Negro's Riot

This is something else I found while trying to figure out when "negro" became pejorative, explains it better:

Quote:

Previously used by blacks in only intra-ethnic settings, nigga as a socially acceptable term of kinship or endearment has become increasingly common among some American youth and those who wish to emulate the media-popularized images of African-American culture. For example: "What's up, nigga?" may be an acceptable greeting when spoken by one black to another, but is not generally accepted by Blacks across racial or generational bounds. The commercialization and subsequent proliferation of hip-hop culture internationally, for better or worse, have returned the term to broader public use of the term to across ethnicities as an artifact of hip-hop culture. This, however, is not to be confused with public acceptance of the term by blacks.

Problems with this use of nigga are illustrated in the comedy-drama movie Gridlock'd (1997), which features the use of the word in its affectionate sense by a white character (played by Tim Roth). He is close enough to his black friend (played by Tupac Shakur) for it to go unremarked, but later he uses it when there are other blacks around whom he does not know so well, causing a dramatic reaction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger_(word)

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<Also nodding to Dag.>

This might apply to what Bella was saying or it might not...

Years ago, in an attempt to demonstrate my lack of bigotry, I forced myself to appear color blind. We're all equals under the skin, right? So why not treat each other as such?

I eventually came to realise that being color blind is a disservice to one's heritage and culture. We are all one people, but we aren't. We have inherent differences that we should take pride in honoring in ourselves. At the same time, we should strive to understand and acknowledge the unique heritage and cultural differences in others. I'm not black or Slavic or Jewish or hispanic and I never will be any of those. I no longer try to be color blind, but I try to be mindful of color or ethnicity or religion in my dealings with others. I can try to treat everyone with dignity and respect as if they were my brother, but at the same time I can try to honor what it is that makes them different from me while honoring what makes me different from them.

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My mentality is not to forget our differences but to appreciate them. Celebrate them. But when it comes to things like this, I just don't get it.

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The insults thing is also about simple understanding of how different histories make words different in meaning, and acknowledgement of and respect for the effects of history.

For example, to non Irish people, orange is simply a fruit, and an orangeman (if one were ignorant of history) might simply be one who sells oranges.

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Bella Dea wrote:

My mentality is not to forget our differences but to appreciate them. Celebrate them. But when it comes to things like this, I just don't get it.

It's like family. Do you have siblings, Bella? I fought with my sisters and brother like dogs when I was growing up. I still argue with them and tease them and joke about my mother's idiosycracies with them, but god help the person who says anything negative about my mother or says something uncomplementary about my siblings. Even my father, who I've posted about on these boards, is someone I would try to rip to shreads in head-on-head arguements, but I wouldn't want anyone else to say anything negative about him.

I see this inside the group vs outside the group interactions the same way. It's broader than family, but it isn't.

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I guess that means that racism will never go away, regarless of what we do since we seem to be programmed that way. Which is unfortunate since those fighting against it are fighting a losing battle.

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dlowan:

Quote:

Oddly enough, I have some intelligence, and am actually able to work out for myself that it is different for a group of african americans to use nigger than it is for a white person...

Well, that's encouraging. We all have to start where we are, don't we?

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dlowan:

Quote:

Oddly enough, I have some intelligence, and am actually able to work out for myself that it is different for a group of african americans to use nigger than it is for a white person...

Well, that's encouraging. We all have to start where we are, don't we?
Just so I'm clear - you think those whites who still struggle with this are not intelligent?

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I don't think that's what dlowan meant, but since you insist on trying to start something, maybe you'll get an answer.

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Bella Dea wrote:

I don't think that's what dlowan meant, but since you insist on trying to start something, maybe you'll get an answer.

O---kay.... thank you Bella. Perhaps I don't need an answer at all from dlowan, since you've so graciously acted as a proxy.

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snood wrote:

Bella Dea wrote:
I don't think that's what dlowan meant, but since you insist on trying to start something, maybe you'll get an answer.

O---kay.... thank you Bella. Perhaps I don't need an answer at all from dlowan, since you've so graciously acted as a proxy.

You have a nasty attitude and I was simply pointing that out. Dlowan is perfectly free to answer; I wasn't a "proxy". Rolling Eyes

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None of my business, but perhaps dlowan should be given an opportunity to answer and be the determining force on whether that is what she meant.

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Um, can anyone read? That's what I said.

When has she ever not spoken up for herself? I am not worried and should that be what she meant, great. But in my opinion, it isn't.

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Noted.

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...and your attitude ain't gonna win you any prizes, either, bella.

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snood wrote:

...and your attitude ain't gonna win you any prizes, either, bella.

Not here to win prizes.

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...just thought I'd let you know my opinion about your attitude - since you shared yours about mine.

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attitudes, every one has a few except me, I'm pure as the drivin snow.

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snood wrote:

Lash wrote:
lindatw wrote:
Roger and Lash: May be it is an ok phrase,but surely there are better words.

I can't understand why this comment was made.

I had no idea what the word (Desi) meant and asked. If I'm not wildly mistaken, Rog's response was sarcastic.

Incidentally, there is nothing wrong with using the word "Negro." Aren't Negro, Caucasian and Mongoloid still the three main divisions of human, or has political correctness changed that? I think some people just tried to revoke that racist guy's use of the word because of his sentiments.

Does anyone have reference to the street war thing that he was so worked up about? It appears that an Indian person allegedly raped a black woman, and black men have taken offense and threatened to attack Indian men, and the racist guy is relieving himself by making abusive statements about black women. Does anyone know about this?

If you seriously don't know, and want to guage the "correctness", political or otherwise (like maybe just plain old damn common sense correctness), why don't you just walk up to the first group of blacks you see and ask "How you Negros doing today?" I'm pretty confidant the reaction should settle for you any doubt about whether it's still a part of any thinking person's lexicon.

I can't imagine referring to someone's ethnicity in a greeting.

But, I refuse to continue hopscotching through the landmine of momentarily acceptable references for black people. Are you concerned a group of whites may assault you if you call them Caucasians?

Why so hostile? Very Happy

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snood wrote:

dlowan:

Quote:
Oddly enough, I have some intelligence, and am actually able to work out for myself that it is different for a group of african americans to use nigger than it is for a white person...

Well, that's encouraging. We all have to start where we are, don't we?
Just so I'm clear - you think those whites who still struggle with this are not intelligent?

Lol!!!

Why not respond to my comments about you, Snood, since you so neatly avoided them, and my calling you on your attempt to to twist what I said, and continue to offer meaningless insults, or explain what YOU meant, if you were not intending to be so rude.

Why do YOU think everyone should know all abour America?

Is it dumb to be so Americacentric?

Is it dumb to try to start another bunfight about intelligence because someone calls you on your posts?

And I think whites who live in countries where there has been oppression of people on the basis of race and who cannot "get" the distinction being discussed have either not been exposed to having it explained properly, or don't want to get it, as in the hyper anti PC crowd.

The former being why I politely asked about negro, since I do not have the avantage of living in the centre of the universe. Rolling Eyes

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