I guess for this forum I should first introduce myself as a European-American, although I typically don’t make a point to preface myself as such because it seems so silly to me, just as announcing oneself as African-American does. My skin tone happens to be lighter than some human beings and darker than others…just as my teeth are whiter than some and darker than others. I could continue noting physical differences between the human race but I hope I’ve gotten my point across by now. I find it very offensive that certain people are trying to force me to believe that they are somehow different than others just because their skin tone is darker or lighter. In my opinion, Kendrick Lamar was way out of line and owes this young lady an apology!
“though he inexplicably seems to get a pass from the hip hop community” Lol I guess the author decided blanket race-based judgements and generalizations can be fun after all. Can’t say I agree, but it’s important to recognize instances where comments like this aren’t acceptable. Such as anywhere you’re expected to speak politely and respectably, e.g. authoring for Variety.
Dear Black People,
Stop bitching about what white people do. Stop using the N-Word in music if you don’t want white people to use it. Simple as that.Music shouldn’t have to have certain rules. If a song has the N-Word white and Asians will still continue to sing along with it. Either drop the N-Word or stop being butthurt.
We all want equality. That’s why no one race or group of people have any superiority or hold any control over a word in the English language. I’m not ignoring the history, culture, or context of the n word, so don’t get all sensitive. I’m also not gonna conform to being born by hypocrisy. A black person can say the n word to another black person or white person. That “privilege” is as fair or equal to any “white privilege”. Break down the barriers, stop being hypocrites.
A couple of years ago I went to an A$AP Rocky show at the Best Buy Theatre in NYC (now the PlayStation Theatre) and Schoolboy Q was the opener. During his set he performed “Blessed” which screams the N-word multiple times throughout the repetitive chorus. Anyway, half way thru the song, Q stops the track, asks the crowd why EVERYONE isn’t singing along, and then instructed EVERYONE to sing-along as loud as they could. I’m white, love hip hop, and did as he asked because it was a unifying moment. Black, white, brown, or yellow, the word meant the same thing to all of us in that moment, friend/Ally/companion. I could physically see the discomfort in some of the patrons faces, but that’s on them. We were all there for the music and didn’t want zero problems big fella. Interesting to see the contrast of views between two Black Hippies. Also, Q may have reacted more similar to Kendrick if it was a single white person singing along into a microphone…..
If I was there I’d have beat your ass Davey wtf, like you really trying to act like you were “together in unison” like I hope I catch your dumb self trying that near me LOL
You wouldn’t have done shit, Van. There’s too many whites and people of another color saying the N-Word at the concert much less is there enough room. You can’t punch em all. That’d be a hate crime.
For the love of god, STOP arguing this shit. Just shut your fucking mouth and get over it. I don’t agree with Kendrick Lamar in how he handled this by publicly chastising a naive young girl, but he’s generally right. It’s unfortunate so many people can’t figure this out. White people get everything else. Let black folks have this one foul word. You have every right to use any word you want, but if you choose to use this word in art, comedy, or music, be prepared for the backlash and be willing to accept the consequences of doing so.
There was a time in my life when I thought “why can’t I say it if they can?” There was also a time in my life when I thought I was brilliant and would grow up to be a multi-millionaire firefighter/professional baseball player. . . then one day I grew the fuck up.
Dont make a song with the n word, invite a white person on stage to sing it, and then get mad about it. You either setting traps or just plain ignorant.
It’s insane to think that the best ‘argument’ against white people using it is it’s history. What about the history of derogatory terms of gay people. What about the history associated with the word retard. Every word has history. It doesn’t matter because it doesn’t effect you.
For the love of god, STOP arguing this shit. Just shut your fucking mouth and get over it.”
Fixed that for you. Not to sound calloused, but literally every single race and creed has been enslaved and oppressed at some point in history.
There are no black people alive today who were slaves during the antebellum years. Not sure why they act like they survived it and every time someone drops the N-bomb, it triggers flashbacks of when they were being abused.
Most people don’t freak out over what happened to their ancestors. It’s not good to live in the past. It’s even worse to try live in someone else’s past.
Sooo… Basically kendrick lamar who i use to like invites white girl on stage knowing the song has nigga in lyrics then crys over a white person saying it “oNly weRe ALOwed SaayS iT” you cant hate a word that much and use it daily to say to friends n shit
Your argument doesn’t make sense with black people’s use of the n word it is a term of empowerment and repossession of it from the years of hate,slavery, and oppression in America. Where this has never been a problem with white people this meaning they aren’t taking anything back when they say it instead they are keeping open a possible continuation of there ancestors history. In conclusion only blacks should be allowed period
No matter what the historical context of word has been, at the end of the day, we have a situation where a group of people are claiming something can only be done by a certain group of people with the right skin color. Thats fucking racist. Get with modern times: You want to talk about equality? Thats a two sided conversation. You have to let everything be open to everyone, or don’t use the word at all. PERIOD.
You can’t internalize the n word and use it as a weapon against past grievances. Do you have any fucking idea how to heal a wound and move on? You don’t do so by constantly poking at it and re-opening it.
Are you stupid? You do NOT get to use a word /we/ turned around for empowerment after generations of it being used against us. Idk if you remember, but it’s not that long ago that WE couldn’t do a whole LOT of shit white people can. Even Eminem understands that. Boy bye.
I’m ashamed for you. You can’t see that is reverse racism? You’ll never build a community of equals with a mindset like that. Your reality is warped because of hatred. Fuck people like you living in the past, I’m trying to build a community of people who want to see eye to eye and move forward together. YOU ARE A POISON TO SOCIETY WHEN YOU SHAPE YOUR VIEWS THAT WAY. STOP IT.
This has to be the dumbest response I’ve ever seen. If its “just a word” then you can “just” not say it. lol And also as a non-black person, you can’t speak on race relations for us. Don’t be dense, idiot.
africans in usa have no right to ever say word “slave” or talk about race relations.
ANY african living in usa is 10s as rich as middle class slave person
being sold by their own “race” to anglosaxons and working for a hundred years to be filthy rich for next 150 years is nothing compared to 3000 years of anglosaxon raids, and continues treatment as subpeople to this day, especially by african usa citizen
as a slave i say not a single anglo-saxon or african american is ever in life allowed to say word “slave”
working on plantations for a handred years is nothing compared to 2000 years of captive serfdom and stealing the identity. and yanks to this day propagate racism towards slave people on every their tv channel, be it dnc nazis or gop nazis
I’m still trying to understand the nuances here. I was in a record store in southern Ontario near Toronto. I’ll try to give some context here. I’m a white male, in my mid 50’s. The clerk, in his mid 20’s was in the store playing a rap record on the store stereo system. He was quietly singing(rapping?) along to the record. He skipped the N word sometimes and when he got caught up in the emotion of the song he would sing the complete lyrics N word and all. I asked him about the record he was playing. He was an incredibly huge fan of this artist. He had all his records and traveled hours to Detroit and Buffalo just to see his shows. He’s been a fan since the artist was starting out and he’s followed his career up to its high point this artist was currently enjoying.
I asked him if he sang the complete lyrics at a concert.
He said for the most part he tried not to but in the heat of the moment and getting caught up in a powerful performance it (the N Word) sometimes slipped out. Everybody would be rapping along at the encouragement of the artist.
He acknowledged that he’d been fortunate and hasn’t had any issues making the artist or any African- American fans upset when he was singing along at a club or a show.
