Lol, what's new Bull Penners....
Disclaimer: This, post may contain a little foul language so if you think you'd have a problem with that please see to it that you leave now. You've been warned, Thank You.
Disclaimer: This, post may contain a little foul language so if you think you'd have a problem with that please see to it that you leave now. You've been warned, Thank You.
So the other day while on twitter I said something about someone or some people and used the word "nigga." Big whoop right? Ya've heard me say that word here, on facebook on twitter and in person a million times. However shortly after the tweet I received a mention saying something along the lines of "What did I tell you about the n-word, stop that shit..." from a good friend of mine, Angie (@Imani_Sublime) Lol, This is not the first time that she's expressed her anger and dislike/hate towards the word and of it's use... And honestly I respect her as a person, a friend and all that so I try my hardest not to use the word around her, but this is Twitter we talkin about, I tend to go off and not worry about what my followers may think of my tweeted thoughts.
Initially I brushed it off, but after some time passed I actually sat down and gave it some thought... I then tweeted that I would write up a post about it and so here it goes. First I thought to myself "I been using the word nigga for as long as I've been using all the other words in my "street vocabulary" folder." Since I was 9 years old the word nigga has been in use by myself right along with "shit, bitch, fuck, fag," and whatever other repulsive thing you can think of.... Do I use these words all day every day? No of course not, but amongst my peers? Oh, Mother Fuckin right. And just incase you wanna say "Well you must not have a big enough vocabulary..." C'mon, have you not read my words before? EVERYONE curses, or has used profanity at some point, don't sit there and lie like you're exempt from that category. So my question is: "Is the word "nigga" really as bad as all the others I just mentioned? Would you be less offended if I looked at your sister and said "Hey bitch, what's good?" Don't answer that.
I know that many people's reason for wanting to get rid of the word is it's origin. They say things like "That word was used to offend and oppress black people" and things like "that word is disgusting and offensive" "a word that signifies so much hatred and pain" as my homegirl Angie put it....
Alriiight! Here comes the assholes opinion. Imma tell ya like I told my homegirl, "a word, or words can, will and have always ONLY had the power that YOU give them!" I'm well aware that some of you still don't understand what I mean, or where I'm going with this. Check this out, if you CHOOSE to be offended, appalled, or otherwise effected by a word then I really don't know what to tell you. Different people say different things, especially considering that from generation to generation words take on different meanings.
Case in point: 'Artificial' used to mean: "full of artistic or technical skill’. Now its meaning has a very different slant. And even Nice, whose origin comes from latin meaning "to know" once meant: Ignorant or unaware.... Don't believe me? Do your research like I did.
Angie told me to: "Look up the etymology of the word "nigger"...it's rooted from "Negro" which is in essence rooted from "Necro"... Which in Latin means death or to be dead. When the word "Negro" was used, it ewas meant to signify that Africans were dead because according to Christian faith they were soulless as they did not practice Christianity. So, basically to continue to call someone "nigga" or "niggaz" is furthering this concept that brown people have no soul... And we are living up to those standards. Again, true enslavement is when we accept their ideas on us as truth." Very well written and heart felt if I say so myself. But If I were to ask 5 people on twitter or Facebook or people at my corner store who use the word what it meant TO THEM, this would be the furthest thing from what they thought. Blame their blissful ignorance if you will, but that's just how it is. So I'm well aware of the other people who feel "Well people were disrespected by that word and it was used to keep black people down xyz" Okay, coo I understand that at some point the word wasn't a term of endearment as it's become these days, but which one of those people read my tweets? How many of them are my peers? Which one of those people who were once oppressed and kept down with the power of that word in the car with me when I say "You missed the exit my nigga!?" How many of them are listening to "Watch the Throne" with me while I'm in the house or on the bus etc. etc. And please don't misunderstand what I'm saying, I'm not trying to blame the music I listen to, nor am I trying to blame my actions or in this case my words on my environment, but at the end of the day it's all around me. By now, for me, using the word "Nigga" is like my accent. I can't control how I sound. I am indeed a product of my environment and I feel I'm a pretty nice guy if I say so myself. Granted, please don't mistake me for a disrespectful dude, I tend to watch my mouth around people I interact with and don't know well. I would hate for someone's first impression of me to be "The young man who couldn't stop cursing and using the N-Word," cause even I would hate to meet someone like that. However amongst my peers, in my comfort zone, on twitter (where the whole point is to talk your smack)I don't feel that I have to change how I speak. Especially to put anyone else at ease. So you telling me "Stop saying the N-Word" is like shoving your religion down my throat, and by now I think we all know how I feel about that! Some people say "dude" others say "pal" or "buddy" I say "nigga." Does this mean that I feel you should use it? Does this mean I'm telling you join me in my usage of the word? No not at all, it simply means that this is what I say, and I don't feel it's a bad word, however if you do...... Well, that's your issue. And I say it with all due respect.
But I will propose a challenge to those of you who would rather I didn't use it. Contact me in private (EnoBull@gmail.com) tell me "Eno I feel you should stop using the N-Word," and I will give you a chance to try and get me to stop using it. You'll see how when you hit me up.
For now
Stay Up and Stay Tuned.
P.S. If you, out of spite or ignorance hit my homegirl up on twitter, just to bomb her @ mentions with the N-Word, you and I will have severe problems. This post was not intended to start a war but to find some sort of common ground. You've been warned. So know that if you start following her and she follows back, you should tred lightly around her and have the respect you have for me for her as well. You've been warned.
