Friday, August 13, 2010

Dr Laura and the double standards on the use of the N word.




I heard about the story this morning that Dr. Laura used the word nigger on her show, and I heard about it again tonight on the nightly news. The media senses blood since Dr. Laura is a white conservative female. Dr. Laura later went on to apologize, for why I have no idea. I guess the forces of political correctness was knocking on her door after her broadcast ended the other day.



My first thoughts were this. Did Dr. Laura call a black caller a "nigger" or was she just saying the word to make a point about something. If it was the later rather then the first, I could care less that Dr Laura used it. Well I finally got around to listening to the the exchange that lead up to the word being used. It started when a black woman who is married to a white guy called her show, and she complained that her husband's family weren't sensitive to her being black. She was also upset that her husband doesn't try to correct them. After listening to the lady, I came to the conclusion that she was the problem not Dr. Laura. Dr. Laura made a reference that black people use the word nigger, and there are no consequences for their use of the word, which is accurate.



The black female caller took exception that Dr. Laura used the word at all. Dr. Laura wasn't about to submit to political correctness, so she reinforced and double downed on her previous comment about how blacks use the word and nothing comes from it. Dr. Laura made an interesting point that completely went over the head of the black lady caller. If she can't handle being in an interracial marriage, she shouldn't have married outside her race. I have three close friends who are white.. We talk about anything and everything including race when it becomes a story. Talking about race doesn't bother me, because I am not oversensitive about it. My friends know how I am, so they are open about it. The caller on the other hand was trying to place her racial insecurity onto Dr. Laura, and Dr. Laura wasn't going to accept it. If a white person uses the word nigger, I am not going to curl up in the fiddle position in the middle of the floor and wet my pants, especially when the word isn't targeted at me or used in a racist manner. The black female caller proved that there is a double standard when it comes to the use of the word. If we truly want to embrace equality, then a word should be wrong to use "REGARDLESS OF THE PERSON OF THE RACE USING IT". When rappers use the word nigger, do blacks get offended? The answer is obvious. They can't be but so offended, when they are blasting the word being used through the speakers of their cars. Here is an example of what I mean. This is a rap "song" by the rapper NAS entitled NIGGER.



I guess the moral of this story is simple. Blacks or any other ethnicity who are oversensitive about the issue of race SHOULD NOT MARRY SOMEONE OF A DIFFERENT RACE. Dr. Laura was absolutely right. I feel sorry for the caller's husband. Also, so where does the double standard ends? If the late comedian Richard Pryor "who was black" was still alive and doing stand up comedy, would he have to apologize for his famous "super nigger" skit?

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25 Comments:

Blogger Kate-A said...

Maybe the lady in the story should've married better, of any color, b/c I don't think it's a question of her being able to handle an interracial marriage or racial insecurity.

It is her husband's place to correct his low-forehead vocabulary challenged set of relatives and the wife's place to tell them they are unwelcome in her home b/c of their insensitivity. Most people will straighten up their act if they want family ties.

My spouse of 40 years is white and I've never heard him or his family use a racial slur. Our children have never heard the word from us and never used it in our presence. I've yet to hear any of my 9 grandchildren use the slur. And if I did hear them I have a big wooden kitchen spoon, their dads can tell them how I use that. As a child I never heard the word from my parents lips. Not b/c we're p.c. or whatever but simply b/c we avoid words that denigrate - and affection is using babe, sweetie, sugar ...

I know how the caller feels though - I've been in situations with whites where the same sort of "what do blacks think" comes up and its always from a boor who has few social skills and thinks it's a good conversation starter. As Laura said, I will say "I think" and maybe some day that silly person will realize not all blacks think alike any more than all whites think alike.

I don't like Dr. Laura but this piddling event over her use of the word doesn't bother me. It's just another chance for p.c. liberals to shriek.

12:45 AM  
Anonymous Christie said...