I’ve heard one particular African American celebrity say that the N word needed to have a funeral and be buried. I think it was Oprah Winfrey. If this is true, who should be able to give this word a proper funeral and burial? If it’s African Americans who ultimately decide to do this and send this word into the past, who polices it?
I’ve been listening to some rap music while I compose this comment. One particular song used the N word over 40 times in about 4 minutes.
Respectfully, can someone help me to understand how a white fan or casual observer navigate this issue? I interact with teenagers and people in their mid twenties. They are large consumers and fans of rap music. I don’t want to seem or be any less lame than I already am. :-)
Woah, woah. Everybody be cool. We’ve got a keyboard warrior here.
Guaranteed you wouldn’t have done anything.
Q asked the crowd to shout it in unison. If some guy just randomly started swinging because he’s upset about Q trying to get the crowd going, you’d get hit by many people – including both black and white people (can I say “black people” or will that set you off too?) and then you’d be tossed out of the venue.
Nobody likes a tough guy at shows.
No one should say it, and I say this as a black woman. The n-word is a derivative of an uglier word, implying that the n-word is ugly too.
When you stop and think for a moment, one’s language, thoughts, and habits attract certain things into one’s life. If you’re singing songs about cops, drugs, alcohol, bitches, and hoes, and your life juxtaposed to a white person’s life, then you’re likely attracting those things into your life, not that you’re better off for having done so. Why do that? If you’re cursing while talking about people and possessions, are those people and possessions not cursed in your mind? and in your surroundings?
Even if I were not black, but had a similar mentality, I wouldn’t use the n-word, or curse while speaking because it invariably attracts the wrong people and situations into my life.
Overall, one should think before they speak, and think before they act, and think about why they do what they do (it’s called metacognition). Doing so makes life so much easier.
American are still with “black’ ‘white’ ‘nigga’ ‘N-word’, one ‘race’ can’t say that, the other ‘race’ can. You’re so behind guys, all of you black and white.
Yea you know what she sounded like she was saying it on purpose but at the same time she in front of thousands of people cant hear i think shes innocent its a misunderstanding on both parts
This is reverse rasisim he must hate his white fans. I’m white and I would of sung to him not thinking. It fine just I’m done with listening to him. The girl was not thinking either just saw her “artist” it’s sad either way
It’s really really simple. Just as ice cube said when asked about this, If he doesn’t want fans saying certain words then don’t invite them up on stage to rap along to his damn song! Or choose a song that isn’t filled with the word he finds so damn offensive, or heres a novel idea, don’t repeatedly write a word he find so offensive into the majority of his songs in the first place! He wrote the lyrics, he knew damn well what was in the song so bringing up a fan and then absolutely humiliating her like that and having her booed off stage is 100% kendrick lamars fault and is absolutely disgusting.
This article is RIDICULOUS. Kendrick is a PATHETIC JOKE. She sang his song! Just like she was supposed to!!! Black people say NIGGA ALL THE TIME. ALL THE TIME. NON-STOP. ALL. THE. TIME. DO YOU GET THAT YOU OVEREDUCATATED MORON? YOU ACTUALLY DEFEND KENDRICK AND MAKE EXCUSES FOR HIM FOR HUMILIATING THIS FAN WHO WAS JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME AND SINGING THE SONG? YOU MAKE EXCUSES FOR THAT? YOU’RE PATHETIC. You’re exactly full of the exact kind of BS that so many black people keep manufacturing. Go get offended over SOMETHING REAL. LIKE STARVING PEOPLE. LIKE CANCER-RIDDEN CHILDREN. LIKE CHILD-SLAVE LABOR CAMPS MAKING YOUR STUPID EXPENSIVE SNEAKERS. You are utterly pathetic.
Yea BLACK people say the word all the time, that does not give white people a pass…damn. Your ancestors had a hell of a time saying the word, we took it back and made it into something else…and here yall come butt hurt that you can’t say it! Get over it.
Honestly though… He set her up! He chose a white fan, told her to sing al9ng to a song he knew said the word, then gotad for her doing exactly what he told her to do… Its messed up.
I got a better idea. Have ALL Whites boycott any music that has the N word in it. Money talks. Blacks DO NOT need White’s money for their offensive Ni**a music.
It’s complete bullsh*t the way Lamar behaved. He didnt even blink twice when the girl said N*gga until he heard his audience Booing at her. If you put the word in your song ofcourse all peple should be allowed to sing it. You can’t be a hypocrite and say it’s only OK for some people.. Either it’s ok to say it(As long as it’s not in a complete negative and racist way) or it’s not at all. PERIOD
No matter what your opinion is, you have to admit that this article was incredible in stating both sides of the argument with evidence to back up each. Props to you for taking this risk to speak your mind. Gotta love Kendrick either way
”It’s like a the difference between a man using the B-word against a woman..” this whole sentence is extremely hypocritical due to the fact that Lamar uses the B-word many, many times in his song “HUMBLE.”. If that actually were the case, that it is as if a man used the B-word against a woman rather than a woman using it, then why would he use the B-word when he knows the meaning and how it is when a man uses it instead? Because of that I can’t take it seriously, because apparently it is the same, but then why does he expect whites to not use the N-word if it’s so hurtful, when he does the exact same thing with the B-word? I
Kendrick Lamar is at fault for marketing lyrics outside of his community if this was the case and I wasn’t clear that this was For “community A” . The implied meaning would otherwise have been actively intended as the severe insults “the history implies” directed to part of the audience. A intolerable level of intended insult against possible paying people. The event should be handled more like the political demonstration it intended be rather than some form of “entertainment” (something not communicated correctly in this case). Audience should have been restricted to only the intended community. There are better ways to direct pressure to goverments. If he feels enslaved/opressed and so on.
Kendrick Lamar (Odumb’s) Pulitzer-worthy contribution to the highly technological we live in: telescopes peer into the dawn of the universe and robots perform brain surgery but the media chooses to champion and enrich the perpetuation of ignorance…..
Jeremy, thanks for your commentary on the n-word issue between blacks and whites. Your perspective is well thought-out, balanced and in the best interests of our country. Keep up the good work!
There are many articles written by Black journalists and Black Scholars demanding the ban of the N word, so not even the Black community can come to a consensus as to what is right and wrong. Rappers use the word to appeal to young white’s to buy their garbage. That’s all it is and it is wrong. I don’t care what people spend their money on. Call it an Art Form fine, but don’t call it music and try and compare it to the contributions Motown and Jazz performers before them made in terms of real music and the history there of. Rappers can’t even sing, that’s why they rap. Eliminate the background musicians and tell me what key a rapper raps in.
White people just stop. No that word is not for us. I buy black artists’ music, including music which may include this racially hwated term. So when available, i buy the clean version of a song or album. As much as I prefer to hear music as an artist intends, this term is not meant for me. We need to own up to our white history in this country, and understand that we lost the privilege of full connection through our historically violent and continued societal privilege. Enjoy and support the artists, but let’s shut up, sit down and listen.
What our white ancestors did has nothing to do with us. It’s people like you who keep us beaten down in society. I’m tired of being judged for shit I didn’t do. I’m tired of rude customers treating me like scum just because the color of my skin. They have no right to be angry at me. I approach everyone as individuals. They have a clean slate unless people treat me like garbage. If they want to end racism, it has to start within themselves. I’m already doing my part. Stop telling me to be ashamed of myself when I shouldn’t. I’m tired of feeling hated
What our white ancestors did has nothing to do with us. It’s people like you who keep us beaten down in society. I’m tired of being judged for shit I didn’t do. I’m tired of rude customers treating me like scum just because the color of my skin. They have no right to be angry at me. I approach everyone as individuals. They have a clean slate unless people treat me like garbage. If they want to end racism, it has to start within themselves. I’m already doing my part. Stop telling me to be ashamed of myself when I shouldn’t. I’m tired of feeling hated
The use of N*gger is cultural appropriation at its finest. Moreover, far to many Africans have appropriated European names, White Jesus, and European hair…and no one, at least no one outside of the conscious community, finds it strange. However, if a White Irishmen were named Fela Obatala most would find it odd since they’d think that he’s disconnected from his culture. But at the end of the day, who cares?
