Sat, Nov 21, 2009
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: Personally, I'm really shocked about Paul Mooney's revelations. I've seen him on network t.v. talk shows over the years and think he's funny. The fact that both the n-word and b-word have been a part of his routine have me speechless. He always struck me as too intelligent for that. His angle seemed more intellectual than raw. But in hindsight, