions and thoughts on a subject from the current okp's? There is turnover here, and new people are coming in all the time.

Of course, if a subject still has an active thread, then another post on the same subject is deletable. But how long after it drops off is it once again fair game. A week? A month? A year? Long enough for everyone to have forgotten?

And once something is archived, that's great for seeing what people thought about that subject before. But if someone missed it (or just joined up) and wants to register his opinion on a matter, he may find it in the archives but he can't post to it. is he then forbidden to speak on it?

I would think the rule would be, double posts and simple questions aside, that if people are feeling your topic they will reply; if not, it will simply fade away into the night.

OK, that's my Tuesday morning ramble.

RED
I'm like that guy who used a pointed stick instead of a rock.

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com

>But they're there.

and that's fine. one could justify/argue as much as they want, but personally -- i simply don't play that.

>And on a slightly different subject,
>what is the statute of
>limitations on previously discussed and
>archived subjects?

there is none (at least here_, each board is moderated differently so you'd have to ask the others for a full understanding.

>It seems that
>once a subject is discussed,
>it can no longer be
>brought up.

That's not true. My impression is that archived posts should be used as a reference. No need in rehashing that SAME staement/sentiments over again. However, if you weren't around before -- or if you were and would like to revisit a theme, i simply say "check the archives" so you can see what was said earlier. but that's no "limitation" on you bringing the topic "back to life".

the archives is merely a repository/reference source

>Of course, if a subject still
>has an active thread, then
>another post on the same
>subject is deletable. But how
>long after it drops off
>is it once again fair
>game. A week? A month?
>A year? Long enough for
>everyone to have forgotten?

no limitation that i know of. one hour after it's "gone" is fair to me, but again (as you stated) there's no need for 10 active threads on the same subject. as a moderator it's a whole lot easier to get the full gamut of a convo about a subject if it's all in one concise area

part of my post on an AIDS IN AFRICA CONSPIRACY thread:

this is the problem. if this had not been discussed (at length) before, I would applaud you coming on and questioning and sorting things out with us; but since you have a resource where your thoughts (to a VERY large extent) have already been expressed and discussed, READ IT. If something isn't covered there, bring it here; but if it HAS been covered already, all you are doing is being redundant and annoying.

"I've been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech"--Being John Malchovich

I wasn't speaking to this particular thread.

But I hear you (two).

Still, some people be thinking they got some profound shit to add. The way they find out they don't is when their shit is on page 2 in an hour.

RED
I'm like that guy who used a pointed stick instead of a rock.

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com

as I stated before, I could not find the previous n-i-g-g-e-r post, and even if I did find it, I don't know how to send the thread as a link, so the rest of us can read it and build on the previous discussion. If u have this knowledge Sir, I encourage u to share it.



READ IT. If something
>isn't covered there, bring it
>here; but if it HAS
>been covered already, all you
>are doing is being redundant
>and annoying.
>
>"I've been very lonely in my
>isolated tower of indecipherable speech"--Being
>John Malchovich


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

it's on the first page of the archives

to copy a link (on a pc):

open the page in your browser window
double click (or drag) to highlight the FULL url (address) for the page -- hit "control-c" to copy, then when you want to paste it hit "control-v"

RED
I'm like that guy who used a pointed stick instead of a rock.

RED
http://arrena.blogspot.com

simple "right click" on the frame you want then select "open frame in new window" then use the previous directions

good point though...since i never browse okp in "frame mode" i forgot all about that

at the bottom of my page it says: Prev. Topic Next Topic No archives. I'm not sure where U are finding this.



"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

I see it BooDah, thank U.



>at the bottom of my page
>it says: Prev. Topic Next
>Topic No archives. I'm not
>sure where U are finding
>this.
>
>
>
>"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the
>GAME," Granddad Freeman of the
>Boondocks(7-11-99)
>
>*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic
>singles" — they prefer to
>achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)
>
>*If U have won a Grammy,
>one of two things are
>at play: 1. Your shit
>is TIGHT
>
>
>
> 2.
>U are white
>-(Me)
>
>"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace'
>that means U not a
>freak?"-The Questions(c) Common


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

http://www.okayplayer.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=392&forum=DCForumID1&archive=yes





