1 post from March 2007

“ City Council bans the use of the N-word

banned the word nigger yesterday in a symbolic crackdown on the widespread use of the term in hip-hop songs, in films, and on the city's streets.”

Guardian

The term ‘nigger’, though historically utilised as a derogatory term of dis-endearment in reference to those of African biological origin, now serves a different purpose.  When used between ‘blacks’, it is used to indicate an alternative and subsidiary identity to that of the all-encompassing ‘national’ one.  However, when used by ‘whites’ and non-‘blacks’, it is still viewed as a derogatory term. 

This is an interesting phenomenon. 

Firstly, we see a people being widely and derogatorily referred to via the term ‘nigger’ – in the colonial and early post-colonial period.  In this phase, when a ‘black’ uses the term, s/he accepts her subjugated and ‘inferior’ status as a real one – whether s/he agrees with it or not.  However, in the following phase, and especially with the elevation of ‘black’ culture, which was a reaction against the attributed inferior status, the term ‘nigger’ took on a meaning different to the preceding phase.  Here, the term begins to be re-associated with the relatively elevated status of the ‘black’ whilst its antagonistic position in relation to the ‘whites’ remains - which is especially so since this new culture was borne of reaction against 'white' domination as opposed to a culture that emerges in non-antagonistic integrationist or assimilationist fusion with the existing culture.  The term ‘nigger’ begins to mean, “We made it despite you whilst amongst you.  Thus, we are we and you are you.”  The ‘racist’ term thus takes on a racist meaning only when used by ‘whites’ as the new meaning of the word is drawn built and drawn along the same lines as it once was.  This is when it becomes a racialist term when used by 'blacks' that views the 'whites' as a society apart. 

Thus the ‘nigger nation’ is formed - consciously and conscientiously aware of their roots as a nation treated shabbily by the colonial banditry, and, as equally aware of, or believing that their elevation was achieved despite the progeny of their enslavers and the underdevelopmental path that had been plotted for them.

"At its worst, the N-word is the ultimate form of disrespect against black people. It is a dangerous snake which is liable to bite," he [Roy Miller] told the Guardian.

- Roy Miller, a lawyer from , , was invited to speak to a committee of the council when it debated the resolution on Monday.

What Roy fails to realise is that in its best form, it is a sign of ultimate respect when used by ‘blacks’ on ‘blacks’ in a variety of contexts as it serves as a constant reminder and acknowledgement that the once subjugated ‘nigger’ is now, relatively speaking, a triumphant one.  The ‘nigger’ has redefined the social status formerly associated with the word whilst keeping the word as a symbol of their triumph over what they were intended to be by their colonial masters – the same applies in the case of ‘blacks’ exchanging ‘chains of slavery’ to ‘chains of gold’.  If racist terms are utilised less in the course of a nation’s history, it is usually because the developmental path and persona of the marginalised were fused with the privileged.  If this is not the case, as it is in this context, it is a sign that the development of the marginalised is perceived by them to be apart from the ‘whites’ – and especially where these once racist terms are used by the marginalised on themselves despite their relatively elevated status.  This is a case of prior racism begetting racialism - where the 'blacks' view themselves as a group apart from rather than a part of.

Such usage of the 'N-word' is a subconscious recognition of their being a nation apart despite the nation they are all a part of.

If the New York City council wants to relegate the ‘N-word’ to the dustbin of history, they ought to do so in appreciation of the aforementioned perspective, and do so for the sake of undermining the currently observed historically antagonistic relationship between the ‘Nigger’ and the white via, amongst other means, the term ‘nigger’.

usa news racism discrimination racialism sociology uk slavery