I'll never forget when I was younger (11, I'm 37 now) and meeting my stepdad and his family for the first time. It was on the way there that my mom told me they were Creole'. Though some of them refer to themselves as Mulatto. We weren't there but maybe 10 mins before they were slinging nigger left and right. Being white I knew that word was a NO NO and I had NO IDEA that blacks used it like that. I'm not just talking about saying "Nigga please!" but even using it derogatorily. I was so shocked that almost 30 yrs later I still remember which uncle said it and what he said. A black guy was riding by in some clunker car and he said, ."Look at that trashy ass nigger!" And to prove your point, not a single person so much as flinched but instead started saying the same thing in agreement! Whoa.... They've been my family for all these years & I still wouldn't dream of saying the things they do about blacks (niggers as they say for the ones they don't like).

5:47 AM  
Blogger TSVDP said...

What I've heard is how kids, African American late teens/early 20s in this case will use the words from 'Rap' songs and I found their repeating that word offensive but as is found in 'Rap' too, use of the 'B' word in regards to females and in mixed company over in the park one day, that caused a bit of a stir.

For the record, I see Dr. Laura in basic terms as white but if one 'nit picks' and now I see a few other stories on this topic up, she is of a Jewish background as well.

As a "Caucasian", I won't judge others necessarily but those kinds of words in regards to any minorities, sex, race, religion etc. for myself, I will stay away from though in this case, Dr. Laura apparently does have a point.

Speaking of prejudices and in that same vein of what I just wrote about, when President Obama made his joke on the late show about 'Special Olympics', to me, I'm sorry, that speaks of bigotry yet, it's always been portrayed as more that he had a moment of where he said something in bad taste. However, I think people say things too without realizing that's actually a bad thing to say so it's not like I think he should be grilled on this.

1:30 PM  
Anonymous I hear ya said...

I knew without reading the article it was a farce. There is a new Gallop poll on The Drudge Report that confirms the MSM is dying while cable news, meaning Fox News, and Internet news rises. However, watching a whole industry commit suicide is still startling. I remember the gay activists attacking Dr. Laura for being openly against gay marriage, and the MSM treating them like they were true warriors. Odd how the Tea Party activists are not treated as warriors as well. Perhaps it is in the numbers, millions vs. thousands? The millions are a racist unruly mob, while some of the thousands commit acts of violence without comment. Just ask about the Mormon Church destruction in CA. I know no one that subscribes to a newspaper, why would they?

3:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with you Kate-A that p.c. Liberals are on this like Sharks drawn to blood.

10:00 PM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

Tyrone.... Negro PUH-LEEEEEZE!!
(you can replace the "negro" with the informal "N-word" used by blacks if you like)

There is no "double standard"! The only standard here is your mindless following of the conservative point of view (a.k.a., Talking Point).

Blacks, Latinos, Jew's, Arab's etc..., also use commonly known racial slurs (or terms) within their own presence, and communities. I've heard Latinos here in Detroit refer (playfully) to one another as "Wet Backs." It's also my understanding that "Goombah" is considered to be a racial slur when used by non-Italians. (say what Tony Soprano...).

Answer this one Tyrone...

Does your girlfriend call you "honey", or "sweetheart?" How about your mother? Does she, or has she ever called you, "sugar" or "sweetie-pie?"

How many of your male friends refer to you as "cute?" If you met a young lady that you were interested in, and she told her brother that you were a "cutie pie", would you tell her brother it's okay to introduce you to his football team mates as "cutie-pie"?

If your answer is "NO", then you are being a hypocrite with the assertion of Blacks having a "double standard."

The fact is, when Blacks use the term there is no personal intent of causing verbal harm. We as Blacks know the "ORIGIN" and meaning of the term when it is used by someone outside of the race. So we, as Blacks, know well that another Black person, including comedians and rappers, don't mean to attack each us racially when using the term NIGGER!

If you are among Whites (or any race, other than Blacks) and someone uses the term, you (as a Black man) know their intent. Even if the person using it is making reference to, or quoting someone else!

Example; At a local gathering, Moe tells Curly and a group of White folks;

"Larry told me the he was going to move because a family of "Niggers" had moved in down the street.

