I’ve been listening to the commentary about Laura Schlessinger’s use of the “N word” on her radio show. Given the recent experience of Shirley Sherrod, I tracked down a copy of Schlessinger’s conversation on Anderson Cooper’s blog to listen for myself.
Sclessinger tried to argue that, among black men, using the “N word” in a certain context was acceptable. Her usage of it is blatantly unacceptable, as the post-show uproar showed, and she has since apologized. Her treatment of the original caller was also unacceptable in my book, but that’s another story.
Why is usage of the “N word” acceptable in any context? If men or women use it among themselves for humor, affection, or whatever, why choose a word that brings with it a history of degradation on every level? Why not choose a word that brings a positive connotation or a sense of pride.
My mind started off on a tangent, the usage of the “B word,” as in “bitch.” This word also has a history of degradation, and yet there is little uproar when it’s being used. You hear teen girls using it almost every sentence, songs using it, and people on television using it. Ask many young girls and women about this and you’ll hear laughter, that word, and “Don’t you know you can make money saying stuff like that?”
In a different context, the use of either of those words create instant anger, disgust, and often leads to verbal or even physical fights. Everyone I talked to about this kept saying, “You have to consider the context.”
Well, the words themselves in any context still mean degradation, discrimination, and disgust. So for me, no, thanks.
What do you think?
I have never considered the B word in the same context as the N word. I mean there are some similarities. For instance, like the N word, the B word is said in popular culture while being offensive to some. Both words can be said as a term of endearment or as an insult. I try not to say the B word, and I never say the N word.
I really don’t think you can compare the two words…B & N. However, they are both ‘nasty’ and shameful in every sense.
I just don’t get it how celebrities and public figures can say the “N” word so freely, get caught, apologize, and then wait it out and then they come back into the lime light again. I think she will be back on the radio after the dust settles, just like Dog the Bounty Hunter, Michael Richards, Mel Gibson, and any other nut case.
There’s no accountability and it seems to be acceptable to take the African-American race and continue to degrade and stomp them until the end of time.
It seems that everyone is missing the root of this controversy. It is the mispronunciation of “negro.” Is the word “negro” acceptable?
Former President Lyndon Johnson could not pronounce the word “negro.” There was criticism of him for this. “Mr. President, the word is ‘negro”. That’s what I’m saying–neegar.”
again, as an african american nobody “should’ use it, much less the group from which the word originated hate and murder. So that Laura feels ‘priveleged’ enough to spur eptitats because we are free and equal, and those in our community are using it and probably ‘confused’ about the history, you should remember we still are not ‘free’ um i wish i could say that but sorry um …no. I wish they would teach about slavery in history class, but unfortunately some people will not address the truth or anything that paints them in a poor light, and since my colleagues are NOT the ones writing the text books, try from slavery to freedom by John Hope franklin, mostly taught in HBCU’s. Upon reviewing the atrocity of the holocaust, and man’s inhumanity to man it would seem our degrees should be in pursuit of a ‘higher’ goal save that of gaining more money. “lest we forget”
The use of both words, among friends or strangers, foments ignorance and hatred, and reveals the true character of the speaker.
Many educated people attempt to “be current” by using a range of contempory slang, which often is used incorrectly or is out of vogue.
Slang, however, is not the issue.
Ethnic, racial and sexist words are invented to be demeaning. If a group chooses to use those words among themselves does in no way eliminate the perjorative meaning of the word when used by non-group members.
Therefore, if one woman refers to to a second woman that a third and usually not present woman is a “bitch,” those women may or may not find its use offensive. However, the equation alters when we change the sex of any one of those parties to male.
My motto would be the , “use at your own risk”.
Thank you for the commentary about the B-word. It has a very negative connotation, which seems to have been lost to younger people as they have been inured to its use. When the B word first started being used in pop culture, the artists using it intended to use it as a derogotory, offensive word. They were expressing their anger towards women. I am horrified by female artists who now use the word as if they are oblivious to its real meaning. They need a little consciousness raising.
Words can be used to wound and heal and liberate and many other effects. Virtually all words carry baggage, positive or negative, that may, or may not, be understood or consciously wielded by any individual user of the term. But rarely is it possible to divorce any word from its baggage, even if one thinks s/he can do so.
All that is why some people believe that words with negative baggage should be used to positive effect until the negativity is neutralized. For a careful treatment of the n-word in that respect, see Randall Kennedy’s book, _nigger. The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word_ (Pantheon Books, 2002). For a similar defense of the B-word, see __Bitch Magazine_, published by the nonprofit Bitch Media (www.bitchmedia.org).
I have taught courses on gender in language for 20 years, in which I try to have students examine language, its effects and underlying dynamics. I don’t use the n-word myself, but in my classes we discuss it and Kennedy’s book. I never use the b-word in conversation, but in classes we always talk about the circumstances in which we wind up being so labelled. And I usually tell my students what author Dale Spender once said, “When someone calls you a bitch, smile at them and say ‘thank you’, because you will have earned the label by not letting someone else control you.” I also remind them that “BITCH” is a being in total control of herself; just as “WITCH” is a woman in total control of herself. Those definitions circulate widely; I do not know their original source.
Although I am not African American, I am highly offended, disgusted, outraged, etc. whenever anyone uses disgusting words such as the n word (or the b word) or others.
The “B” word does have a “real” meaning when referring to female dogs (the 4 legged variety) which makes it a little different from the “N” word which in today’s society shouldn’t be used.
Re: the “b” word. I can live with it. The “c” word is the one that needs to be eliminated.
I am so happy that the ugly (inside and out) crazy old gym teacher reaped what she had sowed. She could have gotten her argument across by saying “N word” and not using the word and by not saying “don’t NAACP me” and “Don’t marry out of your race ” but like Michael Richards AKA “Cosmo Kramer”, she ends up the trash heap of history, a history of her own making. I am so happy that the free market AKA sponsors started to pull their ads (I guess they were exercising their free speech) and she finally realized that she was just another “run of the mill gabby” and her days were numbered. She realized that she was not as smart as she thought she was, finally! We are all adults here and we all know that we cannot control how others will respond to our comments, but it nothing to do about First Amendment rights (how exactly did the government stop her? They didn’t) and street talk and more about being held responsible for our actions and words. The first three times she used the word might not have been in anger but the last eight she was filled with hate, so good riddance.
Palin was the one who got bent over the use of the word “Retard” (she wanted someone fired for using it once), Palin also said that the people have the right to build the Mosque in NY, but out of respect for the 9/11 families they shouldn’t, but I guess this same standard is not applicable to Laura Schlessinger. Do you see the hypocrisy? The problem with Palin is the same when she mistakenly referred to Ronald Reagan Eureka College, being in California and we all know its in Illinois, same thing, she does not fact check anything she is going to say. She is soooo Palin!
http://vodpod.com/watch/3933949-keith-olbermann-mocks-sarah-palins-imbecility-stupidity-video
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-24-2010/the-hurt-talker
http://youtu.be/nhGk6eF65Fo