"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

>what is the statute of
>limitations on previously discussed and
>archived subjects? It seems that
>once a subject is discussed,
>it can no longer be
>brought up.
>
>I understand about reposting information that
>has already been posted (like
>this perhaps), or asking specific
>questions the answers to which
>could be found with little
>effort. But is it not
>valid to get opinions and
>thoughts on a subject from
>the current okp's? There is
>turnover here, and new people
>are coming in all the
>time.
>
>Of course, if a subject still
>has an active thread, then
>another post on the same
>subject is deletable. But how
>long after it drops off
>is it once again fair
>game. A week? A month?
>A year? Long enough for
>everyone to have forgotten?
>
>And once something is archived, that's
>great for seeing what people
>thought about that subject before.
>But if someone missed it
>(or just joined up) and
>wants to register his opinion
>on a matter, he may
>find it in the archives
>but he can't post to
>it. is he then forbidden
>to speak on it?
>
>I would think the rule would
>be, double posts and simple
>questions aside, that if people
>are feeling your topic they
>will reply; if not, it
>will simply fade away into
>the night.
>
>OK, that's my Tuesday morning ramble.
>
>
>RED
>I'm like that guy who used
>a pointed stick instead of
>a rock.


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

>check the archives...
>
Would U just post the link HERE in a message please? I could not find this topic in the archives before starting this thread.


Thanks!


)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

title: n-i-g-g-e-r (a case study)
link:
http://www.okayplayer.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=392&forum=DCForumID1&archive=yes

------QUOTE STARTS HERE------
BooDaah-OkayActivist Moderator
(see Candy1's sig about what that means)
** PLEASE READ THE POSTING GUIDELINES:
http://www.okayplayer.com/guidelines.html
-----------------------------
Sister SheRise's Activist Stew Recipe:
Step1:inform yourself step/Step2:inform others/Step3:discuss the problem/Step4: DISCUSS SOLUTIONS/Step5:EXECUTE SOLUTIONS/Step6:evaluate the results/Step7:start over at 1 until desired result is accomplished.
-----------------------------
"What are we as African Americans? Let's really examine how we are contributing to the projection of our own images of ourselves. What are we really willing to give up? Our integrity? The honor of our community, just for some money? "-Jada

SIDENOTE-Like SHE is one to talk, after participating in the bufoonery of Kingdom Come and Woo:


>"What are we as African Americans?
>Let's really examine how we
>are contributing to the projection
>of our own images of
>ourselves. What are we really
>willing to give up? Our
>integrity? The honor of our
>community, just for some money?
>"-Jada


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

one should be able to play a comedic character (kingdom come) without having "the weight of the people" on your shoulders - as long as you have SOME understanding of where the line is (for some there is none thought, but that's a different discussion).

similarly, i think she had a point with her bamboozled character, i think it just got "lost in the sauce", so to speak as the movie spun out of control toward the end

but all that's just my opinion

this statement she made was regarding her character Sloane in Bamboozled? WEll, that is the best role she has played to date, from what I'VE seen. And her character in Kingdom Come wasn't even funny actually. The guy from Family Matters and his relationship with his mother was funny, and LL's boss with his drinking problem. Where was Jada funny in that movie though? REALLY.



"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

>this statement she made was regarding
>her character Sloane in Bamboozled?

it was made during a promotional stop for that movie. not about her character per se, but about her views as an artist related to roles for black folk. but the line is thin, because she has played some characters that were boarderline. overall though, opinionally, i give her dap for not TOTALLY being about cash and trying to find roles which don't demean her in her own eyes. similarly, i appreciate that she makes some sort of stand instead of vacillating, and saying whaever the particular audience of the moment wants to hear

>Where was Jada funny in
>that movie though? REALLY.

funny is relative (everyone has their own view). personally i saw her character in kingdom come as an over-the-top farcial character. i thinks she was minor-ly amusing, but not funny per se (not laugh-out-loud funny, just "i see what she was trying to do" funny). but then again, i thought the whole movie was a bit of a mess....

But I'd see it again a year from now or so, because I did have laugh-out-loud moments during the film. Overall though, it sucked.


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

Years ago visiting a friend,her brother and friends used the word "NIGGA" with much pounding "DAP" during their friendly conversation.I said ok,I can go with that.

Then at times I saw some of these same friends be so angry with one another,ready to Shoot,Did Shoot and all at the same time saying "NIGGA PLEASE",I will kill your......