Moe meant no harm because he was only repeating what Larry told him. However, you overheard Moe. So, you give Moe a pass because he should be able to use the word in your presence because, "Richard Prior and Black Rappers" use it, so you don't want Moe to think that you (as a Black man) has a "double standard." Yeah right....

Is Dr. Laura a racist? I don't know. That's a question she has to answer for herself. Is Dr. Laura an idiot for using the term, and attempting to "qualify" it's use by citing a "double standard?" YES SHE IS! The fact is NO ONE SHOULD USE THE WORD! That being said, the proclaimation that there's a double stand is FALSE and still no excuse!!!!!!

Yet, if you still think Black folk have a double standard, I'd guess you'd have no problem if I called you "honey" from here on out...(only if you're comfortable with the term...lol)

2:36 AM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

Tyrone.... Negro PUH-LEEEEEZE!!
(you can replace the "negro" with the informal "N-word" used by blacks if you like)

There is no "double standard"! The only standard here is your mindless following of the conservative point of view (a.k.a., Talking Point).

Blacks, Latinos, Jew's, Arab's etc..., also use commonly known racial slurs (or terms) within their own presence, and communities. I've heard Latinos here in Detroit refer (playfully) to one another as "Wet Backs." It's also my understanding that "Goombah" is considered to be a racial slur when used by non-Italians. (say what Tony Soprano...).

Answer this one Tyrone...

Does your girlfriend call you "honey", or "sweetheart?" How about your mother? Does she, or has she ever called you, "sugar" or "sweetie-pie?"

How many of your male friends refer to you as "cute?" If you met a young lady that you were interested in, and she told her brother that you were a "cutie pie", would you tell her brother it's okay to introduce you to his football team mates as "cutie-pie"?

If your answer is "NO", then you are being a hypocrite with the assertion of Blacks having a "double standard."

The fact is, when Blacks use the term there is no personal intent of causing verbal harm. We as Blacks know the "ORIGIN" and meaning of the term when it is used by someone outside of the race. So we, as Blacks, know well that another Black person, including comedians and rappers, don't mean to attack each us racially when using the term NIGGER!

If you are among Whites (or any race, other than Blacks) and someone uses the term, you (as a Black man) know their intent. Even if the person using it is making reference to, or quoting someone else!

Example; At a local gathering, Moe tells Curly and a group of White folks;

"Larry told me the he was going to move because a family of "Niggers" had moved in down the street.

Moe meant no harm because he was only repeating what Larry told him. However, you overheard Moe. So, you give Moe a pass because he should be able to use the word in your presence because, "Richard Prior and Black Rappers" use it, so you don't want Moe to think that you (as a Black man) has a "double standard." Yeah right....

Is Dr. Laura a racist? I don't know. That's a question she has to answer for herself. Is Dr. Laura an idiot for using the term, and attempting to "qualify" it's use by citing a "double standard?" YES SHE IS! The fact is NO ONE SHOULD USE THE WORD! That being said, the proclaimation that there's a double stand is FALSE and still no excuse!!!!!!

Yet, if you still think Black folk have a double standard, I'd guess you'd have no problem if I called you "honey" from here on out...(only if you're comfortable with the term...lol)

2:37 AM  
Blogger Alpha Conservative Male said...

p allen "Tyrone.... Negro PUH-LEEEEEZE!!
(you can replace the "negro" with the informal "N-word" used by blacks if you like)"

This time allen, try using english ok. I never used the word "negro" in my story allen, I used the word "nigger". Go back and try actually reading what I wrote. The N word I was referring to wasn't "negro".

p allen "There is no "double standard"! The only standard here is your mindless following of the conservative point of view (a.k.a., Talking Point)."

Ah a talking point is it, gotcha allen. ;-) You are sometimes beyond clueless allen. Blues has more clues then you man. I posted two examples of the word nigger being used by blacks with no repocussions from the use, and all you can come up with that I am using a "talking point"?!lol lol lol lol Here's a challenge for you allen, how about actually trying to prove me wrong instead of simply broadbrushing what I say as merely a "talking point".

p allen "Blacks, Latinos, Jew's, Arab's etc..., also use commonly known racial slurs (or terms) within their own presence, and communities. I've heard Latinos here in Detroit refer (playfully) to one another as "Wet Backs." It's also my understanding that "Goombah" is considered to be a racial slur when used by non-Italians. (say what Tony Soprano...)."