How about using the word instead of saying N-word and making us say it in our heads. That word is all they have, that’s why it’s in every song. Parents who let their kids idolize these imbeciles are doing a great job.
so white people are supporting the artist, buying their music, spending money on their concerts, at lease doubling the income of these artist, but are not allowed to sing along to the music they are buying, if black artists are gonna get rich off of white people buying their music then the white people should be able to sing along to the very music that they are paying for that is providing the black persons livelihood…otherwise the black artists should pay back all the money they have made off of their music from white people
I hate rap hip hop whatever you want to call today’s awful music. The artificial snare hinata to the disgusting lyrics. I am the minority that found the movie pulp fiction crass. Good old rock and roll almost all songs are in one shape or form of love, lost love, love of drugs, or just physical. Most of the lyrics are suggestive, tongue in cheek. Made you think a bit, actual emotions from the heart. I am sad my sons listen to this crap, the message is so disturbing, sensationalism overload. Freedom of speach yes but I’ll never understand what the middle class suburban white kids see in it. I don’t think they have a clue. When the kids get in my car it’s all 80s rock. LOUD!
What I find interesting are the rammifactions that using the “n” word has, not just here, but abroad. We know it’s not an okay thing to say here in America especially as a white person, but what would the response be if someone called you the “n” word in another country? Say Japan? Because this is my experience and I’m going to tell youa little story about the rammifications of the “n” word, rap, and traveling abroad as a white girl with my latina best friend.
While we were in Japan my friend was called the “n” word by a Japanese individual, not in a malicious way but in a “look she’s a n*****” kind of way. My friend was taken aback, she’s not the sit back and take it sort so she quickly straightened them out. She said that first of all she was a latina and that second of all calling someone the “n” word is a derogatory and she compared it to Japanese insults. They were shocked, and the thing is they didn’t know. Why did they not know, well I’m about to get to that in a second.
We go into a nail salon because my friend is a nail buff and she had to get her nails done and so it’s like cool, I’ll wait, my nails were fine as is. I keep them nice and trimmed and polished so I didn’t need or want anything done to my nails. Long nails bother me too, they just get in the way of my life, but that’s beside the point. While we were in the salon rap music was playing, there were f*yous and “n” bombs dropping every second and these ladies were bopping along to it like it was Spice Girls or something. Needless to say the ladies in the salon learned something and so did we.
They learned that the “n” word is a bad thing to call someone and they learned what f*you meant and they parroted us. Not the proudest piece of English I’ve ever taught anyone, but at least they knew what it meant.
And I learned something too, that these Japanese people did not think the “n” word was a bad thing to call someone, because rap perpetuates it as being an okay thing to say or to call someone. So here is the problem we face, is it still offensive if someone from another country calls someone the “n” word? Are you allowed to be offended in a situation like that? This is my problem with the “n” word in rap, it’s not about whether or not I know I should say it it’s about the implications on an international scale. By all means be offended if a white person says it, but you can’t be offended if someone over seas says it because of the way it is presented in rap.
That’s why I feel like it should be retired honestly.
Either we have freedom of speech or…we don’t.
Allowing it to bother you if someone of the wrong identity says the word is mental weakness. The historical meaning of the word is no longer. It is in the past, in the bracken. Signed, a Cracker.
I hate the double standard. Kendrick Lamar was wrong. If he didn’t want this girl to say the right words he should write a nicer song. Nobody should be able to say the n-word. Black people want respect but they treat white people like aliens. Im white and I’m tired of being watched by black strangers like i have 3 heads. Im also sick of worying for the lives of my black friends and family because of the black people who are criminals that they hang around with. I seriously believe all lives matter and not as a cliche. If you want respect you have to earn it!
Even today, for many of us, when a white person utters the N-word, it’s like the sound of a whip slapping the back of a slave. Because of its loaded history, it will never be OK for white people to use the N-word (not even if it’s Eminem, though he inexplicably seems to get a pass from the hip hop community), no matter what the circumstance.
You clearly have no understanding of Rap or the game. You also don’t know how to stay away form categorical terms. He did once very VERY early in his career and everyone hated it and he apologized and it was when he was very young. Your tone which carries you suggests you believe he has done it multiple times. And that’s why I couldn’t take you seriously anymore. Try reporting the news and not just spewing bullshit.
It’s a word, it’s not a whip or a shockle. I swear I’m getting tired of seeing people get so emotional of the word nigga. If you dont like hearing white people say it put a finger in your ear. And clearly you have no understanding of the game “period”. Come to east side stockton with your dumb ass opinion or your knowledge of the “game”. I swear both ethnic groups are so ignorant. Blacks calling white people racist when when black are the most racist of all. Their racist on all.
We won’t “get over it” because it’s not our problem to begin with, it’s yours. You are the one who feels victimized. No white people you’ve come across has ever forced you to do anything. The act that started that word has been abolished. So you can GET OVER IT.
How black do you have to be to say the word? Can you have a black grandmother? Or can you be half black and half white? It is totally a ridiculous word to use if people don’t want to hear it used because if it’s in popular songs people are going to get used to hearing it and it will be used and that’s the way it goes. Of course he’s making millions of dollars off of it so no b******* about why he’s using it. I don’t buy it
At some point the black community needs to look inward and decide to continue self segregation or join the rest of the country. This racism on their part will make racism drag on forever. Just look, they still see whites as slavers and racists. We’ve reached the point where most the hateful white racists are either old or shunned by society. Now we need to do the same for black racists. After that, we can work on more subtle forms of racism that even people who don’t see a difference may have without knowing it.
Weather you say the N word with ga or er at the end of it. It’s still basically the same thing. Southern slave owners usually used both. Or they would say it with the ga at the end. Why black people want to call each other such an ugly word, I have no clue. Growing up I use to use the word, but as I got older. I became more aware of older peoples looks and disgust when I used the word. Needless to say I eased up on using the word and tried to find words to replace it.
Yeah this simply highlights that society is stuck in a rut to some extent. I have heard the arguments for and against so many times but it always seems to fail to address the actual point. Both sides of the argument are correct. Black people “do” find it offensive when uttered by white people due to the historical connotations and black people “do” embrace the term culturally due to the empowerment of owning the word that once assaulting them. However, the true point that is being missed is the fact that all this is HISTORICAL and we will not and in fact cannot move on and better ourselves as a society until we agree that that term is no longer powerful in terms of a racial expression. when a word is used with the intention of causing offense then its offensive, regardless of the race. when the same word is used as an endearment or to show comradery it should be embraced as such regardless of race. ultimately if black people dont want people to treat them differently as they have been in the past, then they need to let go of the past and stop segregating themselves in this way. I identify as Caucasian but i have not and never had perceived myself as “above” any other race regardless of what my ancestors before me have done and am more than capable of identifying talent, genius, inspiration as well as bad influences, stupidity and falsehood from other humans regardless of race. to be honest even writing this comment annoys me because it forces me to use terms like “they” and assume how “black” people think and feel which in my mind is as stupid as assuming to know what all “humans” feel about something.
