A Guy Named Leon
The N-Word
By Leon Scott
Ladies and gentlemen, I come to you today, a man on a mission. That mission: to clarify the dreaded “N Word” and end all of controversy and confusion surrounding it, once and for all. It is an ambitious and challenging undertaking, but if any man is up to it, that man is me.
To all of my readers of a non-African-American background, please allow me explain something to you: The word “nigger” is one of the most explosive in the English language. It has been used for generations as a tool of oppression and a label of inherent inferiority. From slavery and the Klu Klux Klan, to Jim Crow and Segregation, that one word invokes the entire history of atrocities that this country has inflicted upon black people throughout its existence. My friends, that is the reason why saying that word in front of a black person may be hazardous to your health. When you call a black person “nigger” it’s almost as if the spirits of that person’s ancestors, the ones who went through all of these unspeakable horrors firsthand, channel their energy inside of that person’s body, and involuntarily causes him or her to strike down upon thee, with “GREAT VENGEANCE, AND FUUUUURIOUS ANGER!”
© Samuel L. Jackson, 1991
Yeah, there’s a good chance that whomever you called “nigger” will be yelling any number of things in a manner similar to Sam Jackson when he or she literally slaps your face…off of your face.
Now, the term “nigga” is an evolution of nigger, which has a number of meanings. Depending on circumstances, it can be a term of endearment between friends…
Example: “What up my nigga!”; “That’s my nigga right there!”; “Those niggas can sing their asses off!”
Where it gets dicey is it’s similarity to the term it came from, which also allows it to be used in a negative context…
Example: “Nigga where’s my money?”; “That trifling nigga has 11 kids by 12 different women!”; “That nigga had the nerve to ask me for a dollar, but he’s wearing brand new Jordans!”
So you see, “nigga” can be defined as a friend or associate, and also as a lazy, shiftless bastard. There are three more important things to remember, as far as this word goes:
- 1.) “Black people” and “Niggas” are two different groups – The “nigga” categorization is defined by behavior and relationship, NOT by race. African-Americans with goals, ambition, drive, common sense and home training are usually excluded from being labeled “niggas.” Don’t think that every black person on Earth is cool with the term.
- 2.) That said, black people will defend niggas until it becomes an exercise in futility – Black people living in the USA usually tend to root for the underdog. It’s only natural, considering we are this country’s version of the underdog story, having been kicked around for generations. This is why we will defend our niggas whenever possible, should they slip up and get in hot water. We know what we’ve been through, and we know that racism still exists, so as black people, we feel it is part of our inherent black Identity to defend our downtrodden brothers. That is, until they cross the line and continue to get themselves into trouble. Then black folks are like “F*ck that nigga!” It is hard to have sympathy for people who made it through a bad situation, yet still get hemmed up when all they have to do at this point is be normal and not get arrested. Prominent examples include O.J. Simpson, Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, and Michael Jackson.
- 3.) The safest thing for white folks is to avoid saying “nigga” altogether - Some black folks may be cool with their white friends saying that word. Others, however, will beat you like one of Suge Knight’s girlfriends and forget all about the fact that you were cool two syllables ago. Hell, I have friends who’ll beat up other black people for calling them that. It’s too touchy at this point. Plus, it sounds too much like nigger with an “er” to the untrained ear, and that is never cool.
There you have it: a thorough and concise guide to the N-word and its usage. This might even be printable on one page, so it can serve as a convenient Cliffs Notes-like cheat-sheet for white people with black friends. I want everyone who reads this to forward it to someone who may benefit from it, whether it is a person whom is not black, or even if it’s some black nigga whose status you’d like to help upgrade. Stand over that person and explain things if you have to, or leave a comment and let me know if I should turn this into a podcast specifically for niggas who hate to read.
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Very well said.
> deutlich
uumm, so you’re basically saying ‘nigga’ is black people’s way of calling each other ‘nigger’ (referring to point #1). so, it’s still a bad word then, right? like women calling other women bitches and skanks. why is this still being defended again…? just sayin’
> Kandi
Yes, I think a podcast is in order.
