I usually keep my mouth/keyboard shut on these types of topics, but I heard this on the radio today and it was something that bothered me. Here is Gwyneth Paltrow, performing with Jay-Z and Kanye (I believe actually in Paris) and she tweets out, "Ni**as in Paris for real". For those of you who don't know, Ni**as in Paris, is the name of a song performed by the two rappers. Apparently she's catching all kinds of grief because she can't use "that word".

 

Gwyneth Paltrow Drops the 'N' Word - Yahoo! News

 

I have some issues with that. Don't use it in the title of a song if someone can't quote it. I'm not saying Jay-Z and Kanye are mad about it (in fact, they are probably glad because it draws more attention to it from a different crowd) but apparently TMZ and talking heads are jumping on her for it. Seems ridiculous to me.

Edited June 5, 201214 yr by MJAlltheWay24

So if you are listing the names of songs from this album, how is a white person supposed to say the name of the song?

 

Yes, complete double standard.

She should call Tony Stark and put an end to this drama.

I'll differ to Chris Rock on this one. See, "the one time white people can say the n-word" but he gives rap lyrics a free pass for white people. No big deal to me but I'm a white guy.:lol:

It is a terrible double standard in our society and as long as whites aren't equal in this respect blacks won't be equal in other respects.

 

My personal opinion is we are all equal, what I am saying above is if that is how the white community is going to be treated about the N word then the black community can forget about fairness in other areas.

 

What bothers me about this is how recklessly the N word is thrown around by young, black boys/men. In my opinion, a lot of parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, etc. are not doing their job.

No big deal to me. It's all about how it is used. She's making a joke about the title of the song.

 

As for the use of the N word I can say that at 37 years old I really don't hear it or use it like I did from 16-25. It really has nothing to do with upbringing or environment, IMO. I came from a great home with two successful parents who went above and beyond to let me know all I needed to know about life and right from wrong, etc, etc. I was attracted to wrong so I did wrong a lot. Especially in college. My use of the N word is no different. At 37 it sounds stupid but I admittedly still use it from time to time amongst friends. That'll probably never stop. I don't use it nearly as much as I did when I was younger. I do see more white kids using it these days than in my day and that's a sign of the times. What are you going to do? Especially when the black kids they hang around are accepting of their use of the N word. It's easy to see when it is being used with malicious intent and when it is used in an attempt to be 'cool'. Of course it isn't cool but rap has played a part in desensitizing the word and we live in a world where a lot of people won't care that Gwyneth Paltrow referenced a Jay Z and Kanye song in her tweet. Plus they play it on the radio and even my 12 year old knows how the original song goes.

 

I have no beef with Pepper.

No big deal to me. It's all about how it is used. She's making a joke about the title of the song.

 

As for the use of the N word I can say that at 37 years old I really don't hear it or use it like I did from 16-25. It really has nothing to do with upbringing or environment, IMO. I came from a great home with two successful parents who went above and beyond to let me know all I needed to know about life and right from wrong, etc, etc. I was attracted to wrong so I did wrong a lot. Especially in college. My use of the N word is no different. At 37 it sounds stupid but I admittedly still use it from time to time amongst friends. That'll probably never stop. I don't use it nearly as much as I did when I was younger. I do see more white kids using it these days than in my day and that's a sign of the times. What are you going to do? Especially when the black kids they hang around are accepting of their use of the N word. It's easy to see when it is being used with malicious intent and when it is used in an attempt to be 'cool'. Of course it isn't cool but rap has played a part in desensitizing the word and we live in a world where a lot of people won't care that Gwyneth Paltrow referenced a Jay Z and Kanye song in her tweet. Plus they play it on the radio and even my 12 year old knows how the original song goes.

 

I have no beef with Pepper.

 

I most certainly do.

I do see more white kids using it these days than in my day and that's a sign of the times. What are you going to do? Especially when the black kids they hang around are accepting of their use of the N word.

 

I've seen the opposite of this, but I'm sure I haven't had nearly the exposure that you've had.

 

I've always felt like we'd be better off if the word wasn't used at all.

 

My question...is there a difference between the "n" word & "redneck?"

I've seen the opposite of this, but I'm sure I haven't had nearly the exposure that you've had.

 

I've always felt like we'd be better off if the word wasn't used at all.

 

My question...is there a difference between the "n" word & "redneck?"

 

Considering you used a letter for one word and spelled out the other word, I'd say so. :lol:

 

I am 100% a cracker, yes, there's a difference.

Considering you used a letter for one word and spelled out the other word, I'd say so. :lol:

 

I am 100% a cracker, yes, there's a difference.

 

Good point. :lol:

Considering you used a letter for one word and spelled out the other word, I'd say so. :lol:

 

I am 100% a cracker, yes, there's a difference.

 

 

:lol:

I don't think she did anything wrong. There's a difference between using it journalistically, for the lack of a better word, and using it pejoratively.

I don't think she did anything wrong. There's a difference between using it journalistically, for the lack of a better word, and using it pejoratively.

 

Absolutely.

It is a terrible double standard in our society and as long as whites aren't equal in this respect blacks won't be equal in other respects.

 

My personal opinion is we are all equal, what I am saying above is if that is how the white community is going to be treated about the N word then the black community can forget about fairness in other areas.

 

What bothers me about this is how recklessly the N word is thrown around by young, black boys/men. In my opinion, a lot of parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, etc. are not doing their job.

 

So, after 200 years of legal discrimination against black persons - from slavery to voting laws to laws against miscegenation – to the societal views of inferiority that underpinned those laws that still exist today, black persons must atone for the sin of it being socially unacceptable for white people to freely use a word they invented that signifies their supremacy over the black race before black persons can ever be truly equal in our society? That seems very backward to me.

 

And why on earth would a white person want to use that word in its original meaning and why on earth should they not be scorned for doing so? The problem with the “double standard” argument is that there is a double standard built into the meaning and history that word embodies. There’s a good argument to be made that black people should discourage its use, but it simply carries a different meaning when said by a white person, inherently.

So, after 200 years of legal discrimination against black persons - from slavery to voting laws to laws against miscegenation – to the societal views of inferiority that underpinned those laws that still exist today, black persons must atone for the sin of it being socially unacceptable for white people to freely use a word they invented that signifies their supremacy over the black race before black persons can ever be truly equal in our society? That seems very backward to me.

 

And why on earth would a white person want to use that word in its original meaning and why on earth should they not be scorned for doing so? The problem with the “double standard” argument is that there is a double standard built into the meaning and history that word embodies. There’s a good argument to be made that black people should discourage its use, but it simply carries a different meaning when said by a white person, inherently.

Very well thought out. However, if it's that offensive and carries that connotation then why would black people use it in the manner that they do? And black people don't discourage it's use, so who is it exactly that's offended?