Is HipHop to blame for this?
You'd think after the Shilpa Shetty affair, people going into the Big Brother house would know better than to draw for racial comments but one of the current bunch of idiots housemates obviously missed that memo. Last night, Emily (the posh airhead one who thinks of Pete Doherty as her ideal man which speaks volumes in itself) decided to call Charley a n**ger.
Here's extracts from the official Channel 4 statement:
"Contestant Emily Parr was removed from the Big Brother House in the early hours of this morning after using a racially offensive word to a fellow housemate. Emily was with Charley and Nicky in the garden of the Big Brother House at approximately 8.30pm last night when she was heard to say "Are you pushing it out you ni**er?" to Charley.
Emily immediately made clear that she had not intended to offend and that the comment had been meant as a joke. In discussing what she had said, Charley and Nicky agreed that they were not personally offended, although both did express shock at the language she had used. In the ensuing discussion, Emily acknowledged that she should have been more careful with her words. The comment was not screened as part of the 'as live' streaming on E4 and was immediately reported up to senior production staff at Brighter Pictures, the Endemol UK subsidiary that produces the show. In consultation with senior executives at Channel 4 the decision was taken to remove Emily from the House on the grounds that she had broken the rules governing contestant behaviour.
The House Rules given to all contestants clearly state:
Big Brother will intervene and take appropriate action if housemates behave in a way that Big Brother considers is unacceptable. Unacceptable behaviour includes: behaving in a way that could cause serious offence to either their fellow housemates or members of the viewing public including serious offence based on the grounds of race. Housemates who act in a way that is seriously unacceptable will be evicted.
Emily was called to the Diary Room at approximately 03.30am to be informed of the decision and was removed from the House immediately without further contact with other contestants. The remaining housemates were informed of Big Brother's decision at approximately 9.30am. Emily was one of two housemates nominated for eviction this week and as a result the latest eviction vote has been suspended. Angela Jain, who heads the Big Brother commissioning team at Channel 4, said: "I think people watching the show tonight will agree that Emily spoke carelessly rather than maliciously - certainly Charley and Nicky, the two housemates most directly involved in the conversation with her,seem to accept that she did. She understands why her involvement in Big Brother has had to come an end and she very much regrets what she said."
"In the wake of Celebrity Big Brother we must consider the potential offence to viewers regardless of Emily's intentions and her housemates' response. The word ni**er is clearly racially offensive and there was no justification for its use. We have removed Emily from the house to once again make it clear to all housemates and the viewers at home that such behaviour won't be tolerated."
I know the debate has been raging on for a while now about Hip Hop glorifying the use of the N word amongst others but this is the first high profile incident in the UK and I'm sure that somewhere along the line, someone will try and use Hip Hop as a scapegoat. In this case, I want to hear your thoughts - is HipHop to blame here? Has Emily thought that she can use that word because she hears it being thrown about in music?
**UPDATE** - No new news but think this is quite apt:
Comments
Post your commenti used to be a social worker for young people and they listened to hip hop from a young age before they new the reasons for racism and heard black guys say the n word all the time so used it untill the were told the meaning of it so hip hop is rubbish because it teaches young people incorrectly they should have an explanation i feel emily was used as a scapegoat why werent they thrown out on celeb bb
Its hard not to think that Hip Hop is to blame when I have just listened to a track that has the n word 4 or 5 times in the hook!! Usually I'd say no, its down to the people that use it casually in conversations everyday...then get offended if a certain race uses it....and just as I finish writing this Ja Rule used it and it wasn't even blanked out....
Of course not. Lets not let the media use Hiphop as a scapegoat for this. She is a grown woman, supposedly educated, who knew it was wrong the moment she said it, given the look on her face of disbelief.
Hip Hop is a factor for alot of modern day slangs and obvious profanities.
This word used was coined by our Black American poets to take away the pain of the word's meaning.
A move of very poor judgement that has been embraced to the detriment of voices unheard that did not co-sign to such an agreement of use of foul language.
I have just won a settlement from work which I will not talk about and even if I did so it will not fix anything socially.
When our so-called intelligent artists keep perpetuating something so stupid in this day and age of higher learning its no wonder people like me will be subject to non blacks saying to me "Wussup, my n*@&£#"!?!