That is when I said No this word is not being used all about frienship

***********************************************************
NELLY: I'm Humble In Life Taking Nothing For Granted

AFRICA: www.bbcnews.com

THE BROKER: John Grisham

On the real, I use that ish more out of habit than anything else. But when I stop and think about it, why even bother explaining it? I can use it freely; white people can not (not without getting jumped). It's about as logical as me getting that "don't hurt me" look from old white women, or getting passed over for that job in favor of a white applicant with no more qualifications. It ain't the way it's supposed to be, but it's how it is. I call everybody nigga. Black, white, latino, asian, whatever.

---

"Unh!. Check my ad-lib. Unh!"
- Ghost Weed Skit

----

Niggas just don't know.


...y'know?

NIGGA PLEASE, whut you talkin bout Wilis??????

naw...that dont make the shit gravy though. in light of this thread, ima try and quit usin the word...its gonna be hard though. aiight my niggas....
(one last time ya kna)

Jumping on a white person who refers to a Black person as a n-i-g-g-e-r, OR n-i-g-g-a will have negative ramifications for the Black person, and portray THEM in the negative light, NOT the white person. E.G. Iyana from the Real World/Road Rules challenge was kicked off for pushing the Norwegian dude after he drunkenly referred to her in that manner. She was told that SHE was in the wrong, because she took things to a physical level. So the opportunity to win thousands of dollars and a brand new car was taken away from her, while the Norwegian guy was portrayed as the victim, although he instigated the whole incident. Acting violently towards them when they refer to us in that manner is exactly what they WANT, because then WE are the ones who end up in trouble, NOT them.




I can
>use it freely; white people
>can not (not without getting
>jumped). ...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

I hadn't thought of it that way...but I did think that explanation was lame...

In a perfect world, yeah, we could beat up white folks for calling us "nigger" when we use the word like it's going out of style. But at a time when we're still fighting getting lynched (u do remember Mr. Byrd, don't you?) & brutalized on a daily basis, we need to keep that on the low. We can't do everything in front of everybody (remember that post about what needs to be kept "in house"?)

Think. Seriously.




~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

What???!!! The Real World??!!! On fucking MTV?!?!?

Naaahh man. That shit ain't real. We in a lot of trouble if the media is telling you how to act and you believing that shit.

Here's the real world right here: A white person calls me a nigger and that white person WILL get fucked up if it is at all within my power. It probably won't happen right then and there, but it will happen, and they will know why they got fucked up.

---

"Unh!. Check my ad-lib. Unh!"
- Ghost Weed Skit

----

Niggas just don't know.


...y'know?

In a perfect world, white people would be calling us niggers?!

I know that's not what you meant, but listen, the world is never gonna be perfect. Right and wrong will never be clearly defined. But let me use an example that I already used to make my point again.

White man and Black man apply for job.
White man and Black man are equally qualified for the job.
White hiring person hires White applicant because White applicant is White. He thinks he'll get along better with White applicant. He remembers the only previous time he hired a Black applicant, and that Black employee was always late and had a bad attitude and had to be fired. Even that became a debacle because the Black employee tried to say he was being racist by firing him.
The point is that this Black applicant did not get the job because he was not a White applicant.
That's life right? Keep on moving, apply elsewhere, hope it doesn't happen again, etc., right?
It is unfair, illogical, wrong, and all that shit, right? I agree.

Now:
White man and Black man are conversing.
Black man has called people niggers before (niggers, niggas, whatever, the spelling/pronunciation is not important in my opinion).
White man refers to a Black person as a nigger.
Black man feels that White man should not use that term because White man is White.
Black man uses physical punishment to convince White man that he should not use that term.
Unfair, illogical, wrong? Yep. But that's life.

Hell, at least the White man knows why he's getting the shit kicked out of him. The Black applicant above just has to guess and maybe come to the right conclusion - that his not being White meant he would not get this job.


Don't jump on the "that explanation was whack" bandwagon unless you can refute the logic it uses.

---

"Unh!. Check my ad-lib. Unh!"
- Ghost Weed Skit

----

Niggas just don't know.


...y'know?

>Don't jump on the "that explanation
>was whack" bandwagon unless you
>can refute the logic it
>uses.

But that wasn't my point. My point was, what do you think we look like as a people calling **each other** a name that offends us coming from other people's mouths? I was arguing the "in house" vs. "out in the street" use of language. This is a facet of several groups (Asians, gays, women , Latinos, etc.).

