The word nigger or nigga as African Americans say has many different meanings. At one point the word nigger was used by whites in order to define, limit, and ridicule blacks. The word is still used today, unlike back in the 1800’s up to the 1960’s, the majority of people using the word are African Americans.
Some African Americans argue that repeated use of the word makes it less offensive. Some may say that it does not have the same meaning, white people say nigger, while black people say nigga. Although I don’t fully disagree I do think about the fact that black people use the n-word in a negative manner as well. Our use of the word reflects the self-hatred that plagues the black community. To act like all negativity is erased from the word is disrespectful to our elders as well as just flat out absurd. At the same time that black people call each other the n-word, there are still groups of whites who openly use the word to identify black people both good and bad.
I have always had a love-hate relationship with the word nigga. On one end the n-word represents anti-black prejudice; it was at one point used as a term of exclusion. On the other hand my generation uses the n-word as a term of endearment. I myself use the n-word sometimes.
There was an article that was brought to my attention that touches on the complexity of the word nigga in the black community. Here is a link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/rob-carmona-strive-east-harlem-founder_n_3859573.html I thought this was very interesting. I’m curious to see the make-up of the jury in this case. I also wonder if Ms. Johnson ever uses the word herself. If she does not use the word than I can see how she felt offended by Mr. Carmona’s rant.
When used by Blacks, nigga refers to, among other things, all Blacks (I love niggas, niggas are me!); Black men; Blacks who behave in a stereotypical manner (lazy, criminal, drug abuser, welfare recipient, dumb); enemies (I hate those niggas), and friends (my niggas).
Based on a quote from Mr. Carmona’s four minute rant, he was using the word in a negative stereotypical manner. “I’m gonna give it to you hard-core …” he could be heard saying on the tape.”You and her are very bright … but y’all act like niggers … seriously.”
This statement reminds me of Chris Rocks stand-up act (here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6CK7Q7S6iU) in which he has a bit where he compares “Niggas” and “Black people”. I find this hilarious, but to some this may be very offensive. Rock was using the word in a very negative way in order to distinguish black people from “niggas”. Not all black people feel this way. Another example of the use of the n-word comes from The Last Poets who recorded a poem entitled “Niggas are scared of Revolution” (here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4H0rwumscA). Unlike Chris Rock, the Poet states that he loves niggas, and that he is himself a nigga despite the fact that some niggas are scared of the revolution.
Regardless of how it is pronounced, regardless of who says it the word still represents white supremacy. At the same time the word is forever embedded in our culture; in our books, music, poems, films, and vernacular. Can a word so powerful that still has a negative connotation be a positive for a group that have yet to overcome the mental bondage the word nigger helped to create?