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Name: Selah

Comment: Let me get this straight...he calls Blacks derrogatory names and it's OUR fault? Racism is a character flaw and it has nothing to do with anyone else. Richards should be busted up over this. Mentally and physically, and he's lucky he didn't catch a beatdown on site.

Name: McNasty

Comment: White folks should know by now, as often as the conversation has come up over the years that there are some things we say that they shouldn't regardless of whether they understand it or not. We've got the wiggers who would rather be thug rappers but aren't, we've got the congressmen Lott, Helms and Allen to name a few and we've got the trump class business man who all know the difference but choose to say nicca at every turn. It speaks directly to racism and not hip hop - which is fast becoming the place to lay blame for all of our ills.

Name: Monarch

Comment: I can see how Rev. Peterson may view the usage of the "N" word as a double standard. However, the meaning isn't. When rappers and black comedians use the word it's like a term of endearment or even taking a stab at those who for centuries have used the word negatively; trying to reverse the hurt behind the way it was used originally. When white people use it, as in the case of Michael Richards, it's laced with blatant hatred. We didn't create it, they did. We as a race have been trying to derail it's affect for the longest, but just like racism, it hasn't gone anywhere. So if it's going to stick around, then let's do somthing to show racists that we as a people have taken control of the inflicted pain they've caused and put a twist on it so we're not affected negatively. That's the concept behind the way we use the "N" word. Would it be more acceptable if a white person said, "Negro please!" I don't think so... It's the meaning behind the word and their intent to insult in the worst way. So Rev. Peterson, SHUT IT DOWN!!

Name: MrUnapologetic37

Comment: I don't agree Monarch! I didn't expect to agree with the Reverend because so many ministers want to control our thoughts (that's my stuff - lol), but after reading this article he makes some unignorable, valid points that I have to co-sign. First off, NO we did NOT make Michael Richards say the things he said. I believe his words of hatred came from his very gut/heart. No matter how angry I become there are just somethings I don't say because its NOT IN ME to say them. However, and I am still baffled as to how we can excuse our excessive use of a word that was "designed" to demean, belittle, and degrade OUR people? Moreover, we have the nerve to say that OUR use the word is a term of endearment. Are you serious? Better yet don't answer that because I know you are serious as well as a large sector of our community. That's complete BS! We are the ones that keep this word alive by using using it like toilet paper and YET we get upset when white people use it - whether it's to hurt us or not. We can't have it both ways.

Name: kady

Comment: Nobody is addressing the other racial comments that Michael Richards made, that IMO were worse. Is it OUR fault too that he made other racial comments and references to lynching? Give me a break!

Name: TheBrownOne

Comment: I just hope that this Reverend's obvious ignorance is only related to linquistics and culture and is not a reflection of yet another pastor's misquided attempts at saving souls by twisting the word. Then again, how could you apply the bible to modern times without some concept of language, the word, and culture. You can't. This guys followers should open their eyes and not doubt the creator because of this man's lack of understanding. The use of the word %*$!(@ is relative to it's intent like any other word. The word "%*$" in the bible is not a curse word. A child can say pussy cat, but not without the cat. Many words have several definitions depending on the way they are used and their intent. Pick up a dictionary, Reverend. I can assure you that "%*$!(@" on my block plan on keeping the word in their vocabs, so I think that you should fight homelessness with your energy instead pimping Mr. Bailey for your e-press because this is a hot topic. Here's the fact. Richards use is the Mean, cruel, hateful definition of %*$!(@......Tupac's Use is the My friends and brother's that I care about that understand my struggle definition of %*$!(@.......Any word only has the power that the users give them.....God's Children have so many languages that we must all understand that God speaks hearts and in his kingdom, that is the "Word" (and I meant "word" in a different way than the Reverend is used to).

Name: PRDC

Comment: I really think its too late to try and chance the word for white people....that is who we will be changing it for....their ancestors called blacks that for centuries and its not going to go away, They knew for a long time that its a word that will get them beat down and called a racist...so if you are not...why use it. The way black feels about other blacks have nothing to do with white people. Hopefully they will learn that after this. All of a sudden its about white people being called racist...that's is what he is and it came out ...accepting his apology has nothing to do with things....