That's all.



~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

were apples & oranges.





~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

I won't refute it, but I WILL maintain that it is not wise 2 use physical violence against a White person 4 calling U an ethnic slur. The more prudent response would be to approach that person's superior/policing agent, and "turn them in" 4 attempting 2 incite violence. That's what they do 2 us on the job 4 any minor infraction. They go 2 Ur superior. They don't confront U, and make themselves look like they can't get along w/ people. They go 2 one's superior, 2 look like their concern is 2 keep a safe, peaceful, and well-run milieu. Blackfolk can take a lesson from that tactic.


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

With inter-racial marriages on the rise, and inter-racial friendships commonplace, how likely is it that we can do ANYTHING without SOMEone from the White community knowing about it? That aside, Big Brother is always watching ANYWAY, so what "in house" is there for us to keep secrets in? I used 2 think it was Essence, but Essence has its White readership as well. So tell me Sir/Madame, where is this secret place where all the Blackfolk can meet, and Nationbuild, plan insurrections, plot routes Up North, or even run around in circles blissfully calling each other n-i-g-g-a all day, 'cuz I have YET 2 find such a place!

We can't do everything
>in front of everybody (remember
>that post about what needs
>to be kept "in house"?)
>
>
>Think. Seriously.
>
>
>
>
>~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
>carameldom@hotmail.com
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
>(((oh yeah...do us a favor &
>vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))
>
>"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like
>slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who
>got the flyest chains"
>~~Talib Kweli
>
>"you can't fool me! I'm too
>stupid!" (c) a random warner
>bros. cartoon character


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

>
>With inter-racial marriages on the rise,
>and inter-racial friendships commonplace, how
>likely is it that we
>can do ANYTHING without SOMEone
>from the White community knowing
>about it?

I'm not saying they won't KNOW. And I'm not suggesting that we have or ever did have some "secret place". All I'm asking is how can we expect to be respected if we're playing into the stereotypes and negativity constantly perpetuated about us (e.g. "they're too stupid to think 'nigger' is a bad thing").

I don't care what kinds of spins you put on the word. The truth is, MOST (note: I didn't say ALL) White folks are not trying to understand Black people. Especially not the subtle differences in our use of language with each other. So when we stand around calling each other "nigger," we just look stupid.


>That aside, Big
>Brother is always watching ANYWAY,
>so what "in house" is
>there for us to keep
>secrets in?

I'll post a link to that discussion so you can see where I'm coming from.


>So tell me
>Sir/Madame, where is this secret
>place where all the Blackfolk
>can meet, and Nationbuild, plan
>insurrections, plot routes Up North,
>or even run around in
>circles blissfully calling each other
>n-i-g-g-a all day, 'cuz I
>have YET 2 find such
>a place!

Even if there were (which I wasn't suggesting in the first place, but ok), it still doesn't make sense to me to be using that word.



~~~SPITFIRE (NEW DATE): AUGUST 23, 2001~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

http://www.okayplayer.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=2410&forum=DCForumID1&archive=yes

also might want to check out this one (haven't read much of it personally): http://www.okayplayer.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=392&forum=DCForumID1&archive=yes




~~~SPITFIRE: 6/28/01~~~
carameldom@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bmore-Okayplayers
(((oh yeah...do us a favor & vote: http://www.geocities.com/bmorestreetwise/flyers.html)))

"cats pop champagne/over misery and pain/like slaves on the ship/talkin 'bout/who got the flyest chains" ~~Talib Kweli