Telling a white person they can’t say the N word because they are white is 100% just as racist as blacks saying we are for saying it. Same concept as I don’t hire you because you’re Black or White. So yeah either anyone can say the word or no one that’s how you defeat racism. None of this wishy washy bullshit of I can you can’t will ever work. This girl paid her ticket bought his music ect ect enjoyed his music respects his art and him helps support his lifestyle and has going to tell her you can’t say that if that’s not black on white racism I don’t what is. I hate the word it means ignorant and why would anyone ever find joy in being called ignorant by anyone is beyond me. The African American community holds the hand to the racism the N word has plain and simple. Because like I said telling whites they can’t but Blacks can is just a racist. Respect is earned never given respect each other to either stop the word completely or accept it completely that’s called equality
I’m not black (not white either) but to me it seems that blacks today use the n-word in a way that is not a negative slur but a positive word like “mate”, “bro”, etc. Someone else said the word should be reclaimed and I kinda agree. It practically has been reclaimed by some blacks. Just my opinion of course. I would hope blacks would be ok with the rest of us using it because I would think this would promote not just inclusivity and coexistence with blacks but also the whites are actually getting the mindset of a black. What rappers really need to do in my opinion is never use the n-word in a bad kind of way. Always use it to describe friends. This way the whites will begin to use the n-word and soon they will begin to realize blacks are good and not animals. I think it could actually be a very effective strategy for making some white people less racist: if they listen to black music, written from a black perspective, that co-opts a racial anti-black slur to make it a good term describing good blacks, they will become less racist. Just my opinion and I will not use it unless black people approve, but I will advocate that they do.
I’d like to point out that this supposed “mindset of a black”, “black perspective”, or the idea that only white people can be racist is somewhat offensive because it does not exist. Your race does not determine how you perceive anything. I’d also like to counter the ludicrous argument that is really more funny than it is offensive. The idea that if white people used the n-word that they would suddenly “become less racist”. If a white person was racist, which most of them are not, I would say unequivocally that saying the n-word would enable them to become more racist. I myself am actually half-black (Haitian) and half-Asian (Chinese), and I do actually see both sides of the argument presented in this article. However, your points were terrible, uneducated, and completely fantasized. I don’t really see what uses a white person would need for the n-word as opposed to some black people who integrated this word into their speech because the n-word actually is meant to describe their people. This article references a white person using the word while quoting a black person, which is one of few examples I could imagine a white person using this word for without being intentionally offensive.
Sorry but she was singing the lyrics to HIS damn song… Like w t f. If he didn’t want her to sing it and got offended by her singing it then don’t put that in your damn lyrics. She isn’t the only white person singing along to your lyrics. You have alot of fans of all races. You should stop and think of that before you want to get butthurt over a little white girl using that word. There’s tons of people using that word because it’s in your song. They are only going along with what you put
The question isn’t why can’t WE (white people) use it? You should be wondering why you WANT to use it. Really? You can’t see why you SHOULDN’T use it?
You are listening to the creative expression and poetic language of black Americans (and Latinos – Dominicans and Puerto Ricans) who created Hip Hop as a way to tell their stories. You can listen to it, you can love it, you should know better on a viseral level to not say the N-word. It really is simple.
Also, ya’ll never seem to hear the difference between the n—a and n—er words. No, you shouldn’t say it. You CAN, but get ready for the consequences.
Kendrick Lamar is no way in any definition of the term sellout. The man is a genius in messages to life, if you had actually done minimal research you would know that his albums go beyond music in general, just look at the Metacritic score for his 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly and his meta score for DAMN. Saying the N word as person not of color only dictates to anyone, with atlest half a common sense, that the person is simply ignorant to what they’re actually saying. You don’t call somebody “nigga” without referring to their skin, you’ll never hear white people calling each other that, black people see it past the race and as a term for a friend.
Im from Mass and some white ppl here, the ones who embrace the rap culture, actually do use the n-word like a black guy would…they refer to one another as n***a, as well as puerto ricans, asians…even their own fellow black friends. Some of my black friends dont even care about these white guys using the word, depending on the relationship with that specific white guy of course…so its like, a lot of the black ppl out here are selective towards who’s allowed to say it…it dont make sense to me. Im like, 7 different races, i embrace the rap culture, im a rapper myself, and even used the n-word casually with my friends…up until the past few yrs, when i feel it became a bigger issue…so i just stopped using it purely out of respect. I stopped using it in my lyrics and conversations cuz 1 of the 7 races i am, is white….so idk if i exactly qualify to use the word.
Omg… get the f over it. Grow up. You say it you open yourself up to others saying it. Quit being a little biotch. You’ve never known slavery. You actually make money off your color cry babies
the connotation of the word seems to have changed over the last decade or so. It seems to be a way people are saying hello to each other or bragging or something ridiculous. I never heard the word ever in my family when I was growing up and it was not a word that was welcomed in my family. At the same time neither is kike for a Jewish person or WOP for an Italian person but Jewish people don’t really call themselves kikes. So as long as people are using this in mainstream communication and music they are making millions and millions of dollars off I don’t think they can expect a change anytime soon. And they can’t make the rules about who can say it and who can’t. Because then we have to get out the DNA samples and figure out just who has a right to say it and people might be surprised about how many there are out there with DNA representing that particular group. Enough said
I do not think that anyone should be able to use it, this is the word that many have died and killed for, this is the word that White America gave us as a hurtful name, this is a name that was made to belittle Black people and is still used for that same reason today by people that are not Black , and I agree, the rappers have used this word as if it is nothing ugly about it, sad to hear it over the air and to hear little kids singing to it
How about those of us or people who happen to have grandparents who were West African? Or great-grandparents? Since no one alive today was an actual slave but all have the Legacy in these different groups? And some people finding out from DNA tests alone? I mean I’m trying to figure out who gets to use that word. Personally I find inflammatory words used for various ethnic groups to be ugly and certainly not something that speaks of any Triumph over tragedy. It is an ugly slang word but it does seem to sell music to young people who often are not the least bit interested in the history but only in seeing how vulgar they can be.
If you dont want white people singing your lyrics then dont invite them onstage and ask them to sing it , personally i feel he did that on purpose he knew what he was doing he got a white girl up there an obvious fan who knows his music and came to see him he thanks her for support by bringing her on stage and humiliating her thats the thanks white people get for supporting black artists . If you want the word to die stop using it yourself its clearly not as hurtful as you claim if its a part of your daily vocabulary why would you ever refer to yourself, friends family or any other person in such derogatory manor and why should anyone have any respect for you if you cant even show yourself and others that same level of respect … if being white likeing his music knowing his lyrics and supporting his art its a problem for him then i say white people shouldnt waste their money ton concert tickets albums and any other merchandise as an artist hes the one who should know better you want to sell records? dont humiliate your fanbase publically with the sole intention of sparking racial tension
Ever read the classic ” Huckleberry Finn” ? Hey Lighten up…oops, not appropriate..
I guess for this forum I should first introduce myself as a European-American, although I typically don’t make a point to preface myself as such because it seems so silly to me, just as announcing oneself as African-American does. My skin tone happens to be lighter than some human beings and darker than others…just as my teeth are whiter than some and darker than others. I could continue noting physical differences between the human race but I hope I’ve gotten my point across by now. I find it very offensive that certain people are trying to force me to believe that they are somehow different than others just because their skin tone is darker or lighter. In my opinion, Kendrick Lamar was way out of line and owes this young lady an apology!
“though he inexplicably seems to get a pass from the hip hop community” Lol I guess the author decided blanket race-based judgements and generalizations can be fun after all. Can’t say I agree, but it’s important to recognize instances where comments like this aren’t acceptable. Such as anywhere you’re expected to speak politely and respectably, e.g. authoring for Variety.
Dear Black People,
Stop bitching about what white people do. Stop using the N-Word in music if you don’t want white people to use it. Simple as that.Music shouldn’t have to have certain rules. If a song has the N-Word white and Asians will still continue to sing along with it. Either drop the N-Word or stop being butthurt.
We all want equality. That’s why no one race or group of people have any superiority or hold any control over a word in the English language. I’m not ignoring the history, culture, or context of the n word, so don’t get all sensitive. I’m also not gonna conform to being born by hypocrisy. A black person can say the n word to another black person or white person. That “privilege” is as fair or equal to any “white privilege”. Break down the barriers, stop being hypocrites.
A couple of years ago I went to an A$AP Rocky show at the Best Buy Theatre in NYC (now the PlayStation Theatre) and Schoolboy Q was the opener. During his set he performed “Blessed” which screams the N-word multiple times throughout the repetitive chorus. Anyway, half way thru the song, Q stops the track, asks the crowd why EVERYONE isn’t singing along, and then instructed EVERYONE to sing-along as loud as they could. I’m white, love hip hop, and did as he asked because it was a unifying moment. Black, white, brown, or yellow, the word meant the same thing to all of us in that moment, friend/Ally/companion. I could physically see the discomfort in some of the patrons faces, but that’s on them. We were all there for the music and didn’t want zero problems big fella. Interesting to see the contrast of views between two Black Hippies. Also, Q may have reacted more similar to Kendrick if it was a single white person singing along into a microphone…..
If I was there I’d have beat your ass Davey wtf, like you really trying to act like you were “together in unison” like I hope I catch your dumb self trying that near me LOL
You wouldn’t have done shit, Van. There’s too many whites and people of another color saying the N-Word at the concert much less is there enough room. You can’t punch em all. That’d be a hate crime.
Dear fellow white people:
For the love of god, STOP arguing this shit. Just shut your fucking mouth and get over it. I don’t agree with Kendrick Lamar in how he handled this by publicly chastising a naive young girl, but he’s generally right. It’s unfortunate so many people can’t figure this out. White people get everything else. Let black folks have this one foul word. You have every right to use any word you want, but if you choose to use this word in art, comedy, or music, be prepared for the backlash and be willing to accept the consequences of doing so.
There was a time in my life when I thought “why can’t I say it if they can?” There was also a time in my life when I thought I was brilliant and would grow up to be a multi-millionaire firefighter/professional baseball player. . . then one day I grew the fuck up.
Dear Black People,
Dont make a song with the n word, invite a white person on stage to sing it, and then get mad about it. You either setting traps or just plain ignorant.
It’s insane to think that the best ‘argument’ against white people using it is it’s history. What about the history of derogatory terms of gay people. What about the history associated with the word retard. Every word has history. It doesn’t matter because it doesn’t effect you.
“Dear black people:
For the love of god, STOP arguing this shit. Just shut your fucking mouth and get over it.”
Fixed that for you. Not to sound calloused, but literally every single race and creed has been enslaved and oppressed at some point in history.
There are no black people alive today who were slaves during the antebellum years. Not sure why they act like they survived it and every time someone drops the N-bomb, it triggers flashbacks of when they were being abused.
Most people don’t freak out over what happened to their ancestors. It’s not good to live in the past. It’s even worse to try live in someone else’s past.
Sooo… Basically kendrick lamar who i use to like invites white girl on stage knowing the song has nigga in lyrics then crys over a white person saying it “oNly weRe ALOwed SaayS iT” you cant hate a word that much and use it daily to say to friends n shit
Your argument doesn’t make sense with black people’s use of the n word it is a term of empowerment and repossession of it from the years of hate,slavery, and oppression in America. Where this has never been a problem with white people this meaning they aren’t taking anything back when they say it instead they are keeping open a possible continuation of there ancestors history. In conclusion only blacks should be allowed period
No matter what the historical context of word has been, at the end of the day, we have a situation where a group of people are claiming something can only be done by a certain group of people with the right skin color. Thats fucking racist. Get with modern times: You want to talk about equality? Thats a two sided conversation. You have to let everything be open to everyone, or don’t use the word at all. PERIOD.
You can’t internalize the n word and use it as a weapon against past grievances. Do you have any fucking idea how to heal a wound and move on? You don’t do so by constantly poking at it and re-opening it.
Are you stupid? You do NOT get to use a word /we/ turned around for empowerment after generations of it being used against us. Idk if you remember, but it’s not that long ago that WE couldn’t do a whole LOT of shit white people can. Even Eminem understands that. Boy bye.
I’m ashamed for you. You can’t see that is reverse racism? You’ll never build a community of equals with a mindset like that. Your reality is warped because of hatred. Fuck people like you living in the past, I’m trying to build a community of people who want to see eye to eye and move forward together. YOU ARE A POISON TO SOCIETY WHEN YOU SHAPE YOUR VIEWS THAT WAY. STOP IT.
I’m pretty sure Eminem never uses the N word…
This has to be the dumbest response I’ve ever seen. If its “just a word” then you can “just” not say it. lol And also as a non-black person, you can’t speak on race relations for us. Don’t be dense, idiot.
africans in usa have no right to ever say word “slave” or talk about race relations.
ANY african living in usa is 10s as rich as middle class slave person
being sold by their own “race” to anglosaxons and working for a hundred years to be filthy rich for next 150 years is nothing compared to 3000 years of anglosaxon raids, and continues treatment as subpeople to this day, especially by african usa citizen
as a slave i say not a single anglo-saxon or african american is ever in life allowed to say word “slave”
working on plantations for a handred years is nothing compared to 2000 years of captive serfdom and stealing the identity. and yanks to this day propagate racism towards slave people on every their tv channel, be it dnc nazis or gop nazis
I’m still trying to understand the nuances here. I was in a record store in southern Ontario near Toronto. I’ll try to give some context here. I’m a white male, in my mid 50’s. The clerk, in his mid 20’s was in the store playing a rap record on the store stereo system. He was quietly singing(rapping?) along to the record. He skipped the N word sometimes and when he got caught up in the emotion of the song he would sing the complete lyrics N word and all. I asked him about the record he was playing. He was an incredibly huge fan of this artist. He had all his records and traveled hours to Detroit and Buffalo just to see his shows. He’s been a fan since the artist was starting out and he’s followed his career up to its high point this artist was currently enjoying.
I asked him if he sang the complete lyrics at a concert.
He said for the most part he tried not to but in the heat of the moment and getting caught up in a powerful performance it (the N Word) sometimes slipped out. Everybody would be rapping along at the encouragement of the artist.
He acknowledged that he’d been fortunate and hasn’t had any issues making the artist or any African- American fans upset when he was singing along at a club or a show.
I’ve heard one particular African American celebrity say that the N word needed to have a funeral and be buried. I think it was Oprah Winfrey. If this is true, who should be able to give this word a proper funeral and burial? If it’s African Americans who ultimately decide to do this and send this word into the past, who polices it?
I’ve been listening to some rap music while I compose this comment. One particular song used the N word over 40 times in about 4 minutes.