I noticed you left out whites allen. So you are saying that whites don't use racial slurs to describe one another. If only blacks, Latinos, Arabs and Hispanics use racial slurs among each other, then to me that says that they really don't have much pride in themselves. I don't call other blacks niggers or niggas, why is that allen you suppose?

11:53 AM  
Blogger Alpha Conservative Male said...

p allen "Answer this one Tyrone...

Does your girlfriend call you "honey", or "sweetheart?" How about your mother? Does she, or has she ever called you, "sugar" or "sweetie-pie?"How many of your male friends refer to you as "cute?" If you met a young lady that you were interested in, and she told her brother that you were a "cutie pie", would you tell her brother it's okay to introduce you to his football team mates as "cutie-pie"?"

Nice try at diluting and shifting the argument. This isn't about gender but about race allen. Good thing Iam here to bring you back on topic.

p allen "Moe meant no harm because he was only repeating what Larry told him. However, you overheard Moe. So, you give Moe a pass because he should be able to use the word in your presence because, "Richard Prior and Black Rappers" use it, so you don't want Moe to think that you (as a Black man) has a "double standard." Yeah right...."

Here's the difference, get a pen and a piece of paper. Dr. Laura didn't use the word nigger in a racist fashion, yet she was called out for using it. Richard Pryor and NAS and other profile blacks have also used the word nigger yet they weren't called out for using it. If you can't see the double standard, then you need your eyes checked seriously. Dr. Laura merely asked a question as it related to the use of the word nigger among blacks and whites. That is what you blindly refuse to see allen.

p allen "Is Dr. Laura a racist? I don't know. That's a question she has to answer for herself."

She knows the answer very well and it is no.

p allen "Is Dr. Laura an idiot for using the term, and attempting to "qualify" it's use by citing a "double standard?" YES SHE IS!"

The answer is NO. If black radio talk show host would have said the exact same thing, this wouldn't even be an issue right now. It would have been like it never even happened. The only reason why Dr. Laura got singled out is because 1. She is white. 2. She is a conservative 3. She is nationally known. Try blowing that smoke up someone else's rear allen.

p allen "The fact is NO ONE SHOULD USE THE WORD! That being said, the proclaimation that there's a double stand is FALSE and still no excuse!!!!!!"

Then the outrage and punishment needs to apply TO EVERYONE WHO USES IT REGARDLESS OF RACE, POLITICAL AFFILIATION AND IDEOLOGY allen. Until that happens, this will happen again. Dr. Laura made a very valid point. It is just a shame she bowed to fake political correctness.

12:08 PM  
Blogger DarkStar said...

Go to Little Italy and start calling "Italian looking" men "wops" and see what happens.

The "double standard" exists for all ethnic groups.

11:33 PM  
Blogger TSVDP said...

To Dark Star's comments, in my opinion, that word like I was listening to this talk show host Ferguson last night, is just a very explosive word in the history and society of this country.

Asians don't have the same history as the African American community does here but I think a word used for Far Eastern Asians is extremely offensive and potentially explosive too, but it doesn't have the same cultural context. You can think of similar situation with other peoples.

---------

Dr. Laura is very self righteous but in a good way to many and that is why she has a popularity. Her brutal honesty and her sermonizing at people, a no-holds-barred look at the truth.

On the times I have listened to her show, if you have an older man dating a young girl, she might call or infer that the older man is "a dirty old man."

If you have a female who is sexually active, Dr. Laura might even call her a slut. And likewise, she'd be on the case of a male taking pleasures.

I don't have the opportunity to listen to her show or really want to but I have in the past. I know what to expect and that is her style. In a way what she said is a kind of sermonizing at the young African Americans or whole community who use that kind of language, a way of saying "You should be ashamed of yourselves."

It must NOT be an uncommon situation because it's happened to me on public transportation where some African American Young Men are using that word in mixed company and it was offensive but where does that talk leave say an uninvolved, more mature African American female in that situation??

