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Discussion: The "N" Word Debate
Member Since: 6/1/2010
Posts: 65,177
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Also, not all black people use the word or accept their own people using it. So, that's why I don't think a white person should use it just because a select few are using it in the black race. There are still people who view the word as offensive, no matter who says it. The whole "if blacks are allowed to use it, then white people should use it" argument becomes redundant.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 19,718
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Quote:
Originally posted by uhoh-ohno
So, black people shouldn't use the word because their oppressors have a problem being called racist when they use it?
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No. They shouldn't use it because they don't want any other race to use it. It's as simple as that. If you know what you're doing is right, then why get up in arms when others do the same?
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Originally posted by Benzene
That's really not for you to decide. As was stated eons ago, it will always be offensive when non-blacks say the N-word, heterosexuals say the F-word, men say bitch/****/c-word, etc. These are just accepted social conventions. Again, I do not see why anyone would want to say the word so badly to the point that it merits debate. I'm straight and I don't feel "restricted" or oppressed by not being able to say the F-word without uproar. I honestly don't get it.
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Yes, to a degree it is up to me to decide. And I've decided not to perpetuate ignorance. I hold everyone to the same standard. I view everyone as more than their skin color. There's not a thing I refuse my white friends to say that I allow my black friends to say and vice versa.
I'm sure no one is itching to use it. The point for debate comes from the issue that arises when a person of another race uses it because they perceive it to be harmless and are instantly told off. Bottomline, I'm not here for double standards.
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Member Since: 10/18/2011
Posts: 1,449
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I wouldn't use the word unless singing a song
My Grandma used to call people it growing up She said it wasn't in an offensive manner it's just what they called a shade of brown e.g pencils called n-brown
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 5,259
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Quote:
Originally posted by Wick
Right, these are the same people who complain that there's a Black Entertainment Channel, calling it ''reverse racism'' while failing to get that EVERY other channel is White Entertainment
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No, every other channel is entertainment, unless you are implying black people never watch/should not be allowed to watch channels other than BET. It's stupid to suggest your skin color means you can't enjoy a certain form of entertainment, trust america to once again bring race into everything
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Banned
Member Since: 6/25/2011
Posts: 37,192
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Okay, let's get a little history lesson here, people:
Black Entertainment Television was directly founded as a response to the LACK of African American characters, particularly in leading roles, in American television, a phenomena that continues to exist in mainstream media. For example, LOST and The Walking Dead, two of the most successful ensemble dramas of the 2000s, both FAIL to have black characters in non-peripheral roles. This isn't necessarily racism, it's storytelling, and sometimes characters are going to be white, that's how it is, I understand.
However, BET was founded as a RESPONSE to this, so as to present television programming with strong black leads, regardless if that is what it has become over time. It is not "racist" or some sort of "reverse racism" to establish television designed to correct a balance that you see with portrayals in media.
THAT is why there isn't "White Entertainment Television," or a "Straight Pride Parade," or things like that, because whites, or straights do not look at the media and FAIL to see an accurate representation of their culture.
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Member Since: 11/20/2011
Posts: 3,275
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Quote:
Originally posted by Wick
Right, these are the same people who complain that there's a Black Entertainment Channel, calling it ''reverse racism'' while failing to get that EVERY other channel is White Entertainment
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This!
To them, racism is a mere benign thing based on a dictionary definition regarding discrimination on the basis of skin color. So, by that definition anyone can be racist as long as they have some sort of prejudice, i.e. (BET is racist because its name and programming)
People in social justice circles use the more complex and more accurate sociological definition of racism, which defines racism as more than mere prejudice, in favor of racism as prejudice plus power.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 19,718
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
A black man using the word doesn't make a white man using the word any righter.
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And a white man not using the word doesn't make a black man using the word any more right.
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 5,259
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jameson Teqkilla
Okay, let's get a little history lesson here, people:
Black Entertainment Television was directly founded as a response to the LACK of African American characters, particularly in leading roles, in American television, a phenomena that continues to exist in mainstream media. For example, LOST and The Walking Dead, two of the most successful ensemble dramas of the 2000s, both FAIL to have black characters in non-peripheral roles. This isn't necessarily racism, it's storytelling, and sometimes characters are going to be white, that's how it is, I understand.