Name: kingdk

Comment: Monarch, People who think like you scare me. I don't consider the "N" word as a term of endearment only an ignorant person with limited vocabulary would think that. You call me the "N" word black or white and I am offended. I dont appreciate it at anytime. It does not have two different meanings. It only has one and it's derrogatory. I agree that a lot of times Black people want the right to have freedom of speech but want to take it away from others. It can't work both ways. I don't agree in no way with what Richards said; however, black folks need to step up and set a better example. It should never be used in the way we use it. White people (our close white friends) could mean it the same way as blacks; however, because they are white blacks will always say it's racist. Wake up people, this double standard makes no sense. I wonder how many of our hip hop folks can actually talk without using that word. It's sad to say that they probably couldn't which proves my point. They are just too ignorant or stubborn to make a change.

Name: kingdk

Comment: MrUnapologetic37 I agree with your thoughts whole heartedly.

Name: McNasty

Comment: Kady we've glossed over the fact that Kramer said '50 years ago you'd have been strung up with a fork up your azz' because it would speak directly to racism and not the generation we're trying to blame this shat on. If kramer were without a racist bone in his body he would have limited his remarks to just calling then nicca's but he did not.

Name: Peekiebear

Comment: Oh please. What did the Rev. MLK stand for if not peace? So, we Black people are responsible for Whites using this most derogatory word, right? And, we are responsible for being called a "N----R" because a clearly racist white person who STILL refuses to own up to his own racism - but can because SOME Black people also use the word? Hey, Mr. Jackson- does that also mean that because SOME White people murder- does that also make ALL white people murderers? And does that make ALL White people responsible for the murderers because SOME White people murder others? I lost faith in you Mr. Jackson because you are there for every last photo-op but you do nothing of substance for the people. And H-LL no- you DON'T represent me in any shape or form. Let us not forget- perhpas you claim some sympathy because Jews STILL haven't forgiven you when you used the "H----" word about them. You have apologized all over the place but they never let it go. Well, I don't accept that lame excuse of Richards- nor yours.

Name: jazzfan

Comment: Please help me to understand - were the men in NY coming from the bachelor party when the groom was killed when the police fired 50 rounds into a car of unarmed men - were they ni**ers or ni**as?

Name: TheBrownOne

Comment: kingdk.....how can you and other out of touch or older generation folks make statements about the n-word, race relations, and standards when in the process you use terminology like "those hip hop folk" which show's that you accept the media's new catch phrase to describe young black men. They use this term loosely and discrimantly with no real reference to music. Refering to the diverse attitudes and minds of black men as "hip hop" as if they all think alike, dress alike, use the n-word alike and act a like. You're focused and concerned about our future, but this invisible in-house bigotry is definitely more problematic and racist than an idiot comedian saying the n-word in a comedy spot or a young man using the term as an word of endearment. Why don't you check yourself and how attitudes like yours play out in this racial war.

Name: DoctorSmooth

Comment: I happen to know for a while now that this Rev. Peterson is a self hating black man, one you would almost think is on the KKK's payroll, with the outrageous things he has said about blacks. So I have no respect for him or anything he says because I have to always question his motives. I seem to remember him once saying that if black people were to be in charge of America, within 5 years, America would be ruined !! This is part of a pattern of negative stuff he always wants to say about his own people. I think we should revove his "black card" immediately, because he obviously has no real love or respect for his own people.

Name: NYCsoul

Comment: kady & Dr. Smooth: Exactly! I take nothing this man says seriously! He too is guilty of making all kinds of outrageous and insulting remarks about his own people. He is a straight up fool!

Name: DCGG

Comment: MrUnapologetic - I totally co-sign...most ministers ain't shyt these days...

Name: MOTHERSHIP

Comment: And the fact remains that Kramer's use of the word and the other things he said was rooted deeply in what he truly believed. This wasn't just about him slangin' the word "%*$!(" around, it was about pre-1863 hatred. That's a whole 'nother matter altogether. A hatred that's deep seated and deep rooted.

Name: MissE

Comment: DCGG> you forgot to type IMAO in your post.

Name: MissE

Comment: sorry, IMO

Name: oldsoul

Comment: Peace ya'll. McNasty, I co-sign...as you know, I've been battling those who blame it solely on Hip-Hop for a while. MOTHER, you know what's up sista, I ain't even got to say it. But I do want to take a moment and say "thank you" to the Father/Mother for allowing this all to manifest - it's Divine. Peep it. See, we can debate the N-word forever and I believe we will forever have different opionions and that's perfectly cool. We, as a people, MUST learn to disagree with each other without the name-calling-- that's for kids not adults. As a race of people, have we fully matured? Check this out: name one word in the English language that was once used but is now banned. F*ck, %*$!, b*tch, kike, dyke, dick, p*ssy, gringo, chink, faggot, wop, spic and n*ggger are still going strong and they're just a few. I couldn't think of one banned word and I'm glad because "full" freedom of speech is important to me. The N-word is directly linked to chattel slavery in Amerika, so when used by people other than those who are descendents of slaves it's disrespectful, sometimes hateful and always wrong. I don't think that's the issue 'cause it's a beaten up dead horse at this point. The underlying issue, IMO, is respect and where respect begins. TBC...