Respectfully, can someone help me to understand how a white fan or casual observer navigate this issue? I interact with teenagers and people in their mid twenties. They are large consumers and fans of rap music. I don’t want to seem or be any less lame than I already am. :-)
Woah, woah. Everybody be cool. We’ve got a keyboard warrior here.
Guaranteed you wouldn’t have done anything.
Q asked the crowd to shout it in unison. If some guy just randomly started swinging because he’s upset about Q trying to get the crowd going, you’d get hit by many people – including both black and white people (can I say “black people” or will that set you off too?) and then you’d be tossed out of the venue.
Nobody likes a tough guy at shows.
No one should say it, and I say this as a black woman. The n-word is a derivative of an uglier word, implying that the n-word is ugly too.
When you stop and think for a moment, one’s language, thoughts, and habits attract certain things into one’s life. If you’re singing songs about cops, drugs, alcohol, bitches, and hoes, and your life juxtaposed to a white person’s life, then you’re likely attracting those things into your life, not that you’re better off for having done so. Why do that? If you’re cursing while talking about people and possessions, are those people and possessions not cursed in your mind? and in your surroundings?
Even if I were not black, but had a similar mentality, I wouldn’t use the n-word, or curse while speaking because it invariably attracts the wrong people and situations into my life.
Overall, one should think before they speak, and think before they act, and think about why they do what they do (it’s called metacognition). Doing so makes life so much easier.
He asked her onstage and encouraged to sing HIS SONG and got mad that she said the lyrics based upon her race. Yeah fuck that guy.
American are still with “black’ ‘white’ ‘nigga’ ‘N-word’, one ‘race’ can’t say that, the other ‘race’ can. You’re so behind guys, all of you black and white.
Yea you know what she sounded like she was saying it on purpose but at the same time she in front of thousands of people cant hear i think shes innocent its a misunderstanding on both parts
This is reverse rasisim he must hate his white fans. I’m white and I would of sung to him not thinking. It fine just I’m done with listening to him. The girl was not thinking either just saw her “artist” it’s sad either way
It’s really really simple. Just as ice cube said when asked about this, If he doesn’t want fans saying certain words then don’t invite them up on stage to rap along to his damn song! Or choose a song that isn’t filled with the word he finds so damn offensive, or heres a novel idea, don’t repeatedly write a word he find so offensive into the majority of his songs in the first place! He wrote the lyrics, he knew damn well what was in the song so bringing up a fan and then absolutely humiliating her like that and having her booed off stage is 100% kendrick lamars fault and is absolutely disgusting.
i mean im not shocked only piss poor content on a site like this not to mention a piss poor article!
This article is RIDICULOUS. Kendrick is a PATHETIC JOKE. She sang his song! Just like she was supposed to!!! Black people say NIGGA ALL THE TIME. ALL THE TIME. NON-STOP. ALL. THE. TIME. DO YOU GET THAT YOU OVEREDUCATATED MORON? YOU ACTUALLY DEFEND KENDRICK AND MAKE EXCUSES FOR HIM FOR HUMILIATING THIS FAN WHO WAS JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME AND SINGING THE SONG? YOU MAKE EXCUSES FOR THAT? YOU’RE PATHETIC. You’re exactly full of the exact kind of BS that so many black people keep manufacturing. Go get offended over SOMETHING REAL. LIKE STARVING PEOPLE. LIKE CANCER-RIDDEN CHILDREN. LIKE CHILD-SLAVE LABOR CAMPS MAKING YOUR STUPID EXPENSIVE SNEAKERS. You are utterly pathetic.
Yea BLACK people say the word all the time, that does not give white people a pass…damn. Your ancestors had a hell of a time saying the word, we took it back and made it into something else…and here yall come butt hurt that you can’t say it! Get over it.
Honestly though… He set her up! He chose a white fan, told her to sing al9ng to a song he knew said the word, then gotad for her doing exactly what he told her to do… Its messed up.
I got a better idea. Have ALL Whites boycott any music that has the N word in it. Money talks. Blacks DO NOT need White’s money for their offensive Ni**a music.
Did you not read the article…lol rap kinda does need “white’s money” dumbass..it’s money…it has no race
It’s complete bullsh*t the way Lamar behaved. He didnt even blink twice when the girl said N*gga until he heard his audience Booing at her. If you put the word in your song ofcourse all peple should be allowed to sing it. You can’t be a hypocrite and say it’s only OK for some people.. Either it’s ok to say it(As long as it’s not in a complete negative and racist way) or it’s not at all. PERIOD
No matter what your opinion is, you have to admit that this article was incredible in stating both sides of the argument with evidence to back up each. Props to you for taking this risk to speak your mind. Gotta love Kendrick either way
”It’s like a the difference between a man using the B-word against a woman..” this whole sentence is extremely hypocritical due to the fact that Lamar uses the B-word many, many times in his song “HUMBLE.”. If that actually were the case, that it is as if a man used the B-word against a woman rather than a woman using it, then why would he use the B-word when he knows the meaning and how it is when a man uses it instead? Because of that I can’t take it seriously, because apparently it is the same, but then why does he expect whites to not use the N-word if it’s so hurtful, when he does the exact same thing with the B-word? I
Kendrick Lamar is at fault for marketing lyrics outside of his community if this was the case and I wasn’t clear that this was For “community A” . The implied meaning would otherwise have been actively intended as the severe insults “the history implies” directed to part of the audience. A intolerable level of intended insult against possible paying people. The event should be handled more like the political demonstration it intended be rather than some form of “entertainment” (something not communicated correctly in this case). Audience should have been restricted to only the intended community. There are better ways to direct pressure to goverments. If he feels enslaved/opressed and so on.
Kendrick Lamar (Odumb’s) Pulitzer-worthy contribution to the highly technological we live in: telescopes peer into the dawn of the universe and robots perform brain surgery but the media chooses to champion and enrich the perpetuation of ignorance…..
Jeremy, thanks for your commentary on the n-word issue between blacks and whites. Your perspective is well thought-out, balanced and in the best interests of our country. Keep up the good work!
There are many articles written by Black journalists and Black Scholars demanding the ban of the N word, so not even the Black community can come to a consensus as to what is right and wrong. Rappers use the word to appeal to young white’s to buy their garbage. That’s all it is and it is wrong. I don’t care what people spend their money on. Call it an Art Form fine, but don’t call it music and try and compare it to the contributions Motown and Jazz performers before them made in terms of real music and the history there of. Rappers can’t even sing, that’s why they rap. Eliminate the background musicians and tell me what key a rapper raps in.
White people just stop. No that word is not for us. I buy black artists’ music, including music which may include this racially hwated term. So when available, i buy the clean version of a song or album. As much as I prefer to hear music as an artist intends, this term is not meant for me. We need to own up to our white history in this country, and understand that we lost the privilege of full connection through our historically violent and continued societal privilege. Enjoy and support the artists, but let’s shut up, sit down and listen.
What our white ancestors did has nothing to do with us. It’s people like you who keep us beaten down in society. I’m tired of being judged for shit I didn’t do. I’m tired of rude customers treating me like scum just because the color of my skin. They have no right to be angry at me. I approach everyone as individuals. They have a clean slate unless people treat me like garbage. If they want to end racism, it has to start within themselves. I’m already doing my part. Stop telling me to be ashamed of myself when I shouldn’t. I’m tired of feeling hated
What our white ancestors did has nothing to do with us. It’s people like you who keep us beaten down in society. I’m tired of being judged for shit I didn’t do. I’m tired of rude customers treating me like scum just because the color of my skin. They have no right to be angry at me. I approach everyone as individuals. They have a clean slate unless people treat me like garbage. If they want to end racism, it has to start within themselves. I’m already doing my part. Stop telling me to be ashamed of myself when I shouldn’t. I’m tired of feeling hated
The use of N*gger is cultural appropriation at its finest. Moreover, far to many Africans have appropriated European names, White Jesus, and European hair…and no one, at least no one outside of the conscious community, finds it strange. However, if a White Irishmen were named Fela Obatala most would find it odd since they’d think that he’s disconnected from his culture. But at the end of the day, who cares?