"you can't fool me! I'm too stupid!" (c) a random warner bros. cartoon character

~~~~
http://omidele.blogspot.com/
http://rahareiki.tumblr.com/
http://seatofbliss.blogspot.com/

"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

>
>
>>That aside, Big
>>Brother is always watching ANYWAY,
>>so what "in house" is
>>there for us to keep
>>secrets in?
>
>I'll post a link to that
>discussion so you can see
>where I'm coming from.


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

What???!!! The Real World??!!! On fucking MTV?!?!?
Naaahh man. That shit ain't real. We in a lot of trouble if the media is telling you how to act and you believing that shit.

Here's the real world right here: A white person calls me a nigger and that white person WILL get fucked up if it is at all within my power. It probably won't happen right then and there, but it will happen, and they will know why they got fucked up (though they may not know who fucked them up).


---

"Unh!. Check my ad-lib. Unh!"
- Ghost Weed Skit

----

Niggas just don't know.


...y'know?

thanks for spitting some knowledge. I have one problem though. Nike was a Goddess in Greek mythology, of speed or victory or something like that. That's what Nike means. But you are right about the origin of the word nigger.

>The definition of nigger goes back
>much farther than
>> > >the dictionary. While I was a college student at the
>> > >University of California at Irvine in the 70's, I took
>> > >a linguistics class taught by a very colorful "change
>> > >agent" named Professor "Sweet Ernie" Smith. One day
>> > >in class, the word nigger came up and people wanted to
>> > >know where it came from.
>> > >
>> > >Professor Smith indicated that it orginated from the
>> > >merging of Greek, Latin and Roman languages. When the
>> > >first European and Middle East peoples encountered
>> > >Africans from the Sudan, they called them
>> > >Niger,..Hence the Niger River. These white people
>> > >were shocked by the dark skin color of the Sudanese
>> > >and Nubian peoples and literally thought they were the
>> > >walking dead.
>> > >
>> > >That is the original meaning of Niger. The land of
>> > >the "dead" dark people. Eventually, because the Nigers
>> > >were primitive, in comparision to Europeans, the
>> > >connotation of being dark and ignorant merged.
>> > >Therefore the land of the "dead" dark people meant
>> > >they were dead in the mind as well. When languages
>> > >merged, sometime "G" was substitued with "K." In the
>> > >German language, you probably need to check this
>> > >source, when you substitute the "g" with "k", a word
>> > >like Niger becomes Nike. I remember an old TV show,
>> > >in which, Sammy Davis, Jr. play an American soldier
>> > >in World War II.
>> > >
>> > >When the German officer insulted him, he called Sammy,
>> > >"You Nike!" It is quite interesting today, that Nike
>> > >shoes uses a black spokesman, Michael Jordan, to sell
>> > >highly expensive shoes to inner city black youth, who
>> > >will kill one another for them. It appears to me,
>> > >that the Europeans, through language, have still put a
>> > >chain around our necks. Nike makes money for "Da
>> > >White Man," and kills each other in return. Something
>> > >to think about, right?
>> > >
>> > >In addition, to the word niger, as the word went from
>> > >the Middle East to Europe and then the America's the
>> > >spelling and meaning changed. The word Niger changed
>> > >when uneducated English, Spanish and Portuguese
>> > >slavers
>> > >slurred the word until it became nigger or niggah.
>> > >So, don't become confused by Webster's dictionary
>> > >definition. Nigger still means what it originally
>> > >means,..the land of the dead and the "dead" dark
>> > >skinned peoples who are "dead" in the mind. Guess
>> > >what? The new River Niger are any streets
>> > >named Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. or Malcolm X Ave.
>> > >I can bet my last dollar that on any given day on any
>> > >of these throughfares in any inner city,that a black
>> > >person has committed a crime against another black
>> > >person or killed another black person. So, whenever I
>> > >hear our "hip hop" or Generation X'ers or Generation
>> > >Now youth call out to each other by saying,"What's
>> > >happening my niggah, " or "Wus up Niggha," they are
>> > >just solidifying what the European slave masters have
>> > >set in motion, thousands of years ago. Until we wake
>> > >up, like Lazarus, in the mind, we will always be the
>> > >niggah we don't want to be.
>
>
>OKplayers, what are YOUR thoughts on
>the usage of the term,
>or its variants(nigga, Negro, etc.)?
>
>
>
>"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the
>GAME," Granddad Freeman of the
>Boondocks(7-11-99)
>
>*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic
>singles" — they prefer to
>achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)
>
>*If U have won a Grammy,
>one of two things are
>at play: 1. Your shit
>is TIGHT
>
>
>
> 2.
>U are white
>-(Me)
>
>"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace'
>that means U not a
>freak?"-The Questions(c) Common