Name: SilentJay

Comment: To blame rap and the entertaiment industry for a word that has been applied to us(black people)nearly 300 years prior it's usage by SOME rap artist and entertainers today is too simplistic. And as some of the other comments have already pointed out, it wasn't just the N-word but the pithfork statemnet that preceeded it that really made it bad. Yes I've heard alot a rappers use it in thier rhymes and black comedians use it in thier routine and sometimes it's bothere me and othertimes it hasn't. I guess int depends on the CONTEXT in which it's being used. When Chris Rock in "Bring the Pain" says it, he was using to the word to lable the counter predouctive self destructive behavior of some black people. Now maybe some black people found it offensive but how else would explain people shooting at movie screens and men wanting special credit for taking care of THIER kids and women on welfare having six kids(witch stop funking!). I've also heard so called consciensous rappers drop the n-bomb in thier rhymes and I was put off a little by it but I try to take the whole message into consideration not just one word. Maybe if we(Americans) new that the word orginially comes from the niggardly which means stingy with money and that's a term that can apply to anyone regardless of color we wouldn't use it.(cont).

Name: SilentJay

Comment: Maybe if we(Americans)new the history of the dergagory epithet(N!!!ger)and how it was originally applied to the poor white europeans of on non-anlgo saxon descent who came here in the begining of the century and were under educated and disenfranchised and as a result of many them started commiting crimes including domestic violence, robbery, rape, and forming the "Gangs of New York" which was orginially called New Amsterdam and that it was only after black people migrated from the south in to those north eastern cities and were even more under educated and disenfranchised than the previous tenants of the urban dwellings and became victims of the same socio-ecnonomic conditions that lead to the formentioned behavior did that word shift from broke whites to even more broke blacks as means to seperate blacks from whites phycologically and socially(make white people good feel good about being broke)Maybe then we wouldn't use the word in any context because it was never meant used by anyone in humor or hatred. Listen I don't have the answer because even I'm conflicted about the use of the N-word but maybe its time we as Americans finally sit down and talk this out of systems and maybe the conversation could start with a little historical context and not just the usual blame the other guy rhetoric the Rev is too quick to use.(You may fire when ready)

Name: oldsoul

Comment: The underlying issue, IMO, is respect and where respect begins. SilentJay> good post, bro'. If we kinda just stand back from the use of "the word" for a minute and take a long, hard look at the condition of our people I believe the absence of love and respect stand out. Love is a very powerful concept, after all, God is Love and God is. Unfortunately, most of us don't really know what Love is...after all, who were our teachers and who taught them? Just because you say you love someone is not love. Sex is not love. Buying gifts is not love. Being nice is not love. However, Love is all of the above. Tap into your Self, Love is right there on the front pew smiling, waiting. Then out of Love comes respect. Respect starts with Self and extends out to all. As a collective Self (Black people), there is no real respect among us. If we had respect for ourselves, the problems that we deal with would never have become problems. We wouldn't mistreat our women because we'd have respect for life. We wouldn't kill our brothers because we'd have respect for family. We wouldn't abandon our children because we'd have respect for the ancestors. Respect just won't allow a lot of bullsh*t to happen. And when we respect, respect is shown almost automatically. Then Kramer incidents and all the ones in between rarely happen and if by chance they do, the guilty ones not only apologize but they pay the full price-- out of respect.

Name: sweetpea

Comment: I agree the n word is derogatory period and it doesn't mean African-American but because of the way it was used toward African-Americans it is unacceptable in my book. No one should be using the word period.

Name: oldsoul

Comment: This board seems to be pretty much shut down for the day but I re-read my last post and the other post after mine and I need to be the first to admit I was wrong. I was wrong because this article is a part of the Gospel Pages and there are probably many that come to EUR specifically to see what's happening in the Church who don't use what society calls profanity. I could have very well used "foolishness" instead of bull$#!* because they're mostly one in the same. I forgot where I was, so out of respect for those who frequent the Gospel Pages, I apologize. Peace...

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