Finally without listening to it extensively, Richard Pryor plainly was a brilliant comedian in some of his skits. He just had talent like few do.

Thank you for your time and posting my comment.

11:11 AM  
Anonymous I hear ya said...

How about Harry Reid’s comments on Obama's lack of "Negro dialect"? The liberal media just knew he didn’t mean anything racist, and gave him a pass. Is there a double standard? How hilarious!

11:27 AM  
Blogger Alpha Conservative Male said...

Kate "It is her husband's place to correct his low-forehead vocabulary challenged set of relatives and the wife's place to tell them they are unwelcome in her home b/c of their insensitivity. Most people will straighten up their act if they want family ties. "

I went back and re listened to the exchange between Dr. Laura and the caller. The caller orginally said that her husband's family and friends made "racist" comments, when Dr. Laura pressed her on the what type of comments were racists, the caller changed up what she said. She then said that her hushand's family and friends ASK "why do black people do this and that". That isn't racist at all. I get asked questions all the time about blacks, because I am black myself. If the lady would have said that her extended family were using racial slurs in her presence, then and only then could the case be made for her husband to intervene to put a stop to it. It sounded to me that the lady was annoyed being asked questions about blacks from whites. So I go back to what I said before, it sounds like she has an oversensitivity problem when it comes to race, and Dr. Laura was correct.

12:25 PM  
Blogger Alpha Conservative Male said...

darkstar "Go to Little Italy and start calling "Italian looking" men "wops" and see what happens.
The "double standard" exists for all ethnic groups."

I'll take a pass on that darkstar for obvious reasons.lol Anyways, I'm glad that you can admit there is a double standard unlike allen who still has his head in the dirt.

Tom SVDP "For the record, I see Dr. Laura in basic terms as white but if one 'nit picks' and now I see a few other stories on this topic up, she is of a Jewish background as well."

The mistake Dr. Laura made tom was her thinking that most blacks have a certain maturity in discussing the issue of race. The first few minutes of the call Dr. Laura pretty much knew that the caller was the problem. With that being known, Dr. Laura should have known how the caller was going to react when she used the N word. If I was the caller, I wouldn't have thought nothing of it. Then again, I'm not oversensitive on the issue. Her Jewish part of course was left out, because it didn't fit the narrative of the media's story. I can go back and count the stories that have the words "conservative talk show host" but I won't find any that have the word jewish in it.

Tom SVDP "As a "Caucasian", I won't judge others necessarily but those kinds of words in regards to any minorities, sex, race, religion etc. for myself, I will stay away from though in this case, Dr. Laura apparently does have a point."

Of course, the media and her critics completely overlooked the reason why she used the N word. All they care about is that she used it. They know that if they focused on the context of how she used it and why, they know that people for the most part would agree with Dr. Laura on the double standard issue.

p allen "Tyrone.... Negro PUH-LEEEEEZE!!"

Just curious allen, have you ever heard a white person tell another white person "Caucasian puh leeeeze"!! I've always wondered what is the premise beyond that statement.

12:40 PM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

CB;"I posted two examples of the word nigger being used by blacks with no repocussions from the use, and all you can come up with that I,/im using a "talking point".

First off, Black's using the "N-word" as an expression (or whatever context they wish to use) is not a pejorative! So, why should there be "repercussions???"

CB;"I noticed you left out whites allen. So you are saying that whites don't use racial slurs to describe one another".

In America racial slurs typically apply to one's "ethnicity" or heritage, not their "nationality."
White Americans are not prone to feeling insulted by ethnic or racial slurs due to their generational progress witnin American society. Futhermore it was "Whites" as a race, that created the slurs and epithets used toward blacks.

CB;"Nice try at diluting and shifting the argument. This isn't about gender but about race allen.

