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« The View
The 'n' word....
I agree with Whoppi, there are a lot of unresolved and very serious issues with racism concerning African Americans in our country. I also agree that when we refer to our own race in negative terms such as the 'n' word, we don't insult ourselves as much as we are insulted when other racial groups use negative terms in negative ways. However,I also agree with Elizabeth, we should not use demeaning words that devalue our own race and traditions. In such cases as the 'n' word being used in the media, this rule should apply equally across the board, black, white or other. Whoppi was obviously expressing herself out of her own pain and frustration due to the racism that has been directed at her and her fellow African Americans, understandably so. However, I do think that Elizabeth did not deserve to be reamed by Whoppi attempts to explain her point of view. Elizabeth was respectful and deserved some respect in return, and I do believe an apology from Whoppi on the air is in order. I also think that Senator Obama is doing an excellent job at balancing white and black issues in his campaign, and is doing a great service to both the African American and white communities, as well as other ethnic groups. Whether he is elected President or not, he will go down in history for his great contribution. Good Show-I love the view. Deb in IN.U.S.A.
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Jul 17, 2008 1:39 PM
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Personally, I thought times are long gone when the "n" word meant something demeaning...well, looks like I was mistaken.
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Jul 17, 2008 3:34 PM
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I really can't stand Elizabeth and I really think that Whoppi nailed it, passionately and respectfully. I don't care if she thinks it's a double standard or not. We as black people have the right to make it a double standard because of all the abuse that was thrust upon us. I am black and filipina and have a SUPER diverse family. I have white, black, filipino, latino and more in my family and as a black person I better not hear that word coming from NO ones mouth if you're not black, bottom line. Sorry, that's just the way it is. It really burns me up how white people are like "If I can't say it, no one should!" You know what, were ya'll the ones experiencing all this racisim and hatred just cause of your skin color? No. So if I want to take the word that was used, by white people, to hurt, abuse and degrade my ancestors and use it as a term of endearment to my black friends and loved ones, I have that right. And if we, as black people, want to say you cannot, guess what? We earned that right to do so as well. White people like Elizabeth are so quick to say that we live in the same world, how would you know?!? Your not black lady! It makes me feel like she's just whining, as if she's a little kid in a whiney voice saying "If you can't say it then no one should." I guess she's just not used to being denied something cause of her race...
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Jul 17, 2008 6:41 PM
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First of all, I think it's absolutely ridiculous that we as people other than "African Americans" need to watch what we say and how we say it around, to and about black people while black people call us crackers and spics etc... If they want to call themselves the n word fine, BUT if were all equal and yada yada yada which is what black people have wanted or so they've say anyway, then don't expect other non blacks to refrain from calling them an n. Besides, before black people claimed the word it was used in the 1700s to disrespect the Irish. Just a little history lesson lol. Anyway, if we're to be equal, completely, then there can't be any double stanards. And, from what I've seen all over, I think black people create drama because they can't leave alone what was done to their ancestors. GET OVER IT! It's done! Nothing can be done about it! Stop bringing it up, everyone but them are OVER IT!
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Jul 17, 2008 10:24 PM
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Honestly, this is a ridiculous conversation...nobody should say the "n" word, and nobody should defend somebody that does. And anyone who says that we live in different worlds is just holding people back and part of the problem. And what's up with having to call black people African American but white people are white people? You want me to call someone who is several generations American African, well then you better call me German-American. Obama is doing an "excellent" job because he has a ton of people telling him the perfect thing to say. I see no contribution...just words.
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Jul 17, 2008 11:34 PM
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The only way to ever get complete equality is to completely do away with the institution of race. It should be removed from all apllications and forms, no special consideration should be given to any race, and I would go as far as to say job interviews should be conducted in a way so that the inteviewer does not know what race the interviewee is. This will deffinitely set some people behind and leave them at a disadvantage. Such is life. There are numerous examples of persecuted groups pulling themselves out of dispair; Jews, Irish, Japanese, Italians etc. The n word is not the issue. The problem is black and white people view themselves as inherently different because society tells them they are. One should not identify themselves as black or white. On that note Im off to watch some http://www.digitalfuntown.com/homepage.php
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Jul 18, 2008 11:21 AM
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I personally find it ironic that white people are all in an uproar about finally something being denied to them cause of thier race and want an all across the board equality rule. Too funny. Get over it.