"one of the greatest roles ever created by western man has been the role of the 'negro', one of the greatest actors to blay the role has been the 'nigger'"- dumas

I did not write this. It was passed onto me via my women's group, and I thought it would be a good discussion piece for OKActivist. I appreciate the POSITIVE knowledge being shed on the etymology, and thoughts that were shared regarding the subject previously. The elitist responses on here put a damper on things, but I suppose it takes all kinds to make a discussion board.


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

>The elitist responses on here

and which would those be? what makes them so, if your eyes? what's YOUR opinion about this term and it's usage?

different? sure. elitist? i dunno....

the roman (possibly greek) name for the goddess of victory. look it up. I think discussions like this do help people, in that they really can see how thing today are linked to the past but, it is just pretty tired and weak when people try to connect things like "nike" and "nigger" and link them to shoe companies and innercity crime in an attempt to sound deep.
________________________________________
-representin the real since tuesday
-illified illustrated.word.fresh.

ULTIMATE HIP HOP SUPERSTORE: http://www.sandboxautomatic.com/
underground everything -tekzilla 12"'s and the FINAL Company Flow T-shirt


MY LATEST RAP ALIASES- mcbadfeet aka: the mayor goldie wilson of rap, aka big chris the juicebox, aka jesus jones retired messiah, aka the black jamie lawson of rap, aka thurgood killabitch the IV, aka brooklyn jackson from queens, aka homer pimpson, aka alex p. cheatin, aka benny ill, aka stank sinatra, aka michael j. rocks

what if we could just spell it like this?!? that shit right there is real!!!!! y-y-y-y-yeah! my niguzzs!
________________________________________
-representin the real since tuesday
-illified illustrated.word.fresh.

ULTIMATE HIP HOP SUPERSTORE: http://www.sandboxautomatic.com/
underground everything -tekzilla 12"'s and the FINAL Company Flow T-shirt


MY LATEST RAP ALIASES- mcbadfeet aka: the mayor goldie wilson of rap, aka big chris the juicebox, aka jesus jones retired messiah, aka the black jamie lawson of rap, aka thurgood killabitch the IV, aka brooklyn jackson from queens, aka homer pimpson, aka alex p. cheatin, aka benny ill, aka stank sinatra, aka michael j. rocks

Sometimes an optimistic brother like myself gets pessimistic. You know, feeling stuff like, do any of the discussions we have about the N-word have any hope of changing the way things are going in terms of its usage?

That entity which I love, hip hop, has effectively made it an uphill, if not impossible, battle for anyone who would like to see people take a strong stance against calling oneself a nigger/nigga (it may feel different to use one or the other, but they're still the same word). Heck, I feel stronger about the use of that word than a lot of people, but I'm actually really soft. From my coming to this site, you can see I listen to the Roots, Talib Kweli, Common, D'Angelo, etc. - all people who put out recorded material in which they unconstructively use the word. When I say unconstructive use, I mean compared with a song like "Mr. Nigga" by Mos Def, but obviously I'm not excusing him because he's the same as the others, as is dead prez, Outkast, Erykah Badu, and on and on (ha ha, get it?)... I wanted to mention people like them because it would be a cop-out to talk about Jay-Z, DMX, etc.

All I gotta say is don't use the word if you're not comfortable with its use by suburban white kids, kids in Japan, kids in Africa, kids everywhere. We, the hip hop nation, has legitimized the use of the word, we can't turn back, and hypocrisy cannot last. Me, I'm already asking myself - why should I try to stop a kid who likes hip hop from singing one of his or her favourite songs? It will depress me, but I guess I'm just a sourpuss like that.

The excuses go on and on. For some interesting ones, check out "Sucka Nigga" by Tribe Called Quest, "The Experience" by Goodie Mob, and (brand new Canadian hotness) "Man by Choice" by Kardinal Offishall. Excuses, excuses - "The Experience" would make more sense if Cee-lo didn't use the word in the exact same way any other rapper does.

For more of my thoughts, please go to the archives and search this forum for a post called "dead prez guns". The post started off with another topic, but within the thread, I started a discussion of the group's use of the N-word and got the chance to express a lot of my feelings on the use of the word in general.

To bite another okayplayer's style (who I would acknowledge if I could remember who it is)...

Thank you for reading.

"To bite another okayplayer's style (who I would acknowledge if I could remember who it is)...

Thank you for reading."


Except it was "Thanks for reading. I love you."

but now he has changed up with the seasons with

"↑ yours"

PEace
Solarus

***Words of Wisdom***

"If it's not about NATIONBUILDING, it's not about ANYTHING."- Dr. John Henrik Clarke

"We are not the victims! We are just fighting forces that we cannot see!"-2001 Sankofa Conference