Thank you Mr Gangsta Rapper! Never before have racists found an easier way to express terms of 'endearment'.
The funny thing is I used to make this type of music. (beats)
Truly yours,
Michael.
this is straying from the point a bit but went to some hip hop jam in Leicester the other day.... heavy atmosphere..... people singing along/rhyming to the tunes, nuff girls , mixed muticultural crowd!!! then...... 'Jigga my Ni@@a' come on!! all of a sudden I look around to see nuff White, asian peeps girls, etc... all chanting the N word!!! some of the black people were chanting it, some looking to the ground and others running around trying to start fights "why u being racist blood"!! I just went to the bar to get a drink cause I felt embarrassed for us as a culture..... which other race use derogatary terms about themself then then try to celebrate, justify and then explain the logic behind it??? Embarrassing...
Meanwhile Shawn Carters pockets continue to bulge while the stupid sheep carry on chanting!!!
This
It's easy to blame the music as it's already out there and has been for many years. Much social commentary is and has been made in the use of the N word in rap and the simple fact of the matter is that, regardless of the individual's colour, there is no concensus on the word's use. In everyday life, the one area where I'm sure everyone will agree is that it's all about context; if it is clearly used in a derogatory manner, there is no justification.
My opinion is that in this case, Emily did not mean to use the word in a derogatory manner and believed she was referring to someone she would call her friend in an according manner to her local upbringing (I have spent time living in Bristol). However, this overstepped the mark in that she does not know Charley well enough to refer to her in those terms.
In any case, Big Brother had no choice but to remove Emily from the House as any other course of action would have been tantamount to condoning the comment. This would be political suicide considering the Celebrity Big Brother fallout and probably would have led to the programme being pulled. I believe that Emily has suffered because of Big Brother's previous shortcomings and once again rap music will become the easy scapegoat.
the only person at falt is emily as she is a well educated individual and knows exactly what the word means and that she should not have said it
I don't think Emily is a racist. I don't think hiphop is to blame, though it probably has played a part, making using the 'N' word almost acceptable. I would like people to consider what the outcome would have been if Emily was black and had used the term!
Hip Hop is definitely not to be blamed. I love hip hop.
Asian young people are listening to hip hop all the time, and I've never heard anyone using any N* word. We all understand the N* word is only allowed in lyrics in hip hop, and we just can not say or use it in our daily life. It's like a golden rule for us.
no hip hop is not to blame because just because people use it, it doesn't mean its right to do so. You should be aware of what you are saying and also think about what you are saying. If your wrong, your wrong end of! there is no excuse for saying the -n- word esp when you yourself are not black. She was wrong to say it whatever way she said it in and here are the consiquences! Deal with it!!!
As a 20yr old hip-hop fanatic i love nothing more than to play my favorite tunes on my ipod whilst attempting (badly) to sing along to the lyrics of all the songs in my collection. The N word crops up fairly regularly in most of the songs and i do admit to saying it whilst singing. But under no circumstance would i ever utter the word in any situation out with my poor attempts to replicate my hip-hop heroes. That being said, as a white male does this make me racist? I strongly believe that i am not in any way or form racist.
With regards to the "bimbo" (sorry am i being racist to all blonds) in question there is no excuse whatsoever in what she has done. Ask yourself this, if she had been talking to channelle or laura would the N word have been used? I very much doubt it. Therefore she clearly new what she was doing and deserved to be pulled up for her actions.
i don't BB precisely because i find the people just irritating beyond belief. I'm now even more relieved that i don't watch this trash (i mean BB8?! Do C4 not know when something's played out?!!)
I can therefore only give me comment having read and heard news report about this incident, and my thoughts are that the young lady in question knew precisely what she was saying.
None of my white friends, or my white husband would ever dream of 'jokingly' using that word in reference to me and certainly NOT to my face. Neither do myself or anyone in my family refer to each other in this way. It's a horribly offensive word when you remember the contexts, through history, in which it's been used.
And no, I don't feel that the much publicised, widely idolised hip-hop artists help the situation at all. To be given such a platform from which to influence the young people around the world, and use it to popularise profanity and encourage people to call each other N's, is just a shame.
BB did the right thing running that girl from the house. It's just a shame they didn't make the same example with the celebrities when that whole thing kicked off. Better late than never I guess.
I don't watch BB because I find the people just irritating beyond belief! I'm now even more relieved that I don't watch this trash (I mean BB8?! I cannot believe people watched beyond BB2…!!)
I can therefore only give me comment having read and heard news reports about this incident, and my thoughts are that the young lady in question knew precisely what she was saying. None of my white friends, or my white HUSBAND would dream of 'jokingly' using that word in reference to me and certainly NOT to my face. Neither do myself or anyone in my family refer to each other in this way. It's a horribly offensive word when you remember the contexts, through history, in which it's been used.
And no, I don't feel that the much publicised, widely idolised hip-hop artists help the situation at all. To be given such a platform from which to influence people around the world, and use it to popularise profanity and encourage people to call each other N's, is just a shame.
BB did the right thing running that girl from the house. It's just a shame they didn't take the same stance with the celebrities when that whole thing kicked off. Better late than never I guess.
After watching Big Brother last night I was quite shocked in the ease of the 'N' word slipping out of Emily's mouth. But I do think she is a victim of the MTV generation and feel a bit sorry for her as she probably thought using the term to Charley would make her fit-in with Charley and give her some "street-cred". I definately agree with Big Brother in removing her from the house but do wonder if Nicky or Charley would have had the same fate if they had used the word in the same context.
As a Hip-hop fan, I admit to having used the word whilst reciting lyrics and especially love the song "Realest N" (if you don't recognise the name, you've heard it in White Chicks when they're in the car). But as a black female I would definately be offended if the word was used infront of me in a negative context.
no i dont feel that hip-hop is to blame. i respect the fact that there are alot of areas in this world , in london even that do not have black people or alot of black people that live there, there are people who do not socialise or that are not in contact with people from other races so therfore are ignorant of certain things, HOWEVER the N word CUMON GIMME A BREAK!! Anyway regardless it is wrong especially for a white person to use it! and she knew it was wrong when she said it so, she isnt that ignorant!
i dont think she is a racist person, but definately needs enlightening.
As for hip hop, i feel it is a culture, an art form , an expression of who a person is and an expression of how they view the world. the N word has been along for a long time whether blk people view it as an insult or as a term that is acceptable between coloured people that is up to them.
the real issue i feel is not about hip-hop. FACT racism still very much exists and thrives only difference is that it is masked alot better. Hip-hip or no Hip-hop
I don't think that Emily is a racist or that when she called Charley a ni***r, that she meant it in a malicious way, she's just naive and stupid. BUT in saying that i definitley agree and am happy with the fact that Big Brother kicked her out straight away. Calling someone a ni**er joking or not is not acceptable at all!yeh hip hop uses the word ni**er a lot, but people can't blame hip hop for other people using this word, don't use music as a scapegoat for people's ignorance.To say that Emily said she was so intelligent and well eductated she obviously has no common sense at all. Would she not have thought from what happened not 6 months ago on Celebrity Big Brother that using racist language is a big no no?!She tried to fit in, got a bit to relaxed and the real her came out, shes obviousl used to using this word at home thats why it just slipped out the way it did.She was wrong to say what she said, when you do somehting wrong you should get punished and she's being punished, she's getting what she deserves.
no i dont feel that hip-hop is to blame. i respect the fact that there are alot of areas in this world , in london even that do not have black people or alot of black people that live there, there are people who do not socialise or that are not in contact with people from other races so therfore are ignorant of certain things, HOWEVER the N word CUMON GIMME A BREAK!! Anyway regardless it is wrong especially for a white person to use it! and she knew it was wrong when she said it so, she isnt that ignorant!
i dont think she is a racist person, but definately needs enlightening.
As for hip hop, i feel it is a culture, an art form , an expression of who a person is and an expression of how they view the world. the N word has been along for a long time whether blk people view it as an insult or as a term that is acceptable between coloured people that is up to them.
the real issue i feel is not about hip-hop. FACT racism still very much exists and thrives only difference is that it is masked alot better. Hip-hip or no Hip-hop
Pathetic ,a genre of music can not be blamed for anything
here we are again hip hop's fault its becoming an easy target
if someone of her age does not understand that certain things are unacceptable to say
than i feel sorry for her as she is not fit to adapt to modern day society
Some interesting views...
