What the Professor from Harvard said, that is the ultimate solution.

What the Professor from Harvard said, that is the ultimate solution.

Agreed. Never happen.

What the Professor from Harvard said, that is the ultimate solution.

 

Disagree. Just because Harvard is in his title doesn't make him right. A little common sense and all is well.

There is a book by an African-American professor from Harvard simply titled "Ni**er" (with "g"s where the *s are). I am white and I've read parts of it - actually went to hear him speak in Louisville about 14 years ago. In it he argues that as long as we continue to keep the stigma with the word society will never escape its grasp. He basically implies that we should let everyone use it, and that African-Americans need to show that they will not allow it to offend them, and then the word loses it's power.

 

I'm black so he's not talking to me. He's already lost part of his audience.

I'm black so he's not talking to me. He's already lost part of his audience.

 

Huh?

He's black and when he came to the old Hawley-Cooke bookstore there were probably 80-100 people there to listen to him and more than 75% of them were black.

Huh?

He's black and when he came to the old Hawley-Cooke bookstore there were probably 80-100 people there to listen to him and more than 75% of them were black.

 

I was born in Houston. I can't identify with African-Americans.

I was born in Houston. I can't identify with African-Americans.

 

Ahhhh... fair enough. :-)

I can solve it all. Just refer to people by color. You can be black, white, brown, beige, ashy, pink, yellow. That would be easier. You are what you are.

If we are going by Crayola colors, I'd like to be known as Apricot.

I can solve it all. Just refer to people by color. You can be black, white, brown, beige, ashy, pink, yellow. That would be easier. You are what you are.

 

I can solve it all too. It's all about context and common sense. It's super easy to see when someone is being derogatory or flippant. Super easy to see. Context is much easier to see and determine with the n-word than when someone uses "boy" or other racist code words in place of the n-word. The only word that people would say is a fireable offense is the n-word but the othe racist words like "boy", "jigaboo" or "coon" are just as bad but folks who use them in a derogatory manner will claim ignorance when pressed about it. People can't claim ignorant when using the n-word.

I got the point. Does not matter that they say it.

 

So....

No you still missed it, my point is that it doesn't matter that they are saying it...but that it continues to be said at all in pop culture, as much as it is.

 

Imagine a generation growing up not hearing the word in movies and music, the word would slowly disappear from usage.

 

But as long as the word is out there everyday, these conversations will continue to run in circles.

I can solve it all too. It's all about context and common sense. It's super easy to see when someone is being derogatory or flippant. Super easy to see. Context is much easier to see and determine with the n-word than when someone uses "boy" or other racist code words in place of the n-word. The only word that people would say is a fireable offense is the n-word but the othe racist words like "boy", "jigaboo" or "coon" are just as bad but folks who use them in a derogatory manner will claim ignorance when pressed about it. People can't claim ignorant when using the n-word.

 

I continue to disagree with context. If the word is not to be used, then it's not to be used, by anyone.

I can solve it all too. It's all about context and common sense. It's super easy to see when someone is being derogatory or flippant. Super easy to see. Context is much easier to see and determine with the n-word than when someone uses "boy" or other racist code words in place of the n-word. The only word that people would say is a fireable offense is the n-word but the othe racist words like "boy", "jigaboo" or "coon" are just as bad but folks who use them in a derogatory manner will claim ignorance when pressed about it. People can't claim ignorant when using the n-word.

 

FWIW no male over the age of 13 takes to being called "Boy" that's not entirely a racial thing. I remember refusing to answers calls at work because they would page a stock "Boy" or a cart "Boy"...I'm sure it's different but I've never seen a male that was agreeable to be called boy by anyone other than his parents.

 

As far as "coon" goes, if someone is using that they can't IMO pretend not to know what it means...if they use that they know. I had a boss that referred to a buddy of mine that way a couple of times, we got into an argument about it and I got fired (I was 17)...walking out in the middle of my shift the store manager asked where I was going and I told him that I had been fired for arguing with the asst. mgr. I got my job back right then and after an hour alone with the manager the asst came out and didn't say a word...a week later he was gone from our store. I've heard "coon" used more in my life than the N-word in a derogatory manner and it makes me as a white guy just as mad if not worse, because using "coon"people think they are being cute and no one knows what they mean.

 

I know a woman that is around that had no idea that "jigaboo" was a bad thing to say...never knew what exactly it meant either, had heard it said and thought it was a cute little word.

FWIW no male over the age of 13 takes to being called "Boy" that's not entirely a racial thing. I remember refusing to answers calls at work because they would page a stock "Boy" or a cart "Boy"...I'm sure it's different but I've never seen a male that was agreeable to be called boy by anyone other than his parents.

 

As far as "coon" goes, if someone is using that they can't IMO pretend not to know what it means...if they use that they know. I had a boss that referred to a buddy of mine that way a couple of times, we got into an argument about it and I got fired (I was 17)...walking out in the middle of my shift the store manager asked where I was going and I told him that I had been fired for arguing with the asst. mgr. I got my job back right then and after an hour alone with the manager the asst came out and didn't say a word...a week later he was gone from our store. I've heard "coon" used more in my life than the N-word in a derogatory manner and it makes me as a white guy just as mad if not worse, because using "coon"people think they are being cute and no one knows what they mean.

 

I know a woman that is around that had no idea that "jigaboo" was a bad thing to say...never knew what exactly it meant either, had heard it said and thought it was a cute little word.

 

I rest my case.

I continue to disagree with context. If the word is not to be used, then it's not to be used, by anyone.

 

No problem. I wouldn't expect white people to agree with the use of a word they don't feel like they are allowed to use.