Initially I brushed it off, but after some time passed I actually sat down and gave it some thought... I then tweeted that I would write up a post about it and so here it goes. First I thought to myself "I been using the word nigga for as long as I've been using all the other words in my "street vocabulary" folder." Since I was 9 years old the word nigga has been in use by myself right along with "shit, bitch, fuck, fag," and whatever other repulsive thing you can think of.... Do I use these words all day every day? No of course not, but amongst my peers? Oh, Mother Fuckin right. And just incase you wanna say "Well you must not have a big enough vocabulary..." C'mon, have you not read my words before? EVERYONE curses, or has used profanity at some point, don't sit there and lie like you're exempt from that category. So my question is: "Is the word "nigga" really as bad as all the others I just mentioned? Would you be less offended if I looked at your sister and said "Hey bitch, what's good?" Don't answer that.
I know that many people's reason for wanting to get rid of the word is it's origin. They say things like "That word was used to offend and oppress black people" and things like "that word is disgusting and offensive" "a word that signifies so much hatred and pain" as my homegirl Angie put it....
Alriiight! Here comes the assholes opinion. Imma tell ya like I told my homegirl, "a word, or words can, will and have always ONLY had the power that YOU give them!" I'm well aware that some of you still don't understand what I mean, or where I'm going with this. Check this out, if you CHOOSE to be offended, appalled, or otherwise effected by a word then I really don't know what to tell you. Different people say different things, especially considering that from generation to generation words take on different meanings.
Case in point: 'Artificial' used to mean: "full of artistic or technical skill’. Now its meaning has a very different slant. And even Nice, whose origin comes from latin meaning "to know" once meant: Ignorant or unaware.... Don't believe me? Do your research like I did.
Angie told me to: "Look up the etymology of the word "nigger"...it's rooted from "Negro" which is in essence rooted from "Necro"... Which in Latin means death or to be dead. When the word "Negro" was used, it ewas meant to signify that Africans were dead because according to Christian faith they were soulless as they did not practice Christianity. So, basically to continue to call someone "nigga" or "niggaz" is furthering this concept that brown people have no soul... And we are living up to those standards. Again, true enslavement is when we accept their ideas on us as truth." Very well written and heart felt if I say so myself. But If I were to ask 5 people on twitter or Facebook or people at my corner store who use the word what it meant TO THEM, this would be the furthest thing from what they thought. Blame their blissful ignorance if you will, but that's just how it is. So I'm well aware of the other people who feel "Well people were disrespected by that word and it was used to keep black people down xyz" Okay, coo I understand that at some point the word wasn't a term of endearment as it's become these days, but which one of those people read my tweets? How many of them are my peers? Which one of those people who were once oppressed and kept down with the power of that word in the car with me when I say "You missed the exit my nigga!?" How many of them are listening to "Watch the Throne" with me while I'm in the house or on the bus etc. etc. And please don't misunderstand what I'm saying, I'm not trying to blame the music I listen to, nor am I trying to blame my actions or in this case my words on my environment, but at the end of the day it's all around me. By now, for me, using the word "Nigga" is like my accent. I can't control how I sound. I am indeed a product of my environment and I feel I'm a pretty nice guy if I say so myself. Granted, please don't mistake me for a disrespectful dude, I tend to watch my mouth around people I interact with and don't know well. I would hate for someone's first impression of me to be "The young man who couldn't stop cursing and using the N-Word," cause even I would hate to meet someone like that. However amongst my peers, in my comfort zone, on twitter (where the whole point is to talk your smack)I don't feel that I have to change how I speak. Especially to put anyone else at ease. So you telling me "Stop saying the N-Word" is like shoving your religion down my throat, and by now I think we all know how I feel about that! Some people say "dude" others say "pal" or "buddy" I say "nigga." Does this mean that I feel you should use it? Does this mean I'm telling you join me in my usage of the word? No not at all, it simply means that this is what I say, and I don't feel it's a bad word, however if you do...... Well, that's your issue. And I say it with all due respect.
But I will propose a challenge to those of you who would rather I didn't use it. Contact me in private (EnoBull@gmail.com) tell me "Eno I feel you should stop using the N-Word," and I will give you a chance to try and get me to stop using it. You'll see how when you hit me up.
For now
Stay Up and Stay Tuned.
P.S. If you, out of spite or ignorance hit my homegirl up on twitter, just to bomb her @ mentions with the N-Word, you and I will have severe problems. This post was not intended to start a war but to find some sort of common ground. You've been warned. So know that if you start following her and she follows back, you should tred lightly around her and have the respect you have for me for her as well. You've been warned.
2 comments:
Unfortunately, the word "nigga" is used as a term of endearment now-a-days and we've grown and learned to accept that in today's society. I mean, shit, even Whites and Hispanics are using it now ...towards each other! Imani just doesn't like the word, okay, cool. That doesn't mean you will disrespect her and use it to her face nor does it mean that you will change how you speak and essentially, who you are, to fit her likings.
I agree, you give a word meaning in context. There's a difference between saying "What's good my nigga?" versus looking in a history book and saying "Look at that nigga/-er hanging from the tree." <<--- now, THAT's a complete mockery of it's origination and disrespect to our people. Some people feel strongly about the word and they're entitled to that -- on the contrary, consider the meaning and the context in which the person is using it. What'd mama say? "It's not what you say, it's how you say it."
As long as it's used as that "term of endearment", no matter who uses it or who it's offended by, just like "bitch", "pussy", "ass", "bitch", "dick", "slut" and every other demeaning name-calling noun, it's just another fucking curse word.
Thanks for the comment Mr./Ms./Mrs. Anonymous... I appreciate and agree with what you posted and I definitely appreciate you taking time out to not only read but share your opinion with me and my readers. Feel free to leave you identity next time tho... Lol Later.
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