However, BET was founded as a RESPONSE to this, so as to present television programming with strong black leads, regardless if that is what it has become over time. It is not "racist" or some sort of "reverse racism" to establish television designed to correct a balance that you see with portrayals in media.
THAT is why there isn't "White Entertainment Television," or a "Straight Pride Parade," or things like that, because whites, or straights do not look at the media and FAIL to see an accurate representation of their culture.
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You are right but hat does not mean every other channel is "White entertainment channel" I mean what a dumbass claim to make.
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Member Since: 6/1/2010
Posts: 65,177
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Quote:
Originally posted by VAN de
And a white man not using the word doesn't make a black man using the word any more right.
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I don't disagree with this. However, as said many times, white people CAN use the word, but be ready for the aftermath of it all. This way of thinking will continue to be. There's no changing it.
Quote:
Originally posted by Thisisit
You are right but hat does not mean every other channel is "White entertainment channel" I mean what a dumbass claim to make.
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I think that where Wick was trying to go with his post. It just didn't come out right.
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Member Since: 3/5/2011
Posts: 15,589
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Quote:
Originally posted by Thisisit
No, every other channel is entertainment, unless you are implying black people never watch/should not be allowed to watch channels other than BET. It's stupid to suggest your skin color means you can't enjoy a certain form of entertainment, trust america to once again bring race into everything
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Quite the opposite.
I remember the time Gossip Girl had absolutely NO black characters, for like the first three seasons.
I was like, seriously? No black people in the Upper East Side?
Same goes for 90210. Apart from Dixon (who's adopted) + the chick from season 3 who had HIV/AIDS, there are like no black characters.
It's all cool though, i guess.
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Banned
Member Since: 6/25/2011
Posts: 37,192
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Quote:
Originally posted by Thisisit
You are right but hat does not mean every other channel is "White entertainment channel" I mean what a dumbass claim to make.
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It's really not though. It's a bit of a misphrase, but it's not that far off.
You can count on just about EVERY other channel on TV to feature a variety of white people from different sexes, classes, jobs, lifestyles, weights, appearances, levels of success etc. This is NOT true for many marginalized minority groups!
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Banned
Member Since: 11/2/2011
Posts: 910
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Quote:
Originally posted by VAN de
No. They shouldn't use it because they don't want any other race to use it. It's as simple as that. If you know what you're doing is right, then why get up in arms when others do the same?
Yes, to a degree it is up to me to decide. And I've decided not to perpetuate ignorance. I hold everyone to the same standard. I view everyone as more than their skin color. There's not a thing I refuse my white friends to say that I allow my black friends to say and vice versa.
I'm sure no one is itching to use it. The point for debate comes from the issue that arises when a person of another race uses it because they perceive it to be harmless and are instantly told off. Bottomline, I'm not here for double standards.
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I see that you're averse to double-standards, so do you believe that the opposite gender should be able to use the b-word, men should be able to hit women, people of all religions should be able to use the word kike, or should the usage of the b-word and kike, and hitting one another be eradicated? I'm genuinely asking without any veiled sarcasm.
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Member Since: 11/20/2011
Posts: 3,275
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[QUOTE=VAN de;8765085] No. They shouldn't use it because they don't want any other race to use it. It's as simple as that. If you know what you're doing is right, then why get up in arms when others do the same?
That's a fallacious argument because blacks aren't being racist to one another when they use the word. However, white people using it in reference to blacks would, more often than not, be racist.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 19,718
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Quote:
Originally posted by uhoh-ohno
Second of all, you can't take color out of the equation. We do not live in a color blind, race blind world. That is some real white liberal bingo nonsense used to try to silence people of color or blacks, in this case, when whites think they're getting too huffy about race.
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I realize that was a gross over-generalization since blacks like me hate any use of the word other than in an educational context, but the point had to be made. If blacks that use "******" won't raise themselves to a higher standard, they shouldn't expect others to.
