Nigga . .

Why are white people so hung up on the “N” word?

Reaction is still pouring in from Sunday night’s radio show. A friend, who is an American of African descent called today to give me her two cents. (She couldn’t call in on Sunday night’s show… jammed phone lines. Cool!)

She said the reason why so many white people are upset and bothered by blacks’ use of the “N” word is because they are jealous. “The word used to be theirs, but we took it back and they can’t stand it.” She said we use it left, right, up and down and they can’t stand it. Now that we’ve got the toy, “they” want to take it away so no one can play.

Creative.

I told my friend that if she had been able to call in to the show, we would have had a productive discussion. Her attitude is the perfect example of “race holding.” In other words, what she was saying is “It’s a ‘black thang’ white folks, you wouldn’t understand.” You know what? She’s right, it is a “black thang.”

For hundreds of years blacks were seen only as “niggers,” slaves, property. I wish everyone had the opportunity to watch HBO’s special The Slave Narratives. In the 1930s, the federal government sent reporters and writers out to capture the story of America’s ex-slaves before they passed into the next life. HBO gathered talented black actors and actresses to perform interpretive readings from the narratives. The results were astounding and unforgettable. After a few of the readings, performers broke into tears. Passion met reality. Wealth was reconnected to humble poverty.

One of the constants throughout the whole documentary was the “N” word. It’s what they called us so it was what we called ourselves.  One hundred plus years later it is still what we call ourselves. The context has changed, the seasons have passed but the word is still woven into the fabric of black culture with a complexity that is almost impossible to explain to people who are not black.

It will take the death of a generation to diminish the flame.

My guess is that by the year 2060, when I am 95 years old the word “nigga” will be as antiquated as I will be. No longer sexy. No longer useful. Old, tired and out of America’s collective memory.

Once used only among blacks in closed quarters, today the word is used prominently in the public square. In a few years it will return to closed quarters. Until then white people will have to just tolerate a residue stain from the country’s past because race holding is a fact of life and most Americans of African descent will never see a reason to let it go. 

Comments

[Andy]

I can see how the n-word is used as a form of bonding...a reminder. A reminder that no matter how different they are, they still have a common enemy.

[David Casper]

If it's being used as a reminder of a common enemy, then all it's going to do is create a further divide.

[Brian]

Hello Mr. Harris,

When I was attending UW-Madison in the early 90s a American of African descent brought up in one of my classes that there was a difference between being black and being African-American. Is there a distinction?

[James T.]

Mr. Harris? Mr. Harris!?! Must be an old student dropping in!

[Andy]

I would like to clarify my comment and say that 'they' refers to those that want to use the n-word....NOT Americans of African decent in general (or Charlize Theron).

[The Angry White Man/ Frank A. Nedry]

James.. I enjoy your show and what a breath of fresh air to hear a free thinking black man. You seemed put upon when a caller asked you for positive black voices in the media. Let me suggest John McWhorter, Jesse Lee Peterson and Shelby Steele for starters and to answer a previous email African American means you were born in Africa and now reside in America and black is a skin color, not a race of people.