I grew up listening to hip hop from an early age, and though I'm not that into it anymore, I probably know a fair bit more about it than its fans in recent years.
I don't think you can say hip hop isn't to blame, it obviously is PARTLY to blame. If it had never glamourised the word, there would be no debate, it would only be a derogatory word.
However, hip hop HAS glamourised it, i've never felt the need to use the word, but many people do, due to its glamorisation through hip hop, and only really use it in this commercial way.
I have no desire to start using it, but I don't think Black people can use it exclusively and have the attitude 'its ok as its us that say it etc etc'
You either find it offensive or you don't, people need to decide and stick to their opinion.
If its offensive, no one should use it, if its not offensive in certain ways, then I don't think people should jump down people's throats for using it no matter what colour.
I guess the main problem is some black people find it offensive, and others use it daily.... but as long as there is money to be made from using it, this debate won't go away.
yeah i see where people are commin from when they say hip hop is partly to blame but for me to blame it on hip hop would just b wrong because first of all what they mean when they say it is not like when racists say it. like it just slang u know. but dam u just don't say it the way emily said it. it was she was trynna be all street and gangster but like she don't know charley like that to be saying that u know. And like hip hop aint to blame society still allows the rascist ish to still happen, and hip hop is a reflection of society. so if people feel that artist shudn't use it then clean up the world and make it better u know if the world arround them is a better place, they can only make positive music .
Not All Hip Hop has distasteful words. I am listening to a Hip Hop and Jazz Album from Angola and there was nothing offencive. It has to be remembered that many artitsts who started in Hip Hop started as a way of letting their feelings known. As they matured in their profession and life, they went to other roles.
whoever said it should have been booted off, end of story. as for it being used in hip hop, what do people expect... take a catch phrase... e.g. bovvard or wasssup etc... how many people were/are saying that? . if it's not a nasty such as the F word etc, why do hip hop people released a censored/uncensored version of their record so they can get it played on MTV etc.
people put it in songs for shock value or slang. then expect impresionable minds NOT to say it from their role models ?
some of the people who felt outrage, just feel to feel outrage just because they have a higher moral ground or something. can people honestly say it was said with malicous intent? end of the story, shes a silly for saying it.
I've listened to older hip hope NWA / public enemy etc from back in the day, I'm not black either, but feel its not a word i chose to use. its a big storm in a teacup.
word should be banned for use by everyone IF it's causing offence, simple and yes people will repeat it verbatium without realising its causing offence.
I can see the intent wasn't there, this time.
Is hip hop a reflection of society?
Its a reflection of certain views of society, but its hardly talking for a 70 year old scottish farmer now is it?
and to be honest, most modern hip hop is a reflection of where society is going wrong....
I personally think that Emily was well aware of her actions and the words she used.When big brother confronted her about this issue she acted all innocent and defensive as if its acceptable.Didn't she see what happenend in cbb before where the race issue row went international.Anyway as a young asian lad I never use the n word and never will as its disrespectful.I have black friends who use it all the time but im not offended by it.I do agree that black rappers can promote it in their music,because thats what they are comfortable with,its their word only!When a non black person uses the n word to a black person in any circumstances its inhumane and if u still disagree go in look in the past how that name was formed.SO for channel 4 to kick her out is a reminder to all the people(except the black people) that it is not acceptable use it...
No! this one they cant blame on Hiphop and they shouldn't blame it on Hiphop, because there is nothing to be BLAMED for! In my eyes it all seems like a hype over nothin and even tho i did not like emily, i felt sorry for her when they brought that down on her, channel 4, just to cover there image and stand on the right side of the 'race row'. The fact that we have these words that can be used to devalue and insult other 'ethnicities' (which is a word i also hate) is simlpy a sign that hate against other races in this country so common. I come from a school in manchester which was renound for being such a multi-cultural school; there were more black and asain peolpe than there were white, and because we were so laid back about diferences and so comfortable in the fact that we were not racist, black, white or asain, we all used the N word, casually, on a regular basis! As an indearing term mainly but some times just as a joke to be ironic. My point is that the word is so well known that we cant ignore it, the word nigga will always exsist in our language but the meaning doesn't have to. If infact it was used the N more in a more casual, the stigma may go and it can just become one less word to insult and talk down to black people because the affence wont be there. Yes I am black by the way, and quite frankly I'm sick of seeing white people on tv tellin me that i should be affended by this because im not!
