Nigger is most debated word in Black America. The origin of the word is Spanish, but in America, it is most likely a Southern mispronunciation of the word "Negro". For hundreds of years, it has been used to disparage and denegrade Black-Americans. One single word has ripped the heart out of many a Black in this country. I truly never felt the painful essence of the word until I had my first "Nigger Experience". I was conversing with an African-American friend of mine in front of his residence hall. We were enjoying a hearty laugh until a truck carrying two white males approached. I guess we could sense trouble, because our laughter stopped as the truck got closer. As the grey truck rolled by, the white male in the passenger seat yelled out "NIGGERS" as loud as he could. It caught the attention of everyone outside. Even someone sitting in an office inside of my friends dorm heard it. I had never felt so sick, so hurt. I had never felt such rage. I ran out in the street in a worthless attempt to chase down the truck. As it turned the corner, the feeling of hopelessness took over my body.
Over the last few years, due much in part to the hip hop music I love so much, a different form of the word has increased in popularity. One can hear the word "nigga" in their favorite song, movie, or in the mouth of an Asian male on their school's basketball court. It is true that nigga has been used by African-Americans since slavery. Red Foxx even used it in an episode of Sanford and Son. However, hip hop music's rampant use of the word has helped make it a catchy slang term. Hip Hop artists and other young Black Americans love to claim that they have taken control of the word and made it something positive. In their (or our) eyes, "nigga" is simply a substitute for "brother". It is used that way a great deal. I am not going to argue that point. What is equally true is that "nigga" has become more prominent in the lexicon of American popular culture leaving whites wondering "Can I say it?"
The answer is yes. Freedom of speech is protected under the first amendment of the United States Constitution. We all have the right to speak freely as long as we accept the consequences that come with it. The fact is that most Blacks do not accept the white use of the word. A white utterance of the word riles up 400 years of Black anger. So, legally you can use the word, as long as you are prepared for the social rammifications. I do not understand why whites want to use it. Most of them will say that they aren't racist, but then want to do something that makes them appear to be. When whites say "nigger or nigga" blacks think, "NIGGER PLOW THAT FIELD", "NIGGER DON'T LOOK AT THAT WHITE LADY", or "YOU'S A DEAD FUCKING NIGGER". Why, if you love us as brothers, would you want to say something that stirs up so much pain?
Hip hop music does not justify the social use of the word. Hip Hop is rooted in the Black experience. It is made primarily by black artists for black audiences. I am in no way saying that whites cannot listen to hip hop. Anyone can be a part of the culture. I love the way that hip hop has brought people together. However, this does not negate the fact that hip hop is black music. Corporate America saw its money making capability, so it raped it, reshaped it, and spat it back out to the masses. What has resulted is a distorted expression of the culture. Much of the popular hip hop today is igorant and has no social responsibility. Corporate America supports the use of "nigga" in music because it is seen as cool or hip. They could care less about the brotherhood aspect that rappers argue. "Nigga" is bad and bad sells records. Corporate sanctioned racism.
Nigger/Nigga is not just a word. It is verbal hate. Whites awaken its hateful spirit when they say it. While Blacks have been able to somewhat make it a positive, our frequent use of the word has had negative consequences. I do not see nigger/nigga ever going away. I just hope that all sides see the negative affects of its use.