How about using the word instead of saying N-word and making us say it in our heads. That word is all they have, that’s why it’s in every song. Parents who let their kids idolize these imbeciles are doing a great job.
so white people are supporting the artist, buying their music, spending money on their concerts, at lease doubling the income of these artist, but are not allowed to sing along to the music they are buying, if black artists are gonna get rich off of white people buying their music then the white people should be able to sing along to the very music that they are paying for that is providing the black persons livelihood…otherwise the black artists should pay back all the money they have made off of their music from white people
I hate rap hip hop whatever you want to call today’s awful music. The artificial snare hinata to the disgusting lyrics. I am the minority that found the movie pulp fiction crass. Good old rock and roll almost all songs are in one shape or form of love, lost love, love of drugs, or just physical. Most of the lyrics are suggestive, tongue in cheek. Made you think a bit, actual emotions from the heart. I am sad my sons listen to this crap, the message is so disturbing, sensationalism overload. Freedom of speach yes but I’ll never understand what the middle class suburban white kids see in it. I don’t think they have a clue. When the kids get in my car it’s all 80s rock. LOUD!
What I find interesting are the rammifactions that using the “n” word has, not just here, but abroad. We know it’s not an okay thing to say here in America especially as a white person, but what would the response be if someone called you the “n” word in another country? Say Japan? Because this is my experience and I’m going to tell youa little story about the rammifications of the “n” word, rap, and traveling abroad as a white girl with my latina best friend.
While we were in Japan my friend was called the “n” word by a Japanese individual, not in a malicious way but in a “look she’s a n*****” kind of way. My friend was taken aback, she’s not the sit back and take it sort so she quickly straightened them out. She said that first of all she was a latina and that second of all calling someone the “n” word is a derogatory and she compared it to Japanese insults. They were shocked, and the thing is they didn’t know. Why did they not know, well I’m about to get to that in a second.
We go into a nail salon because my friend is a nail buff and she had to get her nails done and so it’s like cool, I’ll wait, my nails were fine as is. I keep them nice and trimmed and polished so I didn’t need or want anything done to my nails. Long nails bother me too, they just get in the way of my life, but that’s beside the point. While we were in the salon rap music was playing, there were f*yous and “n” bombs dropping every second and these ladies were bopping along to it like it was Spice Girls or something. Needless to say the ladies in the salon learned something and so did we.
They learned that the “n” word is a bad thing to call someone and they learned what f*you meant and they parroted us. Not the proudest piece of English I’ve ever taught anyone, but at least they knew what it meant.
And I learned something too, that these Japanese people did not think the “n” word was a bad thing to call someone, because rap perpetuates it as being an okay thing to say or to call someone. So here is the problem we face, is it still offensive if someone from another country calls someone the “n” word? Are you allowed to be offended in a situation like that? This is my problem with the “n” word in rap, it’s not about whether or not I know I should say it it’s about the implications on an international scale. By all means be offended if a white person says it, but you can’t be offended if someone over seas says it because of the way it is presented in rap.
That’s why I feel like it should be retired honestly.
Hey, just a friendly lesson on Japanese language. It doesn’t really have “bad words”. Derogatory remarks are based on intent and context.
Tell your friend when she visits another country she should learn about it first.
Either we have freedom of speech or…we don’t.
Allowing it to bother you if someone of the wrong identity says the word is mental weakness. The historical meaning of the word is no longer. It is in the past, in the bracken. Signed, a Cracker.
I hate the double standard. Kendrick Lamar was wrong. If he didn’t want this girl to say the right words he should write a nicer song. Nobody should be able to say the n-word. Black people want respect but they treat white people like aliens. Im white and I’m tired of being watched by black strangers like i have 3 heads. Im also sick of worying for the lives of my black friends and family because of the black people who are criminals that they hang around with. I seriously believe all lives matter and not as a cliche. If you want respect you have to earn it!
My GGGrandfather surely said it because he owned slaves, and due to his dallying in the slave quarters I have cousins that are black.
I had to stop reading after this:
Even today, for many of us, when a white person utters the N-word, it’s like the sound of a whip slapping the back of a slave. Because of its loaded history, it will never be OK for white people to use the N-word (not even if it’s Eminem, though he inexplicably seems to get a pass from the hip hop community), no matter what the circumstance.
You clearly have no understanding of Rap or the game. You also don’t know how to stay away form categorical terms. He did once very VERY early in his career and everyone hated it and he apologized and it was when he was very young. Your tone which carries you suggests you believe he has done it multiple times. And that’s why I couldn’t take you seriously anymore. Try reporting the news and not just spewing bullshit.
It’s a word, it’s not a whip or a shockle. I swear I’m getting tired of seeing people get so emotional of the word nigga. If you dont like hearing white people say it put a finger in your ear. And clearly you have no understanding of the game “period”. Come to east side stockton with your dumb ass opinion or your knowledge of the “game”. I swear both ethnic groups are so ignorant. Blacks calling white people racist when when black are the most racist of all. Their racist on all.
This article is fucking dumb, how do I thumbs down it? WHITE PEOPLE YOU HAVE ONE FUCKING WORD YOU CANT SAY! GET OVER IT
We won’t “get over it” because it’s not our problem to begin with, it’s yours. You are the one who feels victimized. No white people you’ve come across has ever forced you to do anything. The act that started that word has been abolished. So you can GET OVER IT.
Is there a word black people can’t say?
Again another stupid ass person. If it’s so dumb why comment on it. And you’re the problem.
How black do you have to be to say the word? Can you have a black grandmother? Or can you be half black and half white? It is totally a ridiculous word to use if people don’t want to hear it used because if it’s in popular songs people are going to get used to hearing it and it will be used and that’s the way it goes. Of course he’s making millions of dollars off of it so no b******* about why he’s using it. I don’t buy it
At some point the black community needs to look inward and decide to continue self segregation or join the rest of the country. This racism on their part will make racism drag on forever. Just look, they still see whites as slavers and racists. We’ve reached the point where most the hateful white racists are either old or shunned by society. Now we need to do the same for black racists. After that, we can work on more subtle forms of racism that even people who don’t see a difference may have without knowing it.
Weather you say the N word with ga or er at the end of it. It’s still basically the same thing. Southern slave owners usually used both. Or they would say it with the ga at the end. Why black people want to call each other such an ugly word, I have no clue. Growing up I use to use the word, but as I got older. I became more aware of older peoples looks and disgust when I used the word. Needless to say I eased up on using the word and tried to find words to replace it.
