Nigger

The Word "Nigger" “My niggas. Some niggas that you don’t wanna try.       My niggas. Some niggas that’s really do or die.       My niggas. Ain’t no longer living a lie.       My niggas is stong. My niggas is real.”      Does this artist use the word nigger in the same way that racists have and still are? The answer to this question is a simple one- no. Today’s urban society have changed, not only the definition, but also the spelling of this word, which was once used to belittle those

What word makes you cringe but you use daily? A word with arguably the most negative connotation, but is used frequently by only one race. The word that comes to mind for me is Nigger. This word is one of the many other things the white man stole from other cultures. Used as a derogatory, demeaning term. Over the years, we, the African American community, took the word and turned into a word of endearment, something that we use to speak of or to another black man/woman. Growing up, I lived in two

"Nigger to Nigga: Not Bad After All" When some think about the word nigger they immediately think about negativity and some might even venture to say that it is a "bad" word. It takes you back to a time when blacks were oppressed and demoralized. When blacks were looked at as inferior and not worthy to obtain equal rights in America. But that was decades ago and it is now the 21st century. Not only have we changed the spelling of the word, by dropping the er and adding a, but the definition

frequently at that. The word “nigger” is a common derogatory word, and that's when the discussion on whether or not the word should be freed come in. To put it another way, some people see it as they mean no harm in saying it, and if it’s in a popular rap song why not sing along; while others see it as, the word was used by past opressores, and the word was used to talk down upon African Americans, so there’s no good intention in the use of the word. Ultimately, the word nigger is and always will be a

What is a nigger? That is the question that contributed to the loss of my innocence. I was nine years old when I asked my friend Nick what a nigger was and in order for you to understand why on Earth a nine year old kid would ask one of his friends what a nigger was, I need to tell you the story of what led up to this question and the aftermath of this question. Also just to inform the reader, I am not racist, I do not encourage the use of this word and if you are offended by the use of the word

The word “nigger” has been around since the beginning of our nation. It has made an appearance in numerous songs, speeches, and even literary classics such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Over the years, the word and its meaning have changed drastically to mean positive things in the black community, however the original insult is still present in some contexts. Many believe we should prohibit the use of the word as best we can in order to put an end to the negative uses. However, I believe

Nigger: Historical and Current Use “Nigger: it is arguably the most consequential social insult in American History, though, at the same time, a word that reminds us of ‘the ironies and dilemmas, tragedies and glories of the American experience’” (Kennedy 1). Harvard Law Professor Randall Kennedy’s book Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word is at the center of debate because of its controversy. It addresses questions among a diverse audience of students and scholars of all racial

What does the word ‘nigger’ means? Why does ‘nigger’ generate such powerful reaction? Should blacks be able to use ‘nigger’ in ways forbidden to others? First, I would like to turn to etymology. ‘Nigger’ is translated from Latin languages for the color of black - ‘nigger’. At the begining, it did not originateas a slur, but took on a derogatory connotation over time. It has been spelled in a varities of ways. By the end of first third of the nineteenth century, this word had already become a familiar

describe their friendship. The word Nigger has ranged in popularity in the terms of usage since the beginning of its existence. White people today are usually “not allowed” to say the word nigger, but during the days of slavery, it was popular. They used the term in a demeaning way to insult the black slaves and any other black person. Now in

Loss of Innocence in Cullen's Incident and Naylor’s Mommy, What Does "Nigger" Mean?   Unfortunately, a question that many African Americans have to ask in childhood is "Mommy, what does nigger mean?," and the answer to this question depicts the racism that still thrives in America (345). Both Gloria Naylor’s "'Mommy, What Does "Nigger" Mean?'" and Countee Cullen's "Incident" demonstrate how a word like "nigger" destroys a child’s innocence and initiates the child into a world of racism.  Though