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The word n**ger is, by far, one of the most controversial words out there today. Arguments surrounding the usage of the word and who should or should not be granted its usage have gone on for decades. Everyone knows the origin of this word. However, I want to bring it up because of its usage in rap, hip-hop and recent media events. I admit that I listen to hip-hop music on a daily basis. Common, Lil’ Wayne, Drake, etc., are all on my iPod playlist. Sometimes I may subconsciously use the word in conversation. I want to go on the record saying that I do not oppose black artists using this word in lyrics; however, I do oppose artists who use it through simple ignorance. Many African Americans will argue that it is a right to be able to use the word whenever. Blacks believe that we have this right, since us as a people have suffered hundreds of years of slavery, oppression, discrimination, and segregation. It is often seen as a modern day way of turning something that once was negative into something racially positive or enlightening.
Jasmine Cogdell
I want to go on the record saying that I do not oppose black artists using this word in lyrics; however, I do oppose artists who use it through simple ignorance.
Yet, if we look back to hip-hop’s origins during the 70’s, artists and poets wrote and recited pieces that generally talked about the oppression of black people in America and the economic, political, and social issues of our nation. During these times the use of this word was a part of everyday language and a huge part of music and films. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s hip-hop also carried the n-word as an art form. Fast forwarding to the 21st century, I rarely consider the use of the nword as an art form. All we hear is n**ga this and n**ga that with no valid message or purpose surrounding it. My question is: does the overuse of the n-word in today’s rap lyrics or television give leeway to whites or other non-minorities to use it? Many of us know the incident with Dr. Laura Schlessinger, a Caucasian radio talk-show host, who repeated the n-word several times while debating over the proper usage of the word with a black woman. Dr. Laura repeated, “Yes they did [hear me say it], and I’ll say it again: n**ger, n**ger, n**ger….” After some arguing, she then went on to say to the caller, “Don’t take things out of context. Don’t NAACP me, leave them in context.” Many whites would defend Dr. Laura’s antics. But she clearly was using the word inappropriately and defending it on the basis that our people, blacks, are using it sparingly in media. Is that fair? I think not. To stop whites from using this word inappropriately, today’s artists need to look back at hip-hop’s roots. If more and more people see blacks’ media usage of the n-word in a better light, instead of as a synonym for black person, many incidents, like that by Dr. Laura, would not occur. Just keeping it real these days is always better.