firstly anyone who makes music makes a choice on what they say and how they use language not every mc swears and not every rapper uses the n word.im a white french/algerian male and got abuse growing up due to my heritige.but to me it seems like people are so easily offended these days in this pc world!to me good hiphop always offends,thats when u know its bangin,and i v been down since electro days!anyone who thinks diffrently should listen to blaq poets new track n****hobitch where he speaks on this very issue!and hispanics use it all the time!hiphop till i die motherF*
i do think hip hop has a lot to blame with the way that the use of the word n***er is portraited, but as a white person educated in the use of this word, i see a new word and meaning in the word nigga's, as a referral to peoples friend s and "family"
Look! No affense to any white people out there but I'm sick of hearing what you think because I dont see how the fact that you find the word affensive means anything when your not black. And and you think it means anything that you dont use the N word. Obvcourse you wouldn't, infact the opinions that i am seeing expressed just proves that you no very few black people
.
I am black and me and most of my white, black and asain freinds all use the N words casually in a very non derogatory fashion, and i am in no way affended by the word unless it is spesifically used to insult me as a black person. The only people i know who seem to be shocked when i use it are the people from more racist or prodominantly white areas, which shows me that they think it is affensive because they only know people who use it in a derogative way if not at all.
In my world "Nigga" has taken a new meaning. Really the word means nothing, all it is is a word, meanings of words change all the time, for example did you know that the word wag was an extremly insulting way that white people refered to black people in the 30's and 40's and maybe even before that but that word hasn't been banned despite many elderly black people having a problem with it has it? No! The meaning was simply changed and now it is acceptable all over britain and now it CANT be used to insult black people.
My point is i am not going to be insulted by 5 letters stuck together when there is no racism implied, and I'm not going to sit around and listen to white people, tell me how affensive this word is and that i should be affended because I'm not affended. And i shouldn't be made to feel bad because i'm not. The more we go on about N'gga as a rasist term the longer we are gonna have this word that when its used to create hate. Cant we instead take it as it is said and insted of bothering about political correctness, just take it as it is said, whether it is from a white, asain or black.
In my world it is being said by many people and almost doesn't even mean black anymore. To say "Wats up my nigga" (if not meant in a funny or ironic way because they are not black or are not cool) is generally used just like you would say "wats up brethrin" or "Wats up my home boy/girl" or even "Wats up Bro", which i believe is how Emily and her friend use it.
Although it suprise me because she middle class, probably white area and goes to a posh school because the only reason i no so many people who use is because i come from an area where there are more blacks and asians than white so there are few racist white people and less stigma on what colour you are. but i think its fine and beleive her when she says she would never use it in a affensive way. She is prbably so used to it said in a non affensive way that she forgot it was afensive, which for me is just proof of how not rasist her and her friends are.
Nigga, in my generation has taken on a new meaning and it about time that was taken into account.
I don't think the word was "wag" I think you are confusing it with if you change the "a" for an "o" and if you called someone that nowadays you would be in serious need of a brain transplant.
As for white people complaining about the word you think is so acceptable its about uses. For black people it can be used as slang between friends but how many people you hardly know would you expect to say that to you?
You say the word means nothing but it totally does in context. If some guy said it to you black white or whatever and you hardly knew them you would be "WTF you just say?"
Point is as a white guy who loves hip hop and has a lot of black friends I would never dream of saying it. You know its not right and you also know you have to get to a certain level of respect to be able to even say it between friends.
Emily was wrong and she knew it. Its not about the word as much as the fact that it was simplyt thrown into a sentance where it made no sense to use it. I am pretty sure she sitsd around with her privaliged middle class friends and uses it because she thinks she is street but she really has no clue.
