Nigger: The Most Controversial Words In African American Culture
Take a deep breath, look yourself in the mirror, close your eyes then count to ten now say it out loud and proud “nigger”. Not the n-word, not this unspeakable forbidden word just nigger. Depending what you look like, how you were raised, or where you are from, that was either grueling and painful or slid through your vocal chords with ease. It’s astonishing that a word cultivated in the 1800s can still bring pain and anger to the African American community as well as being an uncomfortable road for any Caucasian to tread. Nigger stands as the most controversial word in the English dictionary many have fought for its removal entirely, while others see it simply as a watermark of history that shouldn’t be tampered with. No matter where you stand on the issue one thing is clear. The time has come for African Americans to stop being offended by the word nigger. The first recording of …show more content…
An ideology was created that justified the use of deceit, exploitation, and intimidation to keep African Americans bared in every major societal establishment only to offer legitimacy to the racial hierarchy. ("Nigger (the Word), a Brief History") Ministers would preach that God was white and had condemned African Americans to be slaves. Scientists would measure the brains, faces, and genitalia, of African Americans only seeking to prove that Caucasians were genetically superior. Caucasian teachers, teaching only Caucasian students, taught that Blacks were less evolved cognitively, psychologically, and socially ("Nigger (the Word), a Brief History") With that information in hand it is safe to say that for over the course of 245 years (PBS) no other word existed with the sole purpose of demeaning and lashing out cruelty to a single group of people quite like
Journalist Don Lemon Essay
831 Words | 4 PagesAccording to Lemon, African American should stop using the n-word especially if it does not pertain to the conversation. “By promoting the use of that word when it 's not germane to the conversation, have you ever considered that you may be just perpetuating the stereotype the master intended acting like a nigger?” This claim is strong because it causes the reader to think about how saying that word may really be feeding into the stereotype. Also, he includes a scenario that gives the reader an example of how the word is used so casually. “…on my way home when I exited the subway in 125th Street in Harlem.
'What Does Being Called A' Nigger Mean
74 Words | 1 PagesWhy is being called a “Nigger” so hurtful for African Americans currently to date? Being called a, “Nigger” means to be called ignorant, dark-skinned, or of African descent. To this day, we’re still being called that awful word although it is not to be used anymore. It is a racial slur that should never be used and if it is used should be high consequences. This is the biggest insult to Black people everywhere.
Malcom X Thesis
563 Words | 3 PagesFor example, as a child, “[white kids] called [Malcom X] ‘nigger’ … so much that [he] thought [it was his] natural names” (12). There is a problem when a single word is used to describe someone’s race, which occurred in the north, where race relations were expected to be better. It’s even worse when it is used so often they believe it is their name, their identity. For another example, although Malcolm X was one of the top students in his class, and the class president, his teacher still told him “A lawyer – that’s no realistic goal for a nigger” (43). His teacher directly, without hesitation, told him he couldn’t become a lawyer.
What Are The Ups And Downs Of The 1920's
1263 Words | 6 PagesI believe that buzzwords are used in speeches such as Americanism, the use of the word sacred, and any form of religious propaganda in order to fearmonger listeners to feel a sense of being attacked by the other party. I believe that the Ku Klux Klan used these tactics to try to incite violence and mass discrimination toward African Americans. This is one of the most egregious setbacks during the Roaring Twenties. The progress mentioned in prior paragraphs does not necessarily ameliorate the state of racial equality during these
Racial Interview Questions
659 Words | 3 Pages• I never had any encounters with another race in my neighborhood, all the people around me were very kind. When and where did you first hear the word, “nigger,” or other similar racial slurs? • The first time I hear the word “Negro” “Black” was when I was about 13 years old, when my grandma ask me if I like that black guy.
Jim Crow Laws To Enforce Segregation In The 1870s
337 Words | 2 PagesBlack people were also called harsh names, such as the "n" word. Black people must have felt left out, only having what white people weren’t using.
Racism And Prejudice In ZZ Packer's 'Brownies'
425 Words | 2 PagesOne of the troop member’s fathers mistreated a group of Mennonites because he felt that it would be the only time he would have white folk on their knees working for him. The feelings were a product of the environment created by society. How can a Caucasian relate to how it feels to be called a “nigger”? How can they hate and dislike their own race? When is it even okay to use the word nigger and in what
Structural Racism In African American Society
1258 Words | 6 PagesAfrican Americans have systematically been deprived of equal opportunities and fundamental rights in America since the establishment of slavery. Although the Civil Rights Act banned the implementation of segregation and racial inequality over 40 years ago, the overall concept of racial and cultural hierarchy still lingers at the forefront of today’s society. White America’s history of racially oppressing, isolating, and segregating African Americans have led to present-day issues surrounding the political and economic forces that intentionally limits Blacks access to and opportunity from social, economic, educational, and political advancement through the institution of structural racism. Structural racism within America’s governments and
'The Offensive Movie Cliché That Won' T Die Analysis
884 Words | 4 PagesAccording to Matt Seitz, the word “Negro” started to fall out forty years ago. He mentions that “the word negro was easier for people
Black Privilege In America
1395 Words | 6 PagesThe Disease of Being Colored Colored, nigger, African American, black, coon, and Negro are all the words that describe my race. These are the words that helped mold me into the woman that I am today. Not all of the words that I have listed are in a respectful manner, but they all mean one thing; A black person. Although all of those names can be thrown towards anyone of the African decedent, often times people do not care to see behind the skin of an individual. In hindsight everyone looks alike when the lights are off, and when we are even dead and buried in the ground.
Summary Of In Defense Of A Loaded Word
654 Words | 3 PagesWhen America was founded in 1776, slavery was widely practiced and accepted, and the n-word was frequently used as a way to address African slaves. Most, or at least all Americans at that time believed that Africans were sub-humans that had no rights to their names whatsoever. The word itself evolved from the Spanish word negro as well as from the French word nègre, both which have the meaning of the color black. Even after slavery was abolished in 1865, African-Americans still lacked rights and were frequently called the n-word as well. The word holds a heavy connotation which brings up terrible memories from history as well as times of rebellion and the civil rights
The Influence Of The N-N Word
568 Words | 3 PagesI remember when I was a young boy going to the gas station and I saw two guys arguing, one was Caucasian and the other was African American. The Caucasian guy called the African American the –N word- and they started fighting. While they were fighting they both was struck by a car and both needed medical attention. That’s why everyone need to watch what they say to strangers, especially the people that is a different race. However, for some people that abuse the –N- word that usually means it started at a young age.
How Did Emmett Louis Till Contribute To The Civil Rights Movement?
1328 Words | 6 PagesThis popular euphemism used in the twentieth century was referring to the financial control exerted over black education. The term was originally started by W.E.B. Du Bois, was discussed over black newspapers and periodicals by Booker T. Washington- who was born a slave but became educated and founded a college at Tuskegee in Alabama. 7. Homophobia is described as “the hatred or fear of homosexuals.” Discrimination against homosexuals comes in many forms and are aimed at lesbians, and gay men.
Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
1146 Words | 5 PagesAnother way to combat prejudice is by teaching against it to the upcoming generation. Atticus teaches Scout and Jem that demoralizing vocabulary should not be used, especially against black people. He says to them, nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don 't mean anythinglike snot-nose. It 's hard to explainignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody 's favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It 's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.
What It Means To Say N Word Essay
572 Words | 3 PagesI think that the word nigger, is appropriately used when talking about race or oppression. It needs to be said so people can feel the weight that it carries. Many people say that only black people can say the n-word because the word was used to oppress them. I think that when saying the n-word, context is key. It can be said by anyone
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