Not a "shift", rather a "correlation" to the argument. We are talkin about the use of a term, right? You claim there's a "double standard" when using a term/word.... right? The term you claim that should be allowed to use by ANY ONE (because Blacks use it) is "NIGGER." The term I should be able to use is "cuite seetie-pie honey", (that is if you allow ANY ONE to call you cutie sweetie-pie honey)

The term "cutie-pie" is not gender specific. Both genders use it to discribe the other. The problem begins when a man use's the term to discribe, or refer to another man. Simply put, WHEN SOMEONE USE'S THE TERM OUTSIDE OF A PARTICULAR GROUP. In this case the group is men referring to men!

Thus if one gender can use it to discribe the other, is it not a "double standard" that you can't use it to discribe your co-worker or best friend who happens to be a male??? According to your "logic" you should be able to do it. I suggest you give it try the next time you're among friends. The next time you're at one of your Tea-Party's, greet all the men with a good ole' "Hello sweethearts!!" Or let them know that the male keynote speaker is a "real cutie pie." I really don't think you'll like their responce...lol

8:58 PM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

CB;"Here's the difference, get a pen and a piece of paper. Dr. Laura didn't use the word nigger in a racist fashion, yet she was called out for using it".

No, she didn't "call" anyone a Nigger. She used the term in a condescending manner. Dr. Laura took up the same position as you in declaring the term is used by blacks, which denotes a "double standard."

The tell-tale part of this is that she never once addressed the callers personal concerns. From the outset of the conversation Dr. Laura immediately concluded that the caller was over reacting to her own experiences. If the caller viewed that she was having an experience with racism, why not take that path first, and then attempt to qualify rather or not she should be concerned it.

But NOOOOOOOO.... Dr. Laura immediately began with the comment, "sometimes people are hypersensitive." That comment set the tone for entire response to the caller. Laura gave way to the conservative attack on the so-called "race-baiters" and "race hustler" talking point... which is the proposed idea that Blacks should not claim racism because it's been used for monetary and political gain by a very small percentage of blacks.

As I stated earlier, Dr. Laura didn't give the caller any benefit of the doubt. No one can deny that racism exists in our society. Sure it could have been hypersensitivity, but Laura proposed it from the outset, even before she heard an example from the caller.

Let's say you called a radio show and said; "I'm an architect layed off after 26 years, and I cant find a job." How would you feel if the very FIRST response you recieved were; "tell me why you can't find a job, because there's plenty of opportunity out there and some people are just darn lazy."

Dr. Laura never asked the most important question, which is WHY the caller felt there racism among here husbands white friends. The only way to solve a "personal problem" is to know "WHY" it exists. Such as; "Why do some of her white friends use the term "nigger" to discribe a black person they dont like? Mind you, it's not being used or directed at no one else but the Black person they dont like. There are nto reasons for such behavior by a white person;

1. He or she just doesn't like Black people.
2. They're too damn ignorant and stupid to know that they just can't use that term!!

I believe Dr. Laura falls into the No. 2 catagory.

To assume from the outset that the caller was hypersensitive showed Dr. Laura's obvious bias toward Blacks who accuse whites of racism.

10:21 PM  
Blogger DarkStar said...

I'll take a pass on that darkstar for obvious reasons.lol Anyways, I'm glad that you can admit there is a double standard unlike allen who still has his head in the dirt.

It's not a double standard, it's a standard "in group" vs. "out group" dynamic that was illustrated by my example of going to Little Italy.

11:34 PM  
Blogger TSVDP said...

Rush did not comment on this episode from catching about 2 hours on Monday, Rush is well savvy so maybe he knew to steer clear of this.

Schlessinger, white, Jewish,

Hannity, white, Catholic. Probably O'Reilly and Laura Ingrahams too.