For you to think thw word has taken on a new meaning is slightly naive. She defo didn't mean it in an offensive way but she surely knew straight after that she should not have even gone there and it must have gone through her head before hand that there is a line she is about to cross. Its made even worse by the simple fact she must be really stupid to say such a thing on a show that simply has to act to anything like this due to what happened with celeb BB and how they got in serious trouble recently for not acting enough on those incidents. They also were criticised and fined for not showing the worst of the racist behaviour previously and were accused of miling the situation. I gotta take my hat off to them for doing eveything right this time.
No, Its all blown out of proportion, as per... Its only a word, Take the power of the meaning away, Its still a word, Nothing more, nothing less. Reactions like this are what keep this controversy aliiiive.....
we can not blame this on hip hop because hip hop does not tell people to go use the word. I personally think emily is fool because she claims to be smart, if she is then should have foreseen that using such words would create problems. I am also not happy on the way the media handle it this time, it seem as if they are trying to keep it under the table abit , when people were being racist to shuplipa last year , gordon brown had to speak up against it but this time we have not heard anything from any senior members of governement.
Randon, unstructured thoughts....
I have to admit this whole debate has made me seriously re-examine my use of the N word. As a white male in his 20s who loves hip hop and teaches in a very ethnically mixed school I would never use the word in conversation whether as a term of endearment or not. Part of me feels like white people run the risk of being labelled racist if they even attempt to use the word whatever the context. What happens if someone takes the word the wrong way, whatever the intent of somone saying it. If someone takes offense, one word makes you a biggot.
Interesting to note at Hip Hop Kareoke at Plan B in Brixton last night all uses of the N word were replaced by "Brother". I now feel guilty singing along to my favourite tracks which use the word all the time. What ae people's opinions? Is it acceptable for a white guy to sing Ludacris "Too many N" in his house, with black friends present, with no one around, with all white friends present. The line is just too fine to walk with ease.
I think its either time to say everyone use it and lets devalue the meaning or nobody use it.
Besides, to say one thing is acceptable for people of one colour, but not for another is itself making judgments on the basis of somones skin colour - i.e. racism.
i listen to alot of rap, hip hop, and alot of the UK stuff and although im only 15 i think that using the N word is used alot and many people can recieve the wrong meaning as many rappers use it to offend others but sometimes its used as a joke to other rappers!
People should never use the word on a show such as big brother because after last years race row channel 4 will want to prove the point that they wont tollerate rasism in any form.
Is hip hop to blame, maybe a small percentage, as the word is glorified and degraded at the same time, but pre slavery black people were not syaing to each other Wuz Up N****R until they became slaves, then it was run N****R run,
if anything im pleased of the quick response when the word was used and vexed regarding charlies late reaction as it was said to her, i find it funny that she is easly enranged and defensive for the smallest thing and when its big she crumbles,
music is a powerful source of influence how we as people react is up to that person, (next you'll blame TuPac, for another murder influenced by HipHop)...
yet we justify wars.
p.s racists never admit they are what they are. yet it was amazing how easy the words glide out of their mouths..(but they still have a black friend)
this cracks me up....keep it real.
stay blessed . peace love and unity,,
i'm not saying i agree or particularly disagree with the use of the n-word. but i do have a problem with white people using it. it can't cause offence when said by a black person to another black person - we're all in the same boat. due to rap music it has become a term in use. when a black person uses it to another black person, its not an insult - its often a term of endearment, familiarity, friendship. however, i'm not sure u'd ever find another pakistani referring to a fellow pakistani as a p***. and i'm always offended when i here any of my white friends calling asians that and always tell them to cut it out.
