I started reading Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None." I thought it was originally published as Ten Little Indians and then edited and published as what I'm reading. I picked up and older copy and noticed that it was actually originally published in London in 1939 as Ten Little Niggers. Yes, niggers; and it was set on Nigger Island. Wow, I could not believe it! Apparently, it tried to publish as the same in America, but we found it too offensive (as it should be/is) and was instead as Indians. Although, this is horrible, I understand that it adds a whole new element to the book. In which case makes me want to read it so I can see if it changes half the point of the story as I think it will.
Looking into all this I noticed not much has changed in the thinking of a lot of Londoners. I'm not saying they all are the same. But from what I have found on the internet, the mentality of blacks and whites are still segregated over there. I always wanted to go over there, but now I'm thinking otherwise. I encounter racism here, but I think it's taken to a whole new level over there, and I'm not excited to find out anytime soon. I do hope I'm wrong, but what do you know or think of racism in London?
I'm finished looking for today but this was one of the most offensive I've seen:
http://thisis50.com/forum/topics/nigger-nigga-nigger-nigga
I of course responded. He posed the question "WHY OH WHY IS IT ACCEPTABLE IN AMERICA AND DO YOU NOT FEEL SOME SOUGHT OF WAY WHEN YOU HEAR A NON BLACK PERSON SAY THE WORD NIGGA/NIGGER LIKE IT'S NOTHING" ? He had quite a few comments, and several he responded to. I personally don't think anyone should use either words. Shouldn't we all be thoughtful of what our words we use and what they really entail? I think there is a much bigger underlying issue with this subject that needs to be addressed. Maybe if we can get to it and work on it, some of these serious but menial issues will be resolved as well. But I would like to know the thoughts others have on the subject. On all of this really. What are yours?
(I added his site so that everyone can let themselves be heard on this issue. Not just here, but there as well.)
My response to Dizzy:
As you said, it is cultural. Terms and actions used in one area will mean, more than likely, something else in another area. It is what is media-ized, publized, and what the "idols" are encouraging. It comes across to me in England blacks and whites are still segregated. (maybe not physically, but definately mentaly.) In America we have had the Civil Rights Movement. Although our grandparents had problems with it, our parents less so, and this generation seems to rarely be seen. In my generation and those younger than me, for the most part, blacks and whites are people. Some still don't agree with the mixing during relations or being married. But other than that, black, white, red, etc., we are just people.
In America nigger/nigga is acceptable. Wrong or not, used appropriately or not, it's acceptable. In our grandparents time nigger was used and was derogatory. In our time nigga is used and it's considered cool. If not with everyone, it is in circles; be it at a club, a party, with our friends, or those we are close to. You will not hear it in businesses of course, but you will elsewhere.
I do not agree with this though. Nigger/nigga means the same in retro spect. Nigga comes from the word nigger. How can anyone use it knowing that it ultimately has a derogatory meaning? Why would anyone use a word with each other they would not accept/allow others to use? No matter the context, the meaning of a word ultimately does not change. Even if you find it okay with friends, why would you consider someone a friend that ultimately does not respect you? How and when did a deragorty word become a term of endearment? Am I the only person who finds this disturbing?
I understand ebonics changes the word. It does not make it another word, although it is perceived that way. Ebonics, is just that, ebonics: black english. If it is not proper english -and England uses it more properly than us in the USA- it is exactly that, not proper English. I thought in the older days that the blacks didn't use proper English because they were enslaved and not educated. Although it was not just like ebonics as it is today, it was an uneducated dialect of our language. It was unacceptable in the community unless a black was to use it; and we all know how they were viewed. Since today whites and blacks alike are educated why would we want to come across as not? What was the point in intergregation if you want to be segregated? We are all judged, by our words as well as our actions. When we act and speak uneducated we are viewed as uneducated. And in that sense if we are not using what we have learned, we are keeping ourselves in bondage.
In America our rappers, singers, actors, etc. are depicted as uneducated. They don't use our language correctly, they don't clothe themselves fully, etc. Society allows, condones, and actually encourages what we see, do and allow. Back in the day a billboard used incorrect usage of english, it caused such an upheavel that it was removed. Apparently they came back. But my point is, how did we become a society like that to how it is today? Where our children curse as young as 2 and are barely dressed beyond underclothes, our pants are falling off, we swagger instead of walk, we are our own gods, our money is more important than our family, our bodies more important than our minds or souls, I could go on and on. If our society allows, condones, encourage this and more we are beyond accepting it. We will follow suit, and so we have. Parents and friends encourage this and more because, it's acceptable, cool, it's expected or entertaining, or simply we find it cute in our children younger than 7.
So how can you, or anyone for that matter, act the way they do (in your case, use nigger/nigga) and not expect others to follow suit? Time and time again, a child -or young adult or older- hears a curse word, you think "why should I not, they already know or use it?" Maybe they do, maybe they don't. But you are allowing, in the least condoning, and are encouraging it when you use that word or any variation of it. If they hear it time and time again, it is viewed as accepted or expected. Especially in America where black and whites are intergrated (or are said to be and wanting to be) how can one use it and not expect it to catch on? Even if it is from another race. If I (or any of us) are you view you as an equal, nothing besides our physical attributes should create a barrier between us. Noone should be able to use a word or an action and not allow or expect another to. If you do not like someone using a term ("yours" or not) you should not use it.
The point I'm trying to drive home is this: no word belongs to anyone. No action belongs to anyone. We as people (and especially the uneducated) immulate all behaviors of those around us. If we are surrounded day in and out of anything, you cannot expect everyone to pick up on and follow it. Being a hypocrite and then hurting others is never justified, 0% justified. If you don't like something, don't do it. People cannot follow what they don't see and hear. Our world, as one and individually, as well as America call for greatness and for growth, yet encourage the exact opposite. You are responsible for your own actions and words. If you do not use what you know, you cannot be great.
And in the grand scheme of things, if any other person white, black or any other color uses a word you use. (At all. Ever.) You have no place to say they can not. Even though this topic is important, if we truly respect each other this wouldn't be an issue. We need to respect ourselves, before we can expect others to respect us. What once was a derogatory word, is now activly used by everyone. Even a variation of the word, has the same meaning no matter how it's used. If you want to see this word disappear (from any one of a different color) everyone needs to stop using it. To gain respect, we must immulate respect. When we respect ourselves, others will respect us.
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