It was after a hard day's work when this writer got on the bus (hides face in shame). A group of African Americans were sitting in the back of the bus, whooping and laughing. This writer was nearby and they were loud, so he couldn't help but listen. What he heard was appalling.
What was it? A middle-aged African American male was rapping. Naturally, he was spewing the N-word like it was going out of style. His audience, mainly comprised of teenaged females, were cheering, encouraging this idiot to keep demeaning his own people. Unlike the professional rappers who have platnium records and millions of dollars to somewhat justify their used of the word, this moron was just an everyday man. Sickening.
Also, you can approach any random group of African American and 70 percent of the time, the N-word will be said. It's not just young and naive people, either. One day, this writer heard two fifty-year old African Americans saying at the end of every sentence. In other words, people who should know better are saying it. What's their excuse?
As mentioned in the N-word post, rap is a big part of the problem. Rappers will say they are taking the power back or that it or that it's a term of endearment. Anyone with any intellect knows that that's a load of bull crap. The reality is that it's just a way to keep a slur alive by getting the people to embrace it. And it's working.
Rap is the only genre that uses the slur for it's target audience. It's not just a few times, either. For example Master P has this song called "I'm Alright". This song is two minutes and forty-six seconds long. In that short time span the N-word is spewed thirty-eight times. Yep. Thirty-eight. Shameful. What's worse is that there's probably a song that say it more, which is a scary thought.
Heck, there's a legendary rap group called NWA, subject of the movie Straight Outta Compton. Three guesses what the 'N' in NWA means. Yep. The N-word is in their very name (facepalm). The called themselves the N-word, made it stick, and became one of the most well-known music groups of all time.
Various others use the word in their titles. Can this really be life?
African Americans are the only people in the world who embrace a slur. No other group of people in the history of mankind have does this. Call a Jew the K-word. Call a Mexican the S-word. Call a Chinese person the C-word. Call a gay person the F-word. See how far you get if you call any other group their slur. However, call an African American the N-word and there's a good chance he'll want to fight, but there's an equally good chance he'll treat you like family. How is this possible?
Simply put, the N-word is acceptable because the people who are its target have accepted it. The word woun't die unless African Americans kill it. If people (not just African American) stopped supporting rappers or others (because it's not just rappers) who use the word, these artist would have to change their style or starve. It doesn't matter what they say their intent is, at the end of the day, they are pushing a slur and keeping it alive. This can't happen without the support of the people.
Until next time...
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