Post civil rights movement blacks took the word from racists by changing it from nigger to nigga. Nigga is supposed to mean friend. The word was supposedly reinvented and meant something entirely different. People were just conforming with each other and lost their way when they came up with this. Then blacks took pride in being “niggas”, a variation of a word they just spent generations fighting. “Nigger” oppressed black people for hundreds of years, people died fighting against that slur, just because an ‘A’ was added at the end, and all of a sudden it’s…
People of different races use the word “nigga”—especially the younger generation of the America—however, using either n-word is still very offensive to people of all races. For instance, Tehran Von Ghasri, an African-American actor, said, “I’m still uncomfortable with [a] white guy saying, ‘You’re cool nigga.’ But in 25 years, I would hope that my kid’s not uncomfortable—because that white guy wouldn’t mean it in a demeaning, degrading way.” What Ghasri’s sentiments about the use of “nigga” by non-blacks reveal is that some African-Americans are still ambivalent about its use outside of the black community. By Von Ghasri explaining how he does not feel comfortable being called “nigga,” clearly illustrates the negative connotation of the word…
. Invariably, this word (which originally denoted the color black and was used simply to differentiate a genetic trait) became a racial slur that has proven to be more detrimental to a particular group than any other put-…
In this cartoon, Mike Luckovich is referring to the controversial use of the word “nigger” within Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Luckovich wants his audience to note the changes in the meaning of the “n-word” over time. In the early 19th century, the “n-word” was a common term used to identify an African American. In today’s society, this word can often be heard throughout pop culture and rap lyrics, which is why the young boy has mistakenly referred to Mark Twain as one of the great “gangsta rappers.” However, Luckovich uses this scenario to indirectly explain that since the “n-word” is considered an acceptable identification of an African American in modern music, why should it not be allowed within Twain’s work?…
Throughout the essay, written by Peaches Henry, Henry reviews a collection of salient points, one that point that seemed to emerge was, “The word nigger to colored people of high and low degree is like a red rag to a bull” (Henry 388). This quote shows the satire that Henry is trying to point out with using the bull and a red flag. By using this example of the bull and the flag shows how the people would react to the N-word. She tries to emphasize a problem that is recurring in society and possibly bring attention to it.…
In today’s African American community, many speak and use a different form of “standard” English. Ebonics is a form of English that was established by the early US slaves in search of a reliable means of communication. During slavery, there were laws which mandated that any person caught teaching a slave to read or write could be fined and/or put in jail. This left them to fend for themselves and create their own form of communication. As time has progressed, the Black slag, known as Ebonics, is recognized by many as a less sophisticated form of English. From a linguistics stand point, the use of this slang leads to a negative reflection on the people within the African American culture. And it should be noted, this can be said for any culture within a society’s norms for language. The use of Ebonics merely handicaps the African American society and limits their success and respectability among the educated world due to its negative connotations and…
A trashy and racist book wouldn't be allowed in classrooms. The novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, is receiving negative attention. The dominant problem that students, parents, teachers, and even professors, face , is the usage of the n-word. After reading this adventurous story, it is hard to find the problem that is upsetting many people. Therefore, this incredible novel should continue to be in the high school curriculum because it offers students a realistic historical background, it receives numerous positive reactions, and the meaning of the word nigger, (referred to as the n-word) is changing over time.…
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the word “nigger” is used a great amount of times. This word has a purpose and the argument over if it should be removed or not continues to occur. If the word was to be removed, Huck Finn would no longer be Huck Finn anymore. In a video discussing the n word, David Bradley states, “But to tamper with the author’s words because of the sensibilities of present-day readers is unacceptable. The minute you do this, the minute this stops being the book that Twain wrote” (Bradley).…
The reason being that it comes with too big of a price and would be useless as a permanent solution. Bauer discusses the aftermath of Rahm Emanuel’s use of the R-word being that government fought to remove the term “mental retardation” from government agencies and state codes.They used this to contrast the origins of the word’s use, to convey dignity and respect. Their argument being that no matter how many times we purge words with negative connotations and replace them, taboos would just materialize once more, as can be seen in the replacement of the word idiot. Bauer also said that if a word is too stigmatized people develop what she calls a “word fetish”. This phenomena is backed by the writings of Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy, making it credible information. The example provided to back both claims was the case of David Howard nearly being fired for using the word “niggardly”. Overall Bauer’s evidence for this claim support her arguments well. She makes it clear that restrictions on speech create needless taboos and government restriction.…
“Thoughtful examination of Twain’s use of the word “nigger” can help teach students the importance of understanding the context in which a word is used.” (Apstein). The word can help students learn about how African-Americans were treated and viewed back then. He wanted to show the importance of the word. He couldn’t have just switched out the word for slave, because anyone can be a slave. Also if Twain didn’t want to use that word, he wouldn’t have. Twain put that word in there for a reason, he wanted it to spark conversations and controversy. He wanted the readers to understand what type of language people used back then and how certain people were treated and…
Black Boy by Richard Wright is a memoir that portrays his struggles to live in the wretched Jim Crow south. Throughout the book we see Richard struggle to find his purpose in life and watch him shut the world off from others. Richard portrays that isolating one from society allows them not conform.…
The word “nigger” not only was used to degrade the blacks but also revealed how ignorant the person who used it was.…
In today's generation, people so loosely use the word that is demeaning and caused so much hurt in the past. It is amazing that people have selective amnesia and conveniently forget that the N-word brought among hurt, confusion, death and betrayal. Now people are trying to say that the N-word can be used as a word of endearment, a word that sets apart an enemy from a foe. Of course depending on the tone and nature that the term is spoken in. I have been deeply offended and distraught at the thought that this word could be used in any way uplifting. So many people died not be called that word and now so many people thrive and look forward to being labeled such a terrible word. I have also come to the realization that people that use the…
In this text by Keith Gilyard, “A Legacy of Healing: Words, African American, and Power,” is a text that shows how African Americans and the names that we were called and given in back then [and now] are just a prime example of every race. Also it shows that when someone speaks or says something intimidating, it may give that person power but most of the time it’s just the word that does that to someone. The word Nigger is still used today and is “one of the most potent words used today,” according to Gilyard and I believe it is. Rumors run big and are a huge role in power hungry people, for example there a rumors going around stating that there is an ingredient in fast-food chicken that sterilizes Black males. When people here this they will most likely believe it and a huge uprising will start about businesses that sell chicken. Another big one is that the Reebok sneakers were distributed in South Africa to teach and to help them learn how to survive. In a way this is believable and in his text Gilyard goes on to explain why he and his wife fell into this rumor and believed it was real. This society creates rumors that start statewide debates, in which shows that Words and Language can pertain a huge amount of power if used correctly.…
It is not known when the word nigga started to be used by black African Americans and at what point the term shifted from being one of the most despised hated words known to the race, to being an everyday term widely accepted by the majority of the African American race. But one thing is certain, the words nigga and nigger are now widely realized as actual words and will more than likely continue to change in very drastic ways as they have for years before…