Wasn't the word ****** derived from the word negro which was derived from a German word that simply meant black?
Me being white I suppose I just cannot understand why a word that was okay to use twenty years ago is now racist. I am speaking of the word negro... not ****** which seems to be a word used by people who did not translate the word properly.
Why is it that when a black person calls another black person and forgive me a "******" it's ok? Yet, when a white person calls a black person the same thing it's considered "real bad"--maybe even a racist?
Chass, the word ****** is not used by black people. They are using a different version of the word meaning black ... nigga.
By changing it to "nigga" it seperates itself from it's racist roots as a word used only by people who considered black people to be lesser humans.
The word ****** has instead been "taken" and cannot be used by white people. I have never heard a black man use the word ****** in a sentence (other than Richard Pryor).
Oh and then German word for black is Niger. You can see how some people got the two G version.
I think it sucks that they were referred to a black in the first place. They are not black... they are all various shades of brown. Look at most word that have black in them... they are all negative (blackballed, blackmailed, etc).
Originally posted by tenletters:
[B]Chass, the word ****** is not used by black people. They are using a different version of the word meaning black ... nigga.
By changing it to "nigga" it seperates itself from it's racist roots as a word used only by people who considered black people to be lesser humans.
B]
Sorry but your misstaken.
Your attempts to justify this double edge sword are incorrect. It took us awhile but I had a freind of mine, who is white find another african American in Montana other than me, & use the phrase "What's up Nigga"
It when't about as well as you would expect.
so please dont try & justify it, just let it be, let us have our way just this one little time, okay Honkies?
The reason why your post can be taken as offensive is the reason why the term "******" is considered offensive. Yes, blacks were called ******s because of their skin color but by the beginning of the 19th century, they had started taking offence to the use of the term. This, however, only encouraged whites (including many prominent whites) to continue using the term. Their reasoning was of course, "Hey, they're black, they're ******s. This isn't a value judgement; it's a fact." And when the blacks objected, those same whites said, "Look at the etymology of the word. I'm not judging anyone - just calling them for what they are."
It's not so much the term being used to describe their physical characteristics that blacks objected to; rather it was its use by white folks AFTER they knew that blacks took offence to the term and then their attempts to justify its use based on its etymology when they easily could have chosen a term more appealing to the black population.
It's not so much the term being used to describe their physical characteristics that blacks objected to; rather it was its use by white folks AFTER they knew that blacks took offence to the term and then their attempts to justify its use based on its etymology when they easily could have chosen a term more appealing to the black population.
I'll have to read back through my posts but I don't think I tried to justify calling anyone ******. I was only debating the words origin and the fact that I hated that the word has grown into more than just a description of a color.
I do agree your explanation of why the word is so taboo now. Lots of bad things have happened in the past but to simply talking about the word is not a basis to be offended.
You are thinking of Schwarzes but I am referring to slang. I could be wrong about niger meaning black. Idon't remember the source of that info so it could be bullshit.
Originally posted by BruceM: As far as I know, German for black is "schwarzt"...
Actually tenletters , I have seen many black people refer to them self in this way. There is actually a song by Ice T in which he states "Damn right I'm a ******!" Just to verify the spelling, the song goes on to say "I don't care what you are cause I'm a capital N. I. double G. E. R." Notice it is not nigga?
Now to quote George Carlin... in regards to the word ******: "There is nothing wrong with the word, in and of itself. It is the racist asshole using it that you need to be worried about."
A long time ago (gradeschool) a guy called my mother a slut. I did not even know what the word meant. When I asked my mother about it, she gave me the definition. I asked her if it bothered her that somebody called her that. She told me that since it was not true, it did not bother her at all.
As far as I am concerned, I believe the word is usually used to describe a less than desirable person who is usually black. If the first part of my observation is true then every one of us could be called the same at some point in our life.
Okay aaron you say that you've seen this and yet you only mention rappers and comiedians.
I was talking about real life. I've never heard it but I'm not saying that it doesn't happen. Everytime I've heard it, in real life, it's the nigga version.
I think George Carlin is right... it's all in who is saying the word I suppose, and why they are saying it.
The other thing about it being used to describe anyone other than black people I don't get though. Did the word exist before it was used for black people or is someone just trying to justify it's use?
Think about it. sand ******, cactus ******, boat ******, tundra ******.. WIGGER. They are all the same thing. Somebody calling a person of a race, other than black, a ******.
