Nigger Please, with Sugar on Top...

nig·ger

   [nig-er] 

noun

1.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive .

a.

a black person.

b.

a member of any dark-skinned people.

2.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive . a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant,etc.

	-= ghetto hamster =-
	A racial slur directed at a black child (a disposable pet). *white child* mom we need a new ghetto hamster my old one began to steal things.

The term nigger is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War.

Regarded as Extremely Disparaging and Offensive represents meanings that are deeply insulting and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. It is so profoundly offensive that a euphemism has been developed for those occasions when the word itself must be discussed, as in court or in a newspaper editorial as “The N-word.”
Despite this, the same sense is used to referring to a “black person” among African Americans in a neutral or familiar way. More notably referring to other victims of prejudice, especially when used descriptively, as to denounce that prejudice, is not normally considered disparaging as in “The Irish are the niggers of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments. But the other uses are considered Contemptuous and Hostile. 
We all invoke "Freedom of Speech" to hide the fact that we are saying something deemed offensive by some demographics. 

Can we start using other words or phrases out of context now?

I'm going to see if I can bring back Ghetto Hamster ( refers to black children as disposable used in the plantation era).

Sounds cute right? Maybe if I put a smiley after it wont be so bad? Ghetto Hamster :-D

Hopefully most people still find that phrase offensive. I wouldn't walk up to my children and say " Come here you little Fuckers! I love you". But why is it perfectly normal in some social groups to suggest that those little "nigglets" in the corner playing with blocks are mine?

Maybe I'm Not Black enough, but I don't Get it.I have a suggestion though. Can we go back to when we were children? You know, back to the time when we knew some words were just not appropriate in most situations so we just didn't use them...


Easier said than done?

Yes. Unless we change our culture and start to disseminate knowledge to our youth that words used out of context still suggests the same meanings attached to them. Whether it be intentional or not, the sentiment is still there and all the history and emotional baggage included. So Buyer's Beware when you're trying to invoke freedom of speech to sell/justify insensitivity.

Source

( Racial slur database http://gyral.blackshell.com/names.html )

Biracial and the Unwritten Rules . . .

Now to understand this phenomena, it's simple.

People are not allowed to pretend to be another race. This is one of the most sacred of the Unwritten Rules since the inception of society. 

I know this from experience. Especially when someone would not be convinced of what I claimed to be. It was always the same song and dance. I was met with anger and opposition. In some cases I would be an out right social outcast.

You know this phenomena exists because most likely you live in a Nation. Further more, this nation has Clear and well defined Borders. And if you reside within these borders you must possess Identification authenticating your residency status whether you're a native or naturalized citizen. If you don't have the proper nationality status you get a free ride out of the country. 

To some measure we all understand what it means to be considered the other. 

It seemed everywhere I went whether it was on the school yard or in front of my house playing street football, race was a common recurring theme.

- When I was younger I'd hear things like; 

"Your hair is too straight, you Mexican Henry." 

- Or on the other side of the spectrum, " Usted no habla español? No eres realmente un mexicano".

I can still recall how strange growing up Biracial was for me. I happen to be a Mexican and African American at the same time.

Blaxican for the sake of simplification. 

Of course those aren't the only races I could be a decendant of, but nobody really cares. My whole life I've had others (e.g. friends, family, acquaintances) tell me who I am, or what I can or cannot do according to which ever group I can be conveniently associated with.

And Yet, I can't lie . . .

I'm also guilty of stereotyping myself when it served me. When I was a young man it seemed like a convenient way to explain my various skill sets to different ethnic groups. If I wanted to play basketball with the "brothers" I had to make it be known that I got skills based on the mere fact that I am part black, so I would always get picked that way. 

Then you would hear me say things on the basketball court like "boy, you know this young bloods got skills", or " Undercover Brother has entered the building" after a major play.

It was always fascinating to me, all I had to do was make a vague reference to which race I affiliated with and I can get people to bite and say the same things, "what are you?", they would ask. My reply would be, " Human last time I checked.", then there would be that awkward laugh and then, "Really, what is your race?", as if I'm being challenged at the airport by the T.S.A about my boarding pass. 

Sometimes the line of questioning would get intense. Folks really take their identity to the extreme when it comes to race. 

It wasn't until I was older that I could understand that ones perception of me will always differ from person to person. With that in mind I knew as long as I am true to myself, that is what defines me. 

Listen, you might hear something...

News Flash!

ISTANBUL - Anatolia's 500-year old love songs, censored for centuries, have been brought to life by researcher Hüseyin Irmak who has taken their stories, legends and lyrics and brought them together for the first time.

          

I wonder if anyone will consider songs of my time note worthy.

Tupac for instance. 

Tupac Shakur

djsdoingwork.com

Tupac Amaru Shakur, known by his stage names 2Pac, Pac, and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur had sold over 75 million records worldwide as of 2010, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. Wikipedia

Born: June 16, 1971, New York City Died: September 13, 1996, Las Vegas Full name: Lesane Parish Crooks

Tupac Shakur is arguably one of the most influential black musicians in America during his time. He was in some measure acclaimed to be a lyrical poet. Tupac knew he was speaking to those kids bobbing their heads waiting at the bus stop. He could reach those people and speak in a language that can be digested through his music. 

He used be that guy on the streets, so he knew that with the rap genre and his use of narratives and unique storytelling style, he could explain and influence what he understood about the Black Experience in America.

Tupac was very intransigent about black community as a whole to "change the way we live". This message was clear in his song "Changes". Through his songs he gave every one of us a role to play in crafting our own future. 

He challenged us to face the sad or sometimes horrible truths that some of us enable and perpetuate the cycle of aggression and tyranny that is played out in every generation. He never suggested that waiting for some new law to be passed was a viable option.

He would exclaim through his music that blacks and races of all kinds should stand up for themselves and vocalize there needs and embrace community as a means to support and help one another. During an era in which five of every six black children were born out of wedlock, Tupac was the guy who could look black men in our communal eye and tell us we weren't living right. 

Which was a rare experience from a role model that was considered to be some what of a rogue and anti-hero.