"You don't have the RIGHT to have free time from your children."-Kwame Agyei Akoto

"It is the worst feeling to hear the call of the drum and not be able to respond."-Solarus

On understanding Afrakan thought:
"it's like explaining astrophysics to a whino, the explanation can't be done like that. when people try to simplify it, they ask the other person to tailor the answers their cultural context. and trying to cater afrikan ideals to european understanding is a REAL sin."-utamaroho

____________________________
"the real pyramids were built with such precision that you can't slide a piece of paper between two 4,000 lb stones, and have shafts perfectly aligned so that you can see a tiny aperture through dozens of these mammoth blocks

"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

It was posted Mar-06-01. Searching the OkayActivist archives for "dead prez guns" turns up a bunch of stuff; it's farther down on the list. Let me know if you can't find it.

"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

I'll try to cut and paste some of the relevant replies, but I'll need to find the time.

Props on raising an always controversial issues (it's the most-talked about issues that people want to forget about, regardless of whether they've come to any personal conclusions).

>
>Props on raising an always controversial
>issues (it's the most-talked about
>issues that people want to
>forget about, regardless of whether
>they've come to any personal
>conclusions).


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

I asked: does it not devalue dead prez's consciousness that they use the n-word? Here is my someone's reply and my response.

>now i haven't heard m1 ever
>say the word nigga so
>you can't say "they", but
>as far as stic.man i
>think it's the same reason
>why he uses "improper" english.
>now why he could be
>working on that, he may
>yet to get that out
>of his vocab. it is
>also a way to reach
>the folks who he is
>trying to reach. common was
>on tavis with kevin powell
>and dead prez in april
>and this topic came up.
> common was saying in
>his use of the word
>nigga, it may not be
>so p/c but it might
>reach a nigga who might
>be turned off by "african"
>or "my brother". you know
>how niggas be, "oh you
>on that black shit now",
>" i ain't no mooooslim",
>or "fuck that back to
>africa shit". so it's a
>way to reach some people
>who might not pay attention
>to the message from the
>jump.

I think I might have caught a piece of that episode, but I certainly wish I could have seen that part. To tell you the truth, and I'm about to be a bit harsh, I think what Common said is bull. It sounds great, even better than the crap people will tell you about "reclaiming" the word, but I don't believe it. I'm Canadian, so I could be wrong, but as I understand it, many American blacks have been freely using the word 'nigga', positively and negatively since slavery days. I think the rise in the use of the word today came when hip hop became more profane (early 90's), bringing 'nigga' into more common use in the same vein as 'bitch', 'motherf--ker', etc. I think this was not a surprising turn of events as hip hop as always been rooted in the streets, but your average rapper didn't get too raw in commercial songs until the time of NWA.

So people telling me about uses of the word with thought behind it doesn't impress me. Conscious use of the word: the Last Poets. Offensively conscious use of the word: NWA. Since then: people not taking a stand. Listen to the song "Sucka N---a" by tribe Called Quest and you will hear what I feel to be the usual thought process behind the use of the word.

To conclude, here's why I think Common was fronting. When you hear him in uncensored conversation, the word will come out. He has conscious ideas, but, like stic.man (thanks 4 the correction, I never realized that), Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and many others, he hasn't taken the final step towards freeing his mind. Question: can you be an African and a nigger at the same time (mentally)?

That's like saying, "Can U be a woman and a man at the same time." Many have tried. ALL have failed(thankfully so).




>>can you
>be an African and a
>nigger at the same time
>(mentally)?


"Don't Hate the PLAYA Boy...hate the GAME," Granddad Freeman of the Boondocks(7-11-99)

*Twenty-three percent of women are "autoerotic singles" — they prefer to achieve sexual satisfaction alone(source-bet.com)

*If U have won a Grammy, one of two things are at play: 1. Your shit is TIGHT
2. U are white
-(Me)

"'Cuz U answer the phone 'peace' that means U not a freak?"-The Questions(c) Common

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oooo baby I like it raw. Oooo baby I like it RAAAW!(c)ODB- Shimmy Shimmy Ya

Someone said:

I'd like to answer the question that someone posed earlier about, can you be an African and a nigger/nigga at the same time. Yes, i think that depending on the context in which it is used, yes you can be an African and a nigga at the same time.
I'm not even gonna delve too deep into the whole "n" word issue cause we'd go back and forth forever without reaching a conclusion.
