By James Lewis
Nigger. Nigga. Nigguh. Nucca. Neyeah.
Now that we got the shock value out of the way, let’s discuss.
N-words have been chopped, sautéed, and seasoned and marinated so much-- no wonder they’ve lasted so long. They even have several definitions, depending on the pronunciation, of course. How an individual says them could mean the difference between a punch and an embrace.
“You nigger!” Expect a punch.
“My nigga!” Expect a hug.
Racists with a major dislike for black folks commonly use “nigger”. Some black folks, skilled in flipping so-called bad words into good ones, prefer “nigga”or “nigguh”. For a safer, G-rated version with a dash of humor, go with “nucca”. Rappers and radio DJs sometimes employ a self-censored version that barely sounds like the original with “neyeah”.
Lately, though, it seems each N-word translation has blurred a line to create one meaning: a racial epithet to degrade and offend African Americans. The “a” and “uh” version supposedly symbolize love and friendship, as in: “That’s my nigga!” But it could also forecast an imminent beat-down, as in: “pu**y niggas” or “punk a** nigga”. Where’s the love in that?
To further confuse you, an unwritten rule states no other race can use any of the N-words, including the kindlier, gentler versions. If someone of a different race says an N-word-- no matter which word-- they risk a swift introduction to four guys named, “Knuckles”. If persistent, they may even meet their friends, “Kneecap” and “Elbow”. And we can’t forget, “Foot”. They usually run together.
But why is that? How come other races can’t express love with “safer” N-words, “nigga” or “nucca”? And keep it real: Haven’t N-words become somewhat trendy? Rappers have always led the charge on the latest fads and fashions, including colorful words. I doubt “bling” would have entered the mainstream without catchy rap lyrics— so why can’t a white kid from Beverly Hills say “nigga” to his friend? Whites buy more Rap music than Blacks, anyway!
In defending use of N-words (particularly, the “a” and “uh” versions), the argument has been when using them among black folks, it strips away the malicious power of black degradation. Yet, more times than not, you’ll probably get the same angry you’re-about-to-get-stomped reaction if another race says any N-word, despite the differences in meaning. How is that stripping away the power? I still scratch my head on that one.
Are you confused, too? No? Then check this out:
The late Big Pun and Fat Joe, both Puerto Rican rappers from New York, have used N-words in rap songs. Fat Joe’s hit song, “What’s Love,” used an N-word, but he received no flack. The same year, Puerto Rican singer, Jennifer Lopez (J-Lo), said an N-word in the hit song “I’m Real,” And media hounds called to arms, slamming J-Lo for the “slur heard ‘round the word”. Both songs received major airplay. Both artists are Puerto Rican, but only one got slammed. Confused, now?
But hold on...
Granted, certain segments of society have flipped derogatory words around and used them among themselves for years. One can argue an N-word has the same magnum force of racism against Blacks as the B-word has against women (same as the F-word for homosexuals). Yet, women jokingly call each other “bitch” all the time. “Bitch, please”— sounds familiar?
I’ve heard homosexuals call each other “fag”. Even Whites aren’t immune: an Asian wouldn’t dare call a white man “honkey” to his face, but more than one country song has “honkytonk” in the lyrics. N-words stand on higher ground, though. And that’s not a good thing, either.
Rarely have words stirred up more controversy and arguments and debates on a national soapbox than N-words. Blacks have heard N-words while kicked, whipped, slapped, punched, spat either on or at, and in some cases, lynched. No matter how you say them, N-words still hold traces of hatred (including self-hatred)— a stark reminder Blacks should stay in their place.
Explaining and defending N-words is enough to give someone a fever, but I have the right kind of aspirin to kill the headaches.
Ready? This may be too radical for some, but here goes...
Stop using N-words.
Due to the TNT nature and ugly history, let’s just kill them. All versions. No more N-words.
I know, I know. Extreme stuff at work here.
Really, do we need them, anyway? Do they make your teeth whiter? Help you lose weight? Save you gas money? Probably not.
So why use them? If comedians Paul Mooney and the late great Richard Pryor--both pioneers of incorporating N-words in comedy routines, by the way--chose to wipe them from their vocabularies, why not other people? I doubt Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to Jesse Jackson as: “My nigga!” Speaking of Jesse Jackson, he led a movement to bury N-words a few years ago--only to get caught on audio using them in casual conversation about a certain presumptive presidential candidate named, Barack Obama, (you might have heard of him). By the way, dumb hypocritical move, Jesse.
So just kill N-words. There is too much drama associated with them, don’t you think? But, imagine the ripple effect. Would rappers lose revenue by replacing "nigga" with say, "brotha"? If so, that's pretty sad, if you really think about it. I wonder if a rapper’s contract includes a mandatory N-word quota per song before money hits the table.
Animated characters have jumped on the N-word train, too. One of the funniest shows on TV is the "The Boondocks". N-words get ample airplay per episode. One episode even parodied "The Exorcist" when the “Ignorant Nigga” demon possessed a man who neither cursed nor said any N-word. But if you slice N-words from "The Boondocks," I'd bet the show wouldn't lose the funny. The Simpsons lasted twenty years without saying one N-word! I’m sure
“The Boondocks” would have no problem staying alive without them.
Bottom line, it’s clear to me N-words hurt more than help. White supremacists probably love how they tricked us into using a word their racist ancestors called some poor black soul before strapping him to a tree and making strange fruit, if you know what I mean.
N-words are like roaches--they just don’t seem to die. We can change that, though. Anything’s possible, but if it’s too hard for some folks to wash their mouths of N-words, maybe we can get away with “neyeah.”.
The End
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