This is not to talk down any other religion as the Catholic faith clearly has its troubles but you can not imagine Hannity saying what Dr. Laura did, never. I'm not saying it's anything more than a misunderstanding. The Catholic faith, very much at odds with the Democratic party over abortion but when it comes down to compassion, social issues, it's tried to treat people equally, that book "Black Like Me" was written by some guy who was tied into the Catholic faith (the well known book for the uninitiated is about a white guy who becomes a black guy by pills and dye too and travels out of New Orleans and in to the Deep South in the 1950s). We all have our moments but basically, I think it'd be difficult for a lot of people to go the way Dr. Laura did, it's like a tangent. But on the other hand, that show as said is often about beating people up emotionally, that's what she does with a puritanical attitude, that's the context. Maybe you can tell people they aren't raising their kids right and bash them and that's her style but this will be seen in a different way, not that a person should be up and crying for the caller. If Dr. Laura had a point, why not state it diplomatically and who could find fault with this, "Well, it's deplorable that the comedians on HBO use the 'N word', or of course, the Rappers do that all the time. And then going a bit political. Still, it doesn't change too much on how I viewed her previously. It's not right for an African American to use it nor those comedians and neither for a white person to say it. I admit, with comedians, Richard Pryor had his witty way about him, I guess there are mitigating factors in all of these instances. P. Anthony Allen brought up the point of it not being a pejorative between African Americans and that may be so but only if it is indeed said in the confidence of each other, I can't see it being acceptable say in public places.

3:59 AM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

Tom;"P. Anthony Allen brought up the point of it not being a pejorative between African Americans and that may be so but only if it is indeed said in the confidence of each other, I can't see it being acceptable say in public places".

The term, "Nigger" or "Nigga", in it's use among Blacks is not a pejorative. Although mind you, I do think it's stupid and shows a distinct lack of self respect for those who do use it. PARTICUALLY THOSE BLACKS WHO USE IT IN PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, SHOPPING MALLS OR IN THE WORK PLACE.

However, there is an entirely different dynamic when it comes to the so-called arts (theatre, movies, verbal, audio and visual arts, etc...). In the movies or on HBO (per Dr. Laura), the term is mostly used to display the arts imitation of life.

Frankly, the entire argument about the use of a "term" being a double standard is a total "non-argument." Every race, religion, creed, gender, special interest groups and even families, have terms or quirky sayings that they use among themselves.

I come from a large family of 9 brothers and 2 sisters. My father worked sometimes 10 to 12 hour days. With nine frisky boys to raise, my mother became a staunch disciplinarian.

My mother had an arsenal choice words that she word use often if any one of us were to get into trouble. One day my brothers an I were lighting firecrackers behind our house. My neighbors (who were in their 60's or 70's) became annoyed with the noise and came over and told my mother. Before finishing his complaint about the noise, the old man stated; "I'm going to call the police on those little prick bastards, you best get those fuckers under control."

Needless to say, my mother immediately told him if he referred to her children in that way again, she would light a fire cracker in a spot on him where the sun don't shine....

Boy oh boy, I was quite impressed! Yet mom took the rest of our fireworks and made us stay in the house. However, when I thought about what the neighbor had called us, I thought to myself that, I've heard mom call us curse names ten times worse than what the neighbor had said.

What it is, is quite simple. No one can make claim or ownership to a term or a word. Yet, some ethnic groups can place ownership to "group speak" or countersign watchwords. Among Black Americans it's kind of like a "shibboleth."

4:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can it be safe to say that most Black folk are really really REALLY hypersensitive over this word? Hell, if so many rappers, comedians, and politicians (Robert Byrd with his 'White Nigger' comment back in 2001), why should Dr. Laura or ANYBODY of any race that ain't Black havta be concerned about offending anyone who is either Black or liberal? Why the double standard? At least when the KKK calls you nigger, they won't promise you a check, hope, change, etc... They just are open and unashamed in their misguided hatred. These politicians are just USING Blacks to their own evil ends. And most Blacks will never ever see ot for what it is- Black folk have willingly become the slaves and property of the Democratic Party (I calls em Commies). I am a Black Conservative who knows what's going on in America today. I tells it like it is- sooooooo refreshing to hear and see another Brotha who's willing to call it like he sees it. As for that dumb ignoramus who called Dr. Laura... what a dumb ....... fill in the blank with whatever you want. It's dummies like this that damage people's lives, careers, and nations (like in the 2008 election).

12:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Last time I heard Dr. Laura made an insensitive remark was when she referred gays and lesbians as "a biological error".