> Monique
Oh Leon… this was FUN-NY! My favorite line was: “Others, however, will beat you like one of Suge Knight’s girlfriends and forget all about the fact that you were cool two syllables ago.”
Too true, my friend, too true!
> The Jaded NYer
Kudos my good man… I couldn’t have said any better!
> Mr. Smart Guy
Hummmmmm !
> montrore asa
I think this goes to show black people still have a long way to go. “Nigga” is a state of mind, and in most cases one that does more hindering the uplifting. I, too, slip up and say the word occasionally but that doesn’t justify anything. To play the devils advocate it just seems down right ignorant to get mad at a White person (who created the word) when they use it but turn around and refer to eachother as so. FOOLISHNESS! Here’s a poem that might enlighten yall some.
(BTW I’m a black male from, statistically, one of the worse urban cities in the US)
.::Caution Eye Opening Content::.
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=206776&AuthorID=46063
> substitute_teacher
@ Substitute-teacher, that poem is great. Thanks for sharing it.
@ Kandi, I was aiming at trying to illustrate how silly it is for black people to still use that term in reference to ourselves without actually having to say it, but I think that’s one area where I could have done a better job as far as writing this particular column. I definitely see your point.
@ Deutlich, The Jaded NYer and Mr. Smart Guy, thanks.
@ Monique, I’ll see what I can do about that
> ListenToLeon
isn’t it also offensive for black people to say that to each other as well? i understand that it has been accepted in hip hop culture for younger black people to refer to each other with that word. And now its being adopted by other cultures and races who have started using that word too, to refer to black people or to each other.
But for the older black generation i believe its still quite upsetting, seeing that it came from a slavery / racist background. The fact that a black person shortens the word and tried to make it sound “different”, doesn’t make it any more acceptable.
Check out Bobbito’s post about it on Bouncemag:
http://www.bouncemag.com/2008/12/30/regarding-the-n-word/
> Inspiredworlds
This was hilarious!!! I def laughed aloud and I wholeheartedly appreciate your efforts! You were right, this was quite the undertaking, but you did a great job. It was sooo on point. Preach on my brother, preach on!!
> Unia
I believe it’s never a kool way to say it. In hip-hop, or just around your friends. It’s a word that need to be forgotten as it never existed. Whether black, white, or whatever it should never be used period. It can be a cruel and demeaning word. You have to no where it originated from to truely understand. Stand up my people and kick some knowledge.
> I am america
Wow, i we still debating wether or not we should or shouldn’t use the N word?? For god sake my people wake up. That word was created by white people to hold down black people. The only reason the likes of Jay Z and chris rock use it is because if they didn’t. The white people who run the companies that helped make them famous probaly wouldn’t make them famous. How dumb are Jay z and people like chris rock to be useing that word and keep saying they are black??? Another question i would like to ask is this. People like Talib Kweli and common are supposed to be the rappers with knowledge. How knowledgable can they be if they use the N word more than the rappers who have no sense??????????
> kehinde
I am confused…I thought the word nigga was used in slave times by the owners ….. the so called “nigga” was hardworking both in the field and in the house….. so how did that definition change to be used now as a lazy and shiftless blackperson?? so as time passed the word has new meaning..it can be used as good and bad???? and why is it ok to call white people names and get offended when the name calling is recipricated?
> M. Smith
I think we, as the AA community, should kill off this word. White don’t have to use it anymore, because they hear us oppressing each other every time we say it. It’s a disgraceful word, whether you cut off the “er” at the end, or not. Let the word die!
> Jocalyn S.
Hello man. I am here by accident i am not native english speaker so please excuse me if i talk wrong. So, my point is that in my country (east europe) we have a word for a black man and this word sounds like “negar”. We do not have any other word, and in my language if u call someone “black” is more offensive than if you call him “negar”. And when your famous R’n'B and hip-hop singers use this word i almost all of their songs how can you even think about that this would be forgot (all slavery and things). So my point is that, if this word is still used in films and songs it will never die and more – when a “black man” use it its far more tragic. So if any black man is in slavic country and hears word “negar” addressed to him, you must know that this is the word for person who is with black skin and it is not offensive.
> passinger
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