Though I realize this debate is testament to the fact that race is still an issue, I strongly believe taking color out of the equation is a first, crucial step to living in a color blind, race blind world.
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Member Since: 12/7/2011
Posts: 21,578
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Quote:
Originally posted by uhoh-ohno
That's a fallacious argument because blacks aren't being racist to one another when they use the word. However, white people using it in reference to blacks would, more often than not, be racist.
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I would have to disagree , even though black people aren't exactly being racist with one another using the word the word itself was used to mock black people back in the day so aren't they technically mocking themselves using it, despite whatever reason they are using the word today its history cannot be denied.
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Member Since: 7/15/2010
Posts: 3,610
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Quote:
Originally posted by Thisisit
No, every other channel is entertainment, unless you are implying black people never watch/should not be allowed to watch channels other than BET. It's stupid to suggest your skin color means you can't enjoy a certain form of entertainment, trust america to once again bring race into everything
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I'm not saying its not entertainment for black people, I'm just saying there aren't many characters they can identify with African Americans are the stars of SUCH A MINIMAL
amount of shows. As are Asians, gay people, etc. which is why there are channels like BET and LOGO, to counteract the lack of diversity. And any gay characters on any show are stereotyped anyway, as are most blacks
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Member Since: 7/15/2010
Posts: 3,610
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jameson Teqkilla
It's really not though. It's a bit of a misphrase, but it's not that far off.
You can count on just about EVERY other channel on TV to feature a variety of white people from different sexes, classes, jobs, lifestyles, weights, appearances, levels of success etc. This is NOT true for many marginalized minority groups!
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Yes, thank you. Which brings back to the OT, because blacks are marginalized and still oppressed by the usage of the N word, it is their choice whether or not to use it. Perhaps they are empowered by it, that's their call. But for a white person to use it, is wrong. That's not ''unfair'' that's social justice. Those marginalized by the word set the terms for the word.
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Member Since: 11/20/2011
Posts: 3,275
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Quote:
Originally posted by SLAYANNA NAVY
I would have to disagree , even though black people aren't exactly being racist with one another using the word the word itself was used to mock black people back in the day so aren't they technically mocking themselves using it, despite whatever reason they are using the word today its history cannot be denied.
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I'm sorry, but I do not understand this. What are you saying, now? Are you saying that black people calling each other N words are the same as white people calling blacks n words?
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 5,259
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
I don't disagree with this. However, as said many times, white people CAN use the word, but be ready for the aftermath of it all. This way of thinking will continue to be. There's no changing it.
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[redneck]You CAN hold hands with your gay partner in public, but be ready for the blood-splattered aftermath :shrugs:[/redneck]
Quote:
Originally posted by Damien M
Quite the opposite.
I remember the time Gossip Girl had absolutely NO black characters, for like the first three seasons.
I was like, seriously? No black people in the Upper East Side?
Same goes for 90210. Apart from Dixon (who's adopted) + the chick from season 3 who had HIV/AIDS, there are like no black characters.
It's all cool though, i guess.
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So you're saying black people can't/aren't allowed to enjoy TV shows with a lack of black characters? Are white, asian and hispanic people allowed to enjoy Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or would this go against the great racial agenda of the US?
Quote:
Originally posted by uhoh-ohno
That's a fallacious argument because blacks aren't being racist to one another when they use the word. However, white people using it in reference to blacks would, more often than not, be racist.
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You are right that when a white person says ****** they are more likely to be being racist than when a black person says it. But the racist ones should face social backlash for being racist, not because they're white and used a slang word
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Banned
Member Since: 11/2/2011
Posts: 910
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Quote:
Originally posted by SLAYANNA NAVY
I would have to disagree , even though black people aren't exactly being racist with one another using the word the word itself was used to mock black people back in the day so aren't they technically mocking themselves using it, despite whatever reason they are using the word today its history cannot be denied.
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No, they aren't mocking themselves. Acknowledge it if you want, but blacks use a truncated version of the word. That right there should tell anyone that blacks are using the word dissociatively.
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