i don't think hip-hop is to blame at all its down to the individual and she learnt that word knowing what it would mean if she said it especially if she said it around people from a certain race, it not like it can be due to a slip of the tounge because it was just blurted out during a conversation. even if it was not used in an aggresive way it is still an offensive word to black people, one that is used a lot in hip-hop but it is not being pushed into peoples mouths i hear words and phrases on albums that i would never use simply because i choose to and it was clearly emily's choice to use the n word
Hip-hops is to blame, and the millions of people who buy into it are. Why can you buy a clipse album easily enough in most music stores that refer to white people as crackers, but as soon as a young girl makes the mistake of saying the n word to a girl that probably lives up to the sterotype of the word n, everybody is up in arms about it? We live in a nation where every WHITE PERSON has to walk on eggshells trying not to offend people that probably live up to the sterotypes of today. We can call policemen 'pigs', we can call women 'bitches', we can even call men of the church 'pedophiles', but we cant let a young girl get away with making a stupid comment about a young black girl. Instead she has been hung out to dry by the british media, for something she is going to regret for a long time. Im sorry, but if we are going to come down hard in instances like this, we are going to have to come down on all other forms of discrimination. Whether it be on a cd, on the tv, or anywhere else for that matter.
if the n word is a derogatory term, then why is it ok for black people to call eachother it? surely if you call eachother by this name, it gives others the right to use it? after all, if you dont have respect for yourself and your own culture, why should anyone else?
To be honest its offensive if only used in a certain way to insult a black person im a black teenager and the amount of times iv sat on the bus and heard whites or asains singing along to a hip hop song and said N**** and then turned and relised im siting there they would straight away say oh im sorri. and the truth of the matter is if the word lost its negative meaning then it would just be a word. dont get me wrong i think that all the black people who had to go through such a tough time back in the day would most likly ashamed of this generation and the way the word is used freely even if its a hip hop song.
hip hop is defo not to blame thats a fact. i love hip hop and yer i when i sing along to a song i use it. but apart from that the only other time i ever use it is when im with ma bro and thats coz im saying a joke in which if u add the word n**** then it will be funny.
what does anoy me is how white people take the culture of blacks and then turn around and get racisit. like the black stereotype of how we walk around stabing people smocking drugs etc when to be honest most the people who iv heard of who do half that stuff happen to be white or asian
iv had times when i will be walking down an alley way and people would look at me and would look affraid as if i was going to mug them or somthing im just trying to get some were. so its not hip hop to blame at all i think its the fact that people have got it into there heads that its ok to use the word.
if emily is to be kicked out for using the n word then i think charley should get the boot too as she has used the word to describe herself due to her colour - this may not offend herself, but what about the black viewers who are disgusted by the word?
i am white and i am living in a time where i don't even know what to call a black person if describing one person to another - i.e. black? afro-caribbean? mixed race? mixed heritage? or the politically correct... black, asian or other minority ethnic??
until there is unity from black people on a good descriptive label, yes, label, there will be always be confusion among whites. also, blacks will never fit into 'the system' because of fear from the other side of unintentional racism/misunderstandings with colleagues or lawsuits.
i do not condone the use of the n word because it is disgusting and whatever it's historical context, is not a positive word today.
what i would love to see is young black people confident to describe themselves in a non-derogatory way and have the confidence to walk into typically 'white'-filled jobs without fear or confusion from employers blocking their way.
i have a lot of young black friends who are intelligent, determined and strong-willed, yet still use this word to describe themselves...?
so yeah, hip hop culture is partially to blame coz the artists are not setting a good example for young people to move forward
Blame Hip-Hop????? How ridiculous is this. Last year we witnessed Racism on BB which involved Shilpa. It was then proven to be racist and as we all know channel 4 and Endemol were forced to apologise publicly and not even one racist word in my eyes was used towards Shilpa.
This year Emily used the 'N' word. For her to even use that word she must have at that time been thinking derogatory towards Charlie, she is used to saying the word, but in a derogatory way towards blacks. Don't use hip-hop as an excuse, she already stated that she is an Indie supporter, the only way she ever hears hip-hop is flicking past MTV whilst searching for the indie channels and she even thought Indie was a new kind of music.
I have hundreds of white friends and not 1 of them has ever ever called me the 'N' word the only time I hear it is when racist white youths drive past in cars and shout it as cowards.
