Saturday, July 14, 2007

"NIGGA, PLEASE!"

On Monday, July 9, 2007 the NAACP held a mock funeral in Detroit to “bury” the infamous “N word” –- nigger.

I have just two words in response: Nigga, PLEASE!!

First of all, did you see who attended that “funeral”?

Yup, mostly people of Afrikan descent.

Now, considering that this word was created by, came into popular use by, was “normalized” by generations of white people in this country, and was given its unique power as a racial epithet and tool by white people, this “funeral” would have been more meaningful had it been conducted and solemnized by white people for white people.

After all, during its generations of use by white people –- and make no mistake, this term was one of the ones that Afrikan descendants heard as they were being lynched, raped, and subjected to all kinds of “domestic terrorism” for which we have yet to receive justice or reparations –- every time the term was used, it served to lift them up and tear us down.

And even today, whether that term is used by white citizens or those of Afrikan descent, it serves to do the same.

And –- because we are here to deconstruct everyday manifestations of racism-white supremacy in popular culture -– how “convenient” that just as white people had to go under white hoods to comfortably use the term, the entertainment industry –- long dominated by white men with decision making authority –- chose to promote, uplift, and foist upon the public that one aspect of popular amerikkkan culture which was publicly forbidden them: a gluttony of usage of that word (in songs, rap and hip hop lyrics, movies, etc.).

With most hip-hop and rap music being consumed by young white men, yet another generation is inculcated in the popular amerikkkan sport of “nigger name calling.” Only this time, they can do it without prohibition, in the form of popular music coming out of the unconscious Black mouthpieces of white suits consciously making musical choices in line with the racial history –- including minstrel entertainment history –- of this country.

People like Quentin Tarantino have long been thought of as “cool” and “edgy” as they make careers of generously sprinkling the word “nigger” throughout their movies like butter over popcorn, and the movie-going audience -- both the Black brainwashed and the white beneficiaries of amerikkka’s racial oppression –- gorge on it like starving men and women at a free all-you-can-eat buffet. . .taking their assigned roles on the 21st Century neo-plantation. Smiling “niggas” and their “racially benign friends”, ready for three. . .two. . .one. . .ACTION!!

And so here we are.

With those of Afrikan descent “burying” a derogatory term that they appropriated from white amerikkka, claiming 100% responsibility for its use as if they had invented, popularized, and given the word its power.

And “colorblind” white amerikkka letting them, disassociating itself from that word and action as if it bears no responsibility at all for it, willing to let Black America do the work and carry their burdens for them. . .just like on the plantation.

A more authentic “burying” of the term would have happened had it been white amerikkka admitting to, expressing contrition, and asking repentance for the creation and multi-generational use of the term as its preferred “weapon of mass destruction” that it so long ago unleashed on both Afrikan and Afrikan descendants.

Of course, that did not happen on July 9th. Nor will it.

But when and if it does, I’ll make sure to be at the “funeral” in the front pew.

Until then however -– and trust me on this! -- we’ll see that this “buried” term is just like a vampire: it will keep coming back no matter how many times Black America symbolically kills and “buries” it.

As long as institutional white amerikkka supports its use in popular media; as long as white beneficiaries of the term continue their passionate love affair with it; and as long as unconscious, brainwashed, cynical, and materialistic Afrikan descendants are willing to act as Black minstrels in the white supremacist traveling show, this term will continue to remain in general use, with its popularity unabated.

Final thought: no matter what the skin color of the mouth releasing that poison, this truth remains the same -- when the term is used, white amerikkka is uplifted, according to generations of tradition and power accorded the term, and Afrikan descendants are diminished and belittled by it.

White amerikkka invented and continues to benefit from this term. Let them take responsibility for it, drive a stake in its vampire heart, and bury it.

And to those of Afrikan descent still using the term:

“‘Nigger’ is a racial curse known around the world
and although we say its good, its not
no matter what you’ve heard

On the one hand we say that we
belong to Kings and Queens

Then we call each other ‘nigger’ like
we can change what ‘nigger’ means

See, I can call you ‘nigger’ or I can call you King
I can call you ‘nigger’ or I can call you Queen

‘Nigger’ is not a word that elevates
so we must collectively eliminate that word
that word, that ugly, ugly word.”

