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From whence it came is n’t important, but how we define it today is of importance. I myself
don’t use the nomenclatures, but I’m constantly bombarded with hearing the word in all its
nakedness. Of course, times have changed from when it was n’t the in-thing to use such
derogatory language. People associate those times with the turbulent 60s to the black-
power movement in the 70s, when respect for oneself and his/her people was the ultimate
price of self-respect. The word was simply a bad taste in the mouths of those who were
fighting for respect in this white-man’s world. The struggle still continues today to try on
eradicate its use. Even I have sought to try and educate our young brothers of why the use
of the word is total dis-respect to those that came before us, who tried to teach us how to
be men in the face of adversity. They listen, because they have never been schooled in
such a way, but I also have to listen to them as to why they feel they have to use such
terms. “Nigga’ please”. Well, this is the era of “hip-hop”, when the use of this word is
mandatory in order to sell music. The powers that be known that in order for sales to stay
constant there must be some form of derogatory highlighted. My question, and I truly
grapple with, is, has hip-hop taken the sting out of Nigger….”Nigga” to make it seem more
palatable?
I don’t know, but that’s what’s being said. They feel as though they have taken a negative
and made it positive, but is it that, when all is said and done it’s a “double-negative”.
© Copyright 2003 Thaddeus Hamilton, A.K.A. Mfalme
“Justice ….or is it!!” by Thaddeus Hamilton
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