I mention the famous people because if I told you Vanessa said these things.. you would think "who in the hell is Vanessa?"
BTW, she is my neighbor, she is black, & she is VERY cool.
Yea I just saw Labret lose his fucking mind in another post that sort of mirrors this one.
I don't have a leg to stand on as long as assholes like that are around. Between people like him and jackasses that claim racism at the drop of a hat... we'll never be where we need to be.
Originally posted by tenletters: Lots of bad things have happened in the past but to simply talking about the word is not a basis to be offended.
Of course there's nothing wrong with discussion. I was just trying to point out that discussion centered around its etymology is a very sensitive issue because that was where the white racists always began when trying to justify its use.
And ****** does come from the Latin niger meaning black and it dates back to at least 1574.
oh.. it's Latin, sorry about the German reference then.
I kinda hope this thread dies, what with Labret and porn is good raising hell in that other thread! It makes any of my statement mute, for the most part.
The german word for "black" is "******".
You all should know the famous german "****** Forest", the "****** Forest Gateau" and the german "******-and-White-Film" (Fassbinder!!).
And only in the "German ****** Forest" they produce the original cuckoo-clocks (you know, the clock where every 15 min the bird comes out and shouts CuckooCluxClan).
I would LOVE to take you to the Bronx where I am from...
Drop you off wearing nothing but paper with the posts you have made and N...in Bold and SEE how Brave you are then
its easy to be a Big shot when posting from the safety of your home isnt it...
OR I would LOVE to see one of you who BELIEVE in the N word walk up to a black guy who is bigger than you and call him that
And now on to the toppic of this thread:
the latin word for "black" is "niger", the german word "black" is "schwarz". The Romans didn't use the the word niger for ppl coming from Africa, "niger" was only a color. The Romans used the word "barbarus" (=barbarian), and they used it for all ppl who were not Roman citizens (greeks, egyptians, iberer, germans, africans etc etc).
The germans didn't use the term "niger" or "neger" until the beginning of the 19th century; instead of this they used the term "mohr".
The word "******" was used for a long time only from english speaking slave-owners, and it was used only to disparage the slaves. And it was used even more after the abolution of slavery. And only racists used it to insult their former slaves.
Since the early 60th, the word "******" is used from ppl with black skin. And it was used only when talking to each other. It was an act of emancipation to use the word the racists used to insult them. If one negro is calling another negro "******", then does this mean that the white ppl don't own the language, and that black ppl decide how they were named and not the former slave-owner.
At this time they started fighting against the use of the words "negro", "black" and "colored". EasterEggs are colored, but not persons. And I can't remember any news where they say: "...President xxx, a white man ..." or "... the criminal, a white man...". The use of this words IS an act of discrimination, if only the former slaves get named with the color of their skin, but not the former slave-owner.
The word "******" is used today from Turks or Arabs too, and they use it in exact the same meaning as described above.
And those who remember John Lennon, should listen to his song: "woman are the ****** of the world". And I will disagree if you call John Lennon a racist because of this song.
And the final:
Most ppl (including me) know only one race, called the homo sapiens sapientis. Our forefathers had all the same black skin when they came down from the trees of Africa. And the fact that sometimes one single gene changed in the groups wandering to the north, did not create a new or other race.
Forrest,
if you are posting the next bullshit reply, please click the link called "Smilies Legend".
Originally posted by tenletters: Wasn't the word ****** derived from the word negro which was derived from a German word that simply meant black?
Me being white I suppose I just cannot understand why a word that was okay to use twenty years ago is now racist. I am speaking of the word negro... not ****** which seems to be a word used by people who did not translate the word properly.
I don't think so... ******, if you look in the dictionary, means 'a stupid person'. just like bitch means 'a female dog'. it was just a term used for a specific type of person. in that day, they used it against blacks, becuase they believed they were a lower race. bitch was used against women because simply as a put-down. look how the meanings of these words have changed - english always does this. look at the word 'gay'. who would use it in a theme song on a TV show today? no one. but it was used in the flintstones... you can never say if it was ok 20 years ago, it should be ok now, or i dont understand why it's not ok now - the language changes everyday.
oh, and I know you are speaking of negro... and I jumped the gun there, I was just trying to make a point... I do believe the negro is perfectly ok to be used...
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