From “That Word” by Adar Ayira © 12.06

Moving Forward,


Adar

4 comments:

  1. I was of kind of pissed off that they decided to do this on my birthday.
    They had 31 other days in July as well as the rest of the year. But as WE know they had to make sure that they stay relevant all though what they did was irrelevant. How is an organization who is planning a funeral for the word Nigger still are attached to referring to themselves and their people as colored supposed to be relevant? Do they think that being referred to as Colored is still acceptable in 2007 with all the research that his done about a great history and heritage that WE have that predates all recorded time? WE should go to the NAACP and request they bury the word colored. Colored itself is not much better than Nigger in regards to being a word of empowering identification in 2007. It may have been an upgrade from how WE were referred to before but why still in 2007? Why are WE still holding on to that when WE can empower OURSELVES psychologically in a much better way instead of still identifying OURSELVES in reference to White people? WE still refer to OURSELVES as colored as to differentiate OURSELVES from whites who are uncolored/discolored and WE were here first on this planet? Does that make sense? The NAACP in remaining "COLORED" in 2007 while denouncing the word NIGGER is so hypocritical it is shameful and insulting to those of at least meager intelligence.
    Why in a world that is 90% or better populated by people of color would any population that are people of color refer to themselves as being colored? The NAACP are not about propelling US forward as a people. They want to retain their status as the traditional blah blah blah, who has done blah blah blah
    where blah blah blah was member and a bunch of other blah blah blah rhetoric that leads me to ask "what have you done for me lately".
    I always respected the NAACP for what they have accomplished in the past. But they need to stop using rotary phone tactics and strategy in a cellular phone world and act that has any relevance of assistance to US today except as a nostalgic history lesson. The NAACP is full of it. And I'm being kind.

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  2. Well, as long as you're being kind (laugh)!

    I'd vote for renaming the organization N3ADP myself (NAAADP: National Association for the Advancement of Afrikan Descendant People). . .

    Thank you for your comment.

    In Peace,

    Adar

    July 18, 2007

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Niggerz"?? (laugh)

    Brothers and Sisters, read the post from "Anonymous" carefully.

    Clue #1: This individual does not even have the courage of his/her convictions to use a real name. S/he has to hide behind the word
    "anonymous."

    Clue #2: Notice the language. What does it tell you? (Hint: since when does the Afrikan descendant community use the word "niggerz"?)

    I wish I could make this more of a challenge for you, but the person who posted this does not provide me with much to work with (smile). S/he is just too, too obvious and not at all successful in trying to pass themselves off as an Afrikan descendant.

    The reason that I published his/her post -- despite the profanity, which you all know I'm not into -- is because it is the best example I've seen lately (other than that of the author who wrote the new book with the purpose of discrediting Barack Obama; I won't give it the publicity of mentioning the name) that the white supremacist mindset that birthed that word is still operating today in white amerikkka.

    And here is yet another example of the "pimping" of that word by those outside of our community who try to pass off what is fueling their use of the word by trying to "legitimize" it by passing THEMSELVES off as being "of" the community, even when they are clearly not.

    As I said in my original post, it is white amerikkka who should be "burying" the word. And the fact that it is still being used with such gusto -- as seen in Anonymous' remarks -- is because the word still means something in the white supremacist lexicon -- again as evidenced by Anonymous' post.

    I was going to encourage you to distribute Anonymous' post widely and use it as the cautionary tale it is.

    However, we see so much of this mindset in varying forms; if you are an Afrikan descendant in Amerikkka, you can hardly turn around without bumping into it in one form or another, and some with much higher degrees of originality (sorry, Anonymous, but your post is a rather mundane one in that particular white supremacist rhetorical genre).

    So, the bottom line is: use this
    as a reminder, Brothers and Sisters, that the country in which we live has SUCH a LONG, LONG, LONG way to go in terms of divesting itself of its racist/white supremacist mindset and philosophy.

    Other than that lesson. . .this post doesn't really deserve the energy (smile).

    Okay, Moving Forward!

    Together We Grow,

    Adar

    ReplyDelete
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