As we all know the 'N' word was a derogatory term invented by whites and used to dehumanise black people, yes it is used in hip-hop by blacks and certain black people are still insulted when called it by blacks others dont care. But the fact of the matter is whites used it to dehumanise so whites should respect the fact that it is a negative word that their ancesters used and it dont carry well when they use it. Stop blaming Hip-hop
I have always expressed the view that the 'n' word and other words like it should never be used - some people in the hiphop community use this word and although it may have been used back in the day to take the sting out of its tail and to take it away from the racists, I now feel that it is used purely because of laziness, and that it's original meaning has been forgotten - this is very dangerous. There are many hiphop acts that stand apart from the 'unfortunate clap trap' that is being churned out from the likes of 50cent, Snoop Dogg etc etc - but these artists are rarely thought about when HipHop is put under the spot light. I didn't like Emily from the minute she walked in the house, especially when I was told that she voted tory - it was of no surprise to me that she then said that disgusting word. What we have to get away from is the idea that all black people are the same, that they all dress the same, think eat, walk and talk the same - just like any other race - to use the argument that black people use this word therefore it is acceptable for white people to use it is utter nonsense and just gives the ingrates an excuse for thie vile behaviour. I don't know one single black person who feels that it is acceptable to use this word - please, lets get rid of it once and for all, then everyone will know where they stand!!!!
Sorry 2 b blunt - yes this word does have a bad history. But we livin the 21st Century n words change and evolve just like people!
We all live in a mutli-cultured generation that yes does have more than 25 years of Hip Hop influence. Yet we arguing over a word most of us have herd everyday of our lives pumping out of radios & soundsystems, & used eveyday in blank on black conversation and also in white on white converstion. Most young people these day wont even think twice about this word been used in these situation yet as soon as it is used in mixed race environment is sudenly becomes a taboo.
Personally I feel this just keeps "Raisim" as more of an issue, how do we make rasism a think of the past if we keep highlighting the past!
Lets face it - we arguing over a word most of us wouldn't think twice about using in a "safe" environment regardless of our backgrounds
Firstly, Emily on Big Brother is continuously described as intelligent and educated, that may be the case but she has to be VERY IGNORANT to not realise that using the N word in a deprecating sentence to the only black person in the house, is going to seem racist. I think a lot of people are ignorant about the intricacies of the word. Whether she meant to or not that word came out ending in "er" not "a", if you take my meaning.
Secondly, to blame Hiphop is ignorance itself. You don't need to dig very deep into Black-American culture to realise the word was being used all the time BEFORE Hiphop. Watch a black 70s movie. Buy a black comedy record from before Hiphop. Hiphop was born of a society using the N word. It didn't give birth to that society.
As far as I'm concerned, as a white man, I don't think it's any of my business whether black people use the word. I DO think it's my business whether I use it, I never do, regardless of context or spelling. I'll quote it if it's written. I don't think any words should be beyond reporting.
People who claim white people should be able to use it freely so long as black people do are missing the point. Hard.
Nice to see some debate on here. Increase the peace.
I think we should ban it.
I am a twenty-somethig black male, I grew up saying the word, my friends grew up saying it - black, white, and asian - but now I have stopped. Everytime the word is said, it chips at me - think of it, black people - that word means "you are nothing better than a n****, you are nothing, you are the lowest of the low". How can this be a term of endearment? Even black people use it to cuss each other - it is a horrible word, always has been.
I remember a couple of years back, it was reported that 50Cent was surprised because he did a show in Australia and the 99% white crowd were singing along, chanting the n-word at the top of their voices - he was apparently shocked and disturbed. WHAT DID HE EXPECT?
Hip hop is worldwide now. Black people are world wide now - we have access to opportunities and platforms our ancestors could not imagine. If we want to be taken seriously, we have to treat each other with respect.
BAN THE N-WORD. FULL STOP.
How can you ban a word?
I think that due to the fact that hiphop and sadly the most negative stuff has gone pop has made people think its ok to use the N word in a 'joking' way. Being a white guy who has been addicted to hiphop since i was 9 ive always been baffled why people use the word. My american friend explained it to me and I heard 'Sucka N****' by Tribe but i still dont get it and I still dont like it. The other stupid thing is that hiphop has got double standards. You can say it if your black, and you can cos your mixed race, and latino. So if you say it and you look white but your great grand dad was black does that make it ok?We all come from Africa dont we? I wish emcees would stop using it but the problem is all of my favourite modern rappers say it(kweli,common,blackthought) Its too late for it to stop in the US but it aint too late in the UK. Let's make a stand and not use it here and teach the youths to not use it. Peace