I don't care for Dr. Laura, but I do have to agree with her about what she said about the double-standards, but saying the N-word multiple times was going a bit too far.

When I hear blacks using the N-word to tell a joke or be endearing toward other blacks, I find it distasteful. As a white person, the derogatory terms "honky" and "cracker" do sound very funny to me; it doesn't affect me much when it is told as a joke. If a black person were to call me those words just to put me down that's a different story.

When I hear some blacks saying "What's happening my n***a?", that's disrespecting themselves and others. A black friend of mine one time said that to me and I told him I did not hear that word ever again. I would never go around to my white friends and say, "What's happening my honky/cracker?"

4:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dr. Laura made a point about black hip-hop artists and black comedians using the word multiple times with a black audience enjoying it.

Thus, if a white person were to use the word in their act, people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would probably make their lives miserable, it would make their heads spin.

However, I've seen numerous times that black comedians using the N-word in their acts with a predominant black audience laughing their heads off.

I've seen some like Chris Rock making jokes about whites and using the derogatory term "cracker" with his black audience laughing.

As a white person, I don't take offense to that because I know it is just an act. What I do take offense to is the hypocrisy and the double-standards.

A black co-worker of mine told me that he and his buddies, one of them being white, went to a comedy club which is pre-dominantly black. Of course all the comedians used the N-word; no surprise.
His white friend decided to "punk" one of the comedians whom was making jokes about whites by pretending to be offended.
The comedian fell for it, and the white patron said "gotcha!". Next thing he knows he's being escorted out by the club's security for "being disruptive".

8:36 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Dr. Laura, having a radio show, being a "Dr", should have been smart enough to know she was going to offend some people. I'm a white male, 36, grew up in a racially mixed neighborhood, was jumped in high school by 5 black kids and I don't use the "N" word. I don't hate or even dislike black people, just because of the actions of a few; she should have known better.

9:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

alberto gorin

lets start.beneth oure skin
let me put this way in say 40 years
see white bones left.maby though dna you established if some is
white black or jewish.
on second we also make mistakes
this white superior race makes evry day mistakes.what a superior race it is mistakes after mistakes.
dr laura made one to she appoldges.
she did tell a afro american in to the face only point out what other
afro americans do to each other

i never used wil not do the N word
cause it defrading its not respectful.beside afro american sound nicer.afro israel.
perhaps if i meet malcome X type
might lose control,
just cause 1 person jump off the roof am not gonna do just cause some i don t have to.

1 n word we can use nissan
i love N 300 350 370 Z
N .wait mi dads name start with N natalio.
and the democrat afro american mister anthony drive a N nissan fronter.
i used the N with out offending no one.

alberto

3:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The word Negro is a spanish word for black. When whites from Britian came here they couldnt pronouce the word Negro, naygur in Spanish. The word came out nigger. Most whites were uneducated and indentured servants. The first black slave owned in Americe was owned by a black man.
Next time you go to the market look at the label and you will see Negro beans which means black beans.

Zurka is a word among Arab Muslims calling blacks dirty blacks.

Detroit and Dearborn has a lost of the Zurka callimg Arabs. Iraq still call them Zurka and theybare still seen as abeeds as Muhammed called them.
Mali and Marutania, and all over Africa White Muslims still sell black Muslims as slaves and give them as gifts and not a word from the brave wariors of Allah, the New Black Panthers or the educated blacks and whites among us.

The Arabs have plans to destroy America from within by using Zurka and Mamluks who will not take the time to read and see that Islam is Arab Imperialism.
Dile
Knowledge Unlimited
PO Bos 144
Randallstown Md. 21133
will sent you the 20 year plan that Muslims have to destroy America.
If Islam ruled America is another.
I paid $3 with a SASE for each question and each paper.

WAKE UP AMERICA. TYRONE IS DOING HIS PART. NOW DO YOURS.
MAMLUKS ARE WHITR SLAVES UNDER mUSLIMS, EXCEPT BLACK MUSLIMS WHO DONT GO TONSEE aLLAH. tABARA-mUHAMMAD SAID SO-READ ALL ABOUT IT.

11:55 AM  

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