Nigger

I don’t give myself enough credit. People tell me this, and my therapist tells me this. It is very gratifying to read some of my work from my past and be pleased with it. I am very proud of my worked entitled “Nigger.”

As people who know me personally would tell you, I love controversy. I wrote this paper for my composition class and got an A. I enjoyed writing it, and I enjoyed reading it just now.

I further hope that even you do not enjoy reading it; it at least makes you think.

Please leave feedback, positive or negative.

Nigger

By Noel Reichel

Nigger.

How do you feel?

Nigger.

Are you angry? Perhaps you are wondering what my race is and will decide how you feel based on that. Perhaps you are offended no matter what my race is. Maybe, and this is unfortunate, you are glad to read the word nigger and you are hoping that I am going to write that White people are superior to African Americans. There is no other word in the English language that can elicit such strong emotion like the word nigger.

“There’s like a civil war going on right now with black people and there’s two sides: black people and niggers.”

–Chris Rock

In the Chris Rock routine “Niggas vs. Black People” Chris Rock attempts explaining the differences between niggers and African Americans and also explains that not all African Americans are niggers. The meanings of words are constantly being reinvented. The word “decimate” originally meant to reduce by one tenth. Now it means to utterly destroy. But can the meaning of such a controversial word ever be changed? Should it be changed? Should anyone ever use the word “nigger?” Is it only African Americans that can use it, or can people of other races as well? We are going to look at these questions in this paper.

            The word “nigger” is a derivative of the word “niger” which is from the Latin and means “black.” In 1679 John Ralph used the word “negar” to describe African slaves. It is uncertain if he meant it as a derogatory term however. As the word nigger came to form it was not always used as a pejorative. In the writings of Charles Dickens the word is clearly used without ill intent. By the 1800’s the word had clearly become one filled with vile and contempt. (Kennedy, 2004)

            In A Treatise on the Intellectual Character and Civil and Political Condition of the Colored People of the United States: and the Prejudice Exercised Toward Them (1837) it was written by Hosea Easton the that word nigger

is an opprobrious term, employed to impose contempt upon [blacks] as an inferior race… The term in itself would be perfectly harmless were it used only to distinguish one class of society from another; but it is not used with that intent…[I]t flows from the fountain of purpose to injure. (Easton, 1837, pp.40-41)

            History has not recorded how precisely the word “niger” became the word “nigger.” It has also not recorded how a simple and well-meaning word morphed into the most controversial word in the English language. However, there is no denying the fact that it did. Not only is the definition controversial, but the subject of who may use that word is mired in controversy.

“Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor can say nigger. Why? Because ther’re niggers.” –George Carlin

            The word nigger is used in many different contexts. One only has to listen to rap music to know that every time it is used it is not used to hurt. It is not uncommon for an African American to call his or her close friend his or her "niggers”. One almost never hears a White person say this.

George Carlin makes the point that African Americans can use it freely because it is clear when they are trying to use it to hurt. Carlin makes the further point that motivation is what is important when using any word. The word is not bad in and of itself, even a word like “nigger”, but the motivation and feelings behind that particular usage of the word may be bad.

This is certainly a fair point but it discounts the feelings of those that have been hurt by this word. Sure a White person can say it without malice but should an African American that over hears it give the benefit of the doubt? It would seem that nobody needs to say this word. It may be convenient, as when using it in the positive sense it is part of the vernacular of some social groups.

One only needs to listen to the latest hip-hop singles to know that nigger is used often. Pioneering hip-hop group N.W.A., which stands for Nigga’s With Attitude, show where they stand on the issue by their very name. Furthermore in the song “Always into Something” it is said “Yo, cuz I'm a nigga for life And I really don't give a fuck (N.W.A., 1991).”  In this case, as with some of hip-hop music, the intention of using the derivative of nigger, nigga, is not an attempt to put positive connotations on the word but simply enforce its negative connotations. It is used as a self-description of a person who puts themselves above others and will do as he wants without caring about retribution from the law, or anybody for that matter.

            This seems in line with what Rock is trying to say in his stand-up routine. Whereas Rock is making the point that being a nigger is negative thing N.W.A. portrays being a nigga as a positive thing. This is an interesting development with the word indeed! People are now describing themselves as niggas because of the negative meanings. How then can it have a positive meaning that is largely accepted? Some say it cannot and that nigger should die.

            There was an organized attempt to bury the word nigger. On July 9, 2007 the NAACP held a funeral for the word nigger. It was held in Detroit and was part of the 9th Annual Convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. A horse drawn carriage with a pinewood coffin adorned with the word “nigga” was led from Cobo Hall to Hart Plaza. (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 2007)

            An obituary for the word nigger was read and it was made clear that many were glad nigger was dead.

            Today, we will lay the word nigger to rest. We will no longer make “nigger” familiar or a part of our family. We will bury its offensive usage among people of all races, including African Americans… We promise to be more creative in our rap lyrics, more respectful to our ancestors, more diligent in our fight for freedom…. Nigger has terrorized us, but he has not beaten us, we have overcome him and we celebrate the end of his existence in our community. We officially declare him DEAD! We will not revive, resurrect, or recover him! We will rebuke, resist, and revoke him in the name of pride and progress…Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust If God won’t have him The Devil Must. (Lanier, McLaughlin, & Palmer, 2007)

            People may wish nigger was dead, but nigger is very much alive. The rumors of Nigger’s death have been greatly exaggerated. One can still find music with nigger, movies with nigger, and video games with nigger. Nigger seemed not to know that he should be dead. People may love nigger, people may hate nigger, but nigger is here to stay.

            So what are we to do now? Should use of the word nigger cease altogether? Or should it only be used to describe one who has low expectations and lives a life of sponging off of the system with little effort? In this way it can be used for any race. Or can it be used as a term of endearment?

            It is my belief that nigger should continue to be used. Furthermore, it should be used with positive connotations. The use of the word nigger will never cease. Even it every person who is not a racist stopped using it the racists still would, and then the racists will win. The word then would only be used to hurt. But if people can use the word in a familiar way, “What’s up my nigger?”, a playfully chiding way with no ill intent, “Nigger please!”, or like in the title to Richard Pryor’s album to express how funny one is, “That Niggers Crazy” then the racists have lost their greatest weapon. No longer can a six letter word cause so much controversy and hurt feelings. The racists will not be able to sit back and call people niggers while people debate about its definition. Once their weapon is in the hands of common people of every race in America the use of the word to hurt will hurt less. In time it may even be as corny to call a African American “nigger” as to call a White “cracker” As a White person I must admit, however, that I do not have the courage to start using nigger in these terms.  

           

References

Easton, H. (1837). A Treatise on the Intellectual Character and Civil and Political Condition of the Colored People of the United States: and the Prejudice Exercised Toward Them. 40-41.

Kennedy, Randall (2004) Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word. Vintage.

Lanier, V., McLaughlin, E., & Palmer, A. (2007) Obituary for the N-Word.

N.W.A. (1991) Always Into Something. On Niggaz4Life [CD]. Ruthless/Priority.

Rock, Chris (1998) Niggas vs. White People, Bring the pain.