COLUMN: Term rooted in bigotry

by Andrew Legrand

Oklahoma Daily (U. Oklahoma)

01/23/2003

(U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. -- Get it straight, I am not a nigger.

Nor am I a nigga. As a matter of fact let me clarify all the terms that you have no right to call me. Don't call me nig, nigg, nigra, nizzle, or any thing else that alludes to the derogatory term popularized by white oppressors against my African ancestors. If you're looking for something to call me, my name will do just fine for now.

To all of my black brothers and sisters, we need to stop defaming ourselves by labeling each other in an oppressive manner. The problem with the word "nigger" is that black people want to use it to mean something positive, even though history inalterably associates the word with negativity. Stop trying to convince yourself (or anyone else) that we as black people can say the word but white people can't. Hey, I have a suggestion: It should not be acceptable for anyone to say the word "nigger" in any way, shape or form.

History solidifies that black people in this country have always been trendsetters. Look at everyday "American" life, and you will inescapably see the African influence. One example is music. The mixture of complex sounds, rhythms and beats originated in Africa. Without the African presence in the United States, what we consider pop music would not exist today. African people have influenced almost every aspect of the American psyche.

African people have in some way or another; either directly or indirectly influenced everything from music, language, architecture, fashion and entertainment. Keeping this in mind, what makes you think that the use of the word "nigger'" will not become a part of everyday mainstream culture?

This is not just to the black people who say the word; it's to everyone else as well. I have heard many people in the Latino community use the word frequently as if they themselves or their ancestors were ever called a nigger in a derogatory manner. Is it acceptable for Latino people to say the word because they are not white? Hell no. I get offended anytime I hear the word. But that didn't stop Jennifer Lopez from saying it in her song with Ja Rule titled "I'm Real." Reality check J-Lo, you're really not! And what about the white boy or girl that grew up in the hood? Is it okay for a white person that has been surrounded by black people his or her entire life to use the term? Most black people would probably go ballistic if a white person addressed them as a "nigger." Nevertheless, throughout this country the term is consistently being used as part of daily vocabulary and dialogue.

Now, I must admit that in the past I have been guilty of excessively using the word as part of my hip-hop culture. Listening to all of the rappers, actors and comedians, I often found myself unconsciously repeating their words without thinking about the punitive damages the popularization of the word has had and will have on the black culture in the United States. I have tried to convince myself that by using the word, I gain power over its meaning. Then I began to consider what I would do if a white person (or anybody who isn't black) called me a nigger. Simply put, there is no way for black people in this country to reverse or change the meaning of a word that has haunted black culture and our existence for over 400 years.

The word nigger as defined by Webster's Dictionary is "a black person . . . a word expressive of hatred and bigotry." The origin of nigger is in the word "negro," which defines a black person that has African physical characteristics but has no relation to his or her African language or culture. The word Negro also means "no growth." Is this the message we want to convey to our black brothers and sisters, that we have no faith in them to grow? I challenge all readers to eliminate the use of the word nigger, in any form, from their vocabulary, and to influence those you know to do the same. Otherwise, be prepared to have the word become part of mainstream "American" culture.