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Jul 18, 2008 12:05 PM
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All "N words" are distasteful, whether they end in a, o or r, as are the multi-hued individuals that claim the tags nowadays.
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Jul 18, 2008 4:50 PM
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It blows me away that blacks can say such a horrible word to each other without remembering how the word originated.
When they do say it to each other, how do they define it? They say it has a different meaning, so what is it??
And if a white person said it to a black person with the black-to-black definition, is that okay??
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Jul 18, 2008 5:17 PM
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negropinoace, we're (as a race) being denied the right to talk badly? Speaking for myself, I don't want to talk badly about another race having had friends from all over the world. A few of my best friends have been African American. I'm just trying to understand why a word with such a horribly hurtful history is being said by the race that the white people, at the time, hurt. Shame on them by the way. I will never understand how those whites could have acted that way. We're all human - we have many more similarities than differences. I'm rambling ... 
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Jul 18, 2008 5:32 PM
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softserve, to answer your question, I personally don't think that any other race but black people should say it but that varies from person to person in the black community. One of my black friends is cool with any minority saying it as long as they aren't white. My brother in law, who is Filipino, grew up in a black neighborhood and feels comfortable saying it even though I don't like it. However he's fam so I don't get worked up about it. Also because he doesn't say it around me or refer to me as that because he respects my feelings about it. My black friends and I use it as a term of endearment. For example, say I have a friend named B and someone steps to me and says "Hey do you know B?" I would say "Oh yeah, that's my n***a! We go way back." The point being that black people took something that white people used to try to break them down and instead of just allowing them to do so, flipped it and turned it into something that we can claim as our own. People who post that no one should use the "n" word I feel should just follow their own advice. I'm assuming that they are white, and if I'm correct what pain are you caused? If you don't want to say it don't. Problem solved. I feel it only brings up painfull memories if a white person says it. I'm not all bitter and sad thinking about what my ancestors went through when my friends and I are around saying n***a. I only feel hurt and anger when I hear a white person saying that word.
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Jul 18, 2008 7:45 PM
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Much ado about nothing? Looks like.
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Jul 19, 2008 1:42 PM
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Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
So begins a song that can bring tears into my eyes,(white skin tones male) even at age 67...
I suspect many sing the song, love the song, yet know Not its origins...
I suspect, is a song loved by many a person with black skin tones...
Written by John Newton, a former slaver...
http://www.texasfasola.org/biographies/johnnewton.html (Full story here)
What I love most about this song, these words, is the Grace of self Love and (Forgiveness) For giving self Love... Allowing Love, Warmth and Light in, chasing away the darkness of the Soul... Allowing that Love, Warmth and Light within, to radiate out to those around us...
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
The "N" word, no matter how it is spun or portrayed, will NEVER, IMHO, be a word of Love, Warmth, Light and Grace...
WE do NOT now need shackled to the "N" word, to achieve Love, Light, Warmth and Grace... And, I speak from a Spiritual, not from the Religious...
Used affectionately? I do NOT believe so, in a true, deep, heartfelt way... More to actually keep the heart at a "safe" distance...
Knowing the Story of Amazing Grace, adds Heart, to the Power, and Beauty, of this wonderful Song for me...
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Jul 19, 2008 5:31 PM
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Keep it simple so everyone understands. Ban the word from everyones vocabulary and it will dissapear.
No one can change it into a "good" word.
No one!
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Jul 19, 2008 8:29 PM
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I think Whoopi is dead on. By taking the word and making it your own, you get rid of it's power. We are currently doing the same thing. We are running a comedy in NYC, "feminazi" (the n-word for women). By taking this word and holding it up to the light for what it really is, we are breaking it down and making it powerless.
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Jul 20, 2008 1:13 AM
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