Once freely enjoyed by white people all across America, there seems to be a collective mourning over the loss of the ability to say the word ‘nigger’. For some, I suspect it’s a loss of control over something created by white people and hijacked for exclusive use by blacks. For others, it’s the inability to completely hijack the swag associated with their favorite hip-hop artist who uses the word freely.
"Black people use the word all the time. Not allowing me to use it because I'm white is actually racist."
"If it's so bad, why is it okay for black people to use it, but I can't?"
"It's an ugly word with an even uglier history. If everyone can't say it, no one should be able to say it."
The list of arguments and complaints goes on.
Newsflash
Allow me to clear something up for all of the white people so put off by the ban. You can say ‘nigger’ all you want to! No one is going to put you in jail if you say ‘nigger’.
Here’s what WILL happen, though: Some people, especially black people, will think you’re racist. Some people, especially black people, will be offended by your use of the word. Some people, especially black people, will view you in a different light and choose not to be in your presence. Some people, especially black people, may act aggressively toward you after hearing you use the word. So, use the word all you want, but be aware of the consequences when you do.
Don’t want those consequences? Don’t use the word. But understand that no one is stopping you, so please stop whining and begging others to allow you to say it.
The Black Pass
And as for why black people can say it with impunity, consider this: When a black person calls another black person a ‘nigga’, both are still black. Meaning, there’s no race-based energy of superiority or inferiority passing between them. There’s no recall of a superior/inferior history between two black people using the word. It carries no sting for the two of them because they are equals in the racial and social hierarchy created by white supremacy. Whether we go back in time 300 years or even look at race-based dynamics today, these two are considered on a racial scale to be equals across the board. Both black and both living under the same white supremacy today.
When you say the word, however, there is an imbalance. That imbalance is what triggers responses ranging from dirty looks to being punched in the throat. For no matter how much you don’t see race… or how much you can’t be held responsible for the acts of white people who came before you… the fact remains that YOU are a member of a class deemed to be better than everyone else based solely on your race. Try as you may, you can’t separate yourself from that unless and until white supremacy has been completely dismantled. Until then, you’re stuck with the presumption of guilt, no matter how innocent you may actually be.
Still Not Satisfied?
Don’t like how that system is set up? Do something about it. Work to destroy white supremacy in America once and for all. You can’t destroy history, though. So, while I can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to say the word without consequence once white supremacy is finally and completely laid to rest, I can guarantee that you’ll no longer want to say the word and you’ll completely and finally understand why.