Yeah this simply highlights that society is stuck in a rut to some extent. I have heard the arguments for and against so many times but it always seems to fail to address the actual point. Both sides of the argument are correct. Black people “do” find it offensive when uttered by white people due to the historical connotations and black people “do” embrace the term culturally due to the empowerment of owning the word that once assaulting them. However, the true point that is being missed is the fact that all this is HISTORICAL and we will not and in fact cannot move on and better ourselves as a society until we agree that that term is no longer powerful in terms of a racial expression. when a word is used with the intention of causing offense then its offensive, regardless of the race. when the same word is used as an endearment or to show comradery it should be embraced as such regardless of race. ultimately if black people dont want people to treat them differently as they have been in the past, then they need to let go of the past and stop segregating themselves in this way. I identify as Caucasian but i have not and never had perceived myself as “above” any other race regardless of what my ancestors before me have done and am more than capable of identifying talent, genius, inspiration as well as bad influences, stupidity and falsehood from other humans regardless of race. to be honest even writing this comment annoys me because it forces me to use terms like “they” and assume how “black” people think and feel which in my mind is as stupid as assuming to know what all “humans” feel about something.
Telling a white person they can’t say the N word because they are white is 100% just as racist as blacks saying we are for saying it. Same concept as I don’t hire you because you’re Black or White. So yeah either anyone can say the word or no one that’s how you defeat racism. None of this wishy washy bullshit of I can you can’t will ever work. This girl paid her ticket bought his music ect ect enjoyed his music respects his art and him helps support his lifestyle and has going to tell her you can’t say that if that’s not black on white racism I don’t what is. I hate the word it means ignorant and why would anyone ever find joy in being called ignorant by anyone is beyond me. The African American community holds the hand to the racism the N word has plain and simple. Because like I said telling whites they can’t but Blacks can is just a racist. Respect is earned never given respect each other to either stop the word completely or accept it completely that’s called equality
I’m not black (not white either) but to me it seems that blacks today use the n-word in a way that is not a negative slur but a positive word like “mate”, “bro”, etc. Someone else said the word should be reclaimed and I kinda agree. It practically has been reclaimed by some blacks. Just my opinion of course. I would hope blacks would be ok with the rest of us using it because I would think this would promote not just inclusivity and coexistence with blacks but also the whites are actually getting the mindset of a black. What rappers really need to do in my opinion is never use the n-word in a bad kind of way. Always use it to describe friends. This way the whites will begin to use the n-word and soon they will begin to realize blacks are good and not animals. I think it could actually be a very effective strategy for making some white people less racist: if they listen to black music, written from a black perspective, that co-opts a racial anti-black slur to make it a good term describing good blacks, they will become less racist. Just my opinion and I will not use it unless black people approve, but I will advocate that they do.
I’d like to point out that this supposed “mindset of a black”, “black perspective”, or the idea that only white people can be racist is somewhat offensive because it does not exist. Your race does not determine how you perceive anything. I’d also like to counter the ludicrous argument that is really more funny than it is offensive. The idea that if white people used the n-word that they would suddenly “become less racist”. If a white person was racist, which most of them are not, I would say unequivocally that saying the n-word would enable them to become more racist. I myself am actually half-black (Haitian) and half-Asian (Chinese), and I do actually see both sides of the argument presented in this article. However, your points were terrible, uneducated, and completely fantasized. I don’t really see what uses a white person would need for the n-word as opposed to some black people who integrated this word into their speech because the n-word actually is meant to describe their people. This article references a white person using the word while quoting a black person, which is one of few examples I could imagine a white person using this word for without being intentionally offensive.
Sorry but she was singing the lyrics to HIS damn song… Like w t f. If he didn’t want her to sing it and got offended by her singing it then don’t put that in your damn lyrics. She isn’t the only white person singing along to your lyrics. You have alot of fans of all races. You should stop and think of that before you want to get butthurt over a little white girl using that word. There’s tons of people using that word because it’s in your song. They are only going along with what you put
Agreed.
The question isn’t why can’t WE (white people) use it? You should be wondering why you WANT to use it. Really? You can’t see why you SHOULDN’T use it?
You are listening to the creative expression and poetic language of black Americans (and Latinos – Dominicans and Puerto Ricans) who created Hip Hop as a way to tell their stories. You can listen to it, you can love it, you should know better on a viseral level to not say the N-word. It really is simple.
Also, ya’ll never seem to hear the difference between the n—a and n—er words. No, you shouldn’t say it. You CAN, but get ready for the consequences.
Kendrick Lamar is no way in any definition of the term sellout. The man is a genius in messages to life, if you had actually done minimal research you would know that his albums go beyond music in general, just look at the Metacritic score for his 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly and his meta score for DAMN. Saying the N word as person not of color only dictates to anyone, with atlest half a common sense, that the person is simply ignorant to what they’re actually saying. You don’t call somebody “nigga” without referring to their skin, you’ll never hear white people calling each other that, black people see it past the race and as a term for a friend.
Im from Mass and some white ppl here, the ones who embrace the rap culture, actually do use the n-word like a black guy would…they refer to one another as n***a, as well as puerto ricans, asians…even their own fellow black friends. Some of my black friends dont even care about these white guys using the word, depending on the relationship with that specific white guy of course…so its like, a lot of the black ppl out here are selective towards who’s allowed to say it…it dont make sense to me. Im like, 7 different races, i embrace the rap culture, im a rapper myself, and even used the n-word casually with my friends…up until the past few yrs, when i feel it became a bigger issue…so i just stopped using it purely out of respect. I stopped using it in my lyrics and conversations cuz 1 of the 7 races i am, is white….so idk if i exactly qualify to use the word.
Omg… get the f over it. Grow up. You say it you open yourself up to others saying it. Quit being a little biotch. You’ve never known slavery. You actually make money off your color cry babies
Lmao oh you white white, huh?
the connotation of the word seems to have changed over the last decade or so. It seems to be a way people are saying hello to each other or bragging or something ridiculous. I never heard the word ever in my family when I was growing up and it was not a word that was welcomed in my family. At the same time neither is kike for a Jewish person or WOP for an Italian person but Jewish people don’t really call themselves kikes. So as long as people are using this in mainstream communication and music they are making millions and millions of dollars off I don’t think they can expect a change anytime soon. And they can’t make the rules about who can say it and who can’t. Because then we have to get out the DNA samples and figure out just who has a right to say it and people might be surprised about how many there are out there with DNA representing that particular group. Enough said
I do not think that anyone should be able to use it, this is the word that many have died and killed for, this is the word that White America gave us as a hurtful name, this is a name that was made to belittle Black people and is still used for that same reason today by people that are not Black , and I agree, the rappers have used this word as if it is nothing ugly about it, sad to hear it over the air and to hear little kids singing to it
How about those of us or people who happen to have grandparents who were West African? Or great-grandparents? Since no one alive today was an actual slave but all have the Legacy in these different groups? And some people finding out from DNA tests alone? I mean I’m trying to figure out who gets to use that word. Personally I find inflammatory words used for various ethnic groups to be ugly and certainly not something that speaks of any Triumph over tragedy. It is an ugly slang word but it does seem to sell music to young people who often are not the least bit interested in the history but only in seeing how vulgar they can be.
If you dont want white people singing your lyrics then dont invite them onstage and ask them to sing it , personally i feel he did that on purpose he knew what he was doing he got a white girl up there an obvious fan who knows his music and came to see him he thanks her for support by bringing her on stage and humiliating her thats the thanks white people get for supporting black artists . If you want the word to die stop using it yourself its clearly not as hurtful as you claim if its a part of your daily vocabulary why would you ever refer to yourself, friends family or any other person in such derogatory manor and why should anyone have any respect for you if you cant even show yourself and others that same level of respect … if being white likeing his music knowing his lyrics and supporting his art its a problem for him then i say white people shouldnt waste their money ton concert tickets albums and any other merchandise as an artist hes the one who should know better you want to sell records? dont humiliate your fanbase publically with the sole intention of sparking racial tension