Happi
What you are saying fits my theory about majorities/minorities.
I tried to keep my comment simple but the concept of majority/minority should be allied with or ameliorated by the power structure.
The classic example being apartheid era South Africa. There the numerical minority actually functioned as a majority because they controlled all the levers of power.

It is only the older generation of black people that hate this word and are uncomfortable with the connotations. They have a much more understanding what it is like to be called N. The younger generation banter it about in their rap songs with impunity and lack the understanding of its origins. And white people do not demand to use the N word - don't know where you are getting this from. The N word should be banished to the history books and not used by either black or white. Ms Lopez, for example, uses it with Diddy, probably in private (in a friendly tone), but dare she say it in public then it is a different story.

I have to disagree that young black people use the word all the time. I know many young blacks people who are as uncomfortable using the word so I dont know where you're getting that from.

I beleve many white people demand a right to use the word and with their lack of understanding of the sensitivity of the word they end up looking quite foolish. I think anyone who thinks this word can be banished is dreaming. How can you tell older black peole that they cannot use a word they themselves have been called. the yuinderstand the word, have been called the word and in my book have a right to use the word without objections from people who quite frankly dont know what they're talking about.

Absolute rubbish. Most young black people use the word in many of the rap songs (if you can call them that). There is homophobic ranting, and the N word is commonly used. You can't tell older black people not to use the word they themselves have been called and, you are right, they do understand the word, which is why they don't like it used, even by black people, young or old. It is not all that long ago (only about 45 years) when black people in America had the right to vote, had the right to sit in same cafes as whites, were allowed to use the same buses as whites, but look at what they had to endure before they were granted these rights. For that matter it is only about twenty years since aparthied ended in South Africa. You wouldn't hear the likes of Stevie Wonder or Rev Jessie Jackson use the word, simply because they would rather it was banished.

I can agree with your notion about white people wanting to be able to use the word, on the level you are presenting it on. Yet, it is not really about having any desire to use the word. I think they are just expressing a sense of inequality... completely separate from the use or non-use of the word its self.


However,... you seem to also be defending the use of the word by some, which I think is nonsensical. Since when does being demeaned mean it is cool to go around slinging about the term that was used to demean them (regardless of it being somewhat sanitized - the nastiness removed)?

Tommie Smith and John Carlos (there in your avatar) would never refer to themselves as "******". MLK jr. would never. Malcolm X would never. It is about self respect and respesct for the strugle to squash such bigotry. Racism (or any "ism") is not fought by taking the nastiest thing said by the oppressor and using it amongst the oppressed. That is just completely irrational.

So is saying that others just don't understand the history of the word and why it is now okay to be slung about by those who it was meant to demean.
There is nothing to understand/misunderstand. It is a very simplistic (and flawed) ideation. Taking a word and attempting to subvert the connotation through selective use just does not resonate.

Black people calling each other "******", females calling each other "bitch/slut/ho", gay people calling each other "fag"... it is all complete rubbish.

You cannot use the master's tools to dismantle the master's house. :bored:

In fainess I think you are nit picking and being over sensitive as to what is real racism.

Most people don't have racism tattood on their eyballs and see it and hear day and night. That is why the examples you have illustarted are not taken up.......Sensible people just brush it off as human nature.......Other would have everyone treading on egg shell before a mouth is allowed open.....

why do i need to be older to know that what you're saying makes no sense?? the word shouldn't be used by anyone, black or white.

Hear hear kisywisy.