Maybe Common was frontin when he was on Tavis and gave the answer he gave, so he could sound as though there was some legitimate reason as to why he used the word nigga. My whole thing is this, as a black female in this country I know the difference between my people's sayin "What up my nigga, how you ?" as opposed to someone saying the word "nigga" with malicious intent. And truth be told, to a degree Common is right, sometimes when i hear someone continually calling me "sista" and all that jazz I automatically think they're gonna be on some far fethced "Back to Africa militant fake ass Black Panther" type shit. So to put it simply, when in Rome speak as the Romans do. You have to use whatever conduit you have to use to get people to listen and not just hear you.
One
Brook

And I responded:

>So to put it simply, when
>in Rome speak as the
>Romans do. You have to
>use whatever conduit you have
>to use to get people
>to listen and not just
>hear you.

Thanks 4 your comment on my question. So does this last part mean you do believe him using the word 'nigga' is part of a plan to reach people on their level? What if he never used that word, ever? Do you think people might consider him stuck up or fake or whatever?

What I'm saying is, it's not necessary. Is it evil? That's another discussion, but making the conscious choice not to use the word is not going to hurt your message, in my opinion. No old school rap song sounds bad just because it doesn't need to be heavily censored. That's one thing that bugs me; certain rappers that were around before and kept the word out their mouth use it all the time now. About the evil question? To me, consciously making the choice to put the word in a rhyme in a non-ironic way, when you don't (or didn't until now) use the word in your daily conversation is just... anti-yourself. (Don't hate yourself, black people).

If I was around people who use the word on the regular, I wouldn't get all uptight and start preaching. But I still have my opinion. There was a post some time ago about this word and its use by white people. Are you cool with that? Are you desensitized to that word droppin out anybody of any colour's mouth yet? If not, get used to it. Cuz that's where hip hop is taking the world. Who am I to tell somebody else he or she is not allowed to rhyme along with Black Thought or B.G. (check the contrast) while they're listening to their favourite song?

No point in me despairing, the way many elders do as they look at the youth. But "I gotta hold on to my pride, my pride. I'm gonna stick, I'm gonna stick, stick to my guns..." (ha! guns. you like how i'm tying this in to the original topic)

Another reply-with-my-response:

>Bravo!!!!! I am glad to see
>some real thought provoking comments
>across the board here.
>This is the type of
>Dialogue that i dig.
>I would just like to
>add that, first, on the
>use of the word nigga....I
>dont know where i stand
>in the end...because im on
>the fence...i do believe in
>"reclaiming the word"...though many call
>that a weak attempt to
>justify the use....I believe that
>words are just that...words....whether they
>come from Black people...white people...yellow
>people...we as people are far
>too advanced to be squabbling
>over words.. I believe
>that true power belongs to
>he/she that can accept all
>of these words, without taking
>offense...the same way we take
>ownership over fuck, shit, damn,
>we should take ownership over
>the word nigga...we know of
>its disgusting meaning in the
>past, but it is 2001,
>and i believe it is
>now a testament to our
>survival. Weve taken the worst
>and most derogative thing that
>THEY had against us, and
>flipped it on them. How
>strong are we? No
>weapon formed against us shall
>prosper. and i know this
>is the age old defense,
>but, lets not forget, the
>word Nigga does not mean
>black, and quite frankly, we
>have taken plenty other words
>and transformed them to mean
>something that we can embrace
>(i.e. dope, fresh, hype, phat)...we
>are our own people, and
>we should hold ourselves to
>our standards, no one elses...

Thank you for your message. Though I usually find the "reclaiming the word" argument worse than weak, you have made a very intelligent and convincing comment. I was going to ask about the white people saying it thing again, but you seem to have taken even that into account.

I guess the reason I would still beg to differ is that, though we've come so far, we've still got so far to go mentally, as I'm sure you would agree (considering your interest in Afrocentic schooling). I think the use of this word is a reflection of HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO. If you'll notice, people didn't start "reclaiming" the word during the conscious movement in rap heralded by people like PE. It happened around the time of NWA, the beginning of the gangsta age, when the negative aspects of black reality began to be emphasized and made prominent. I think you see where I'm going with this.

dp fans, note which two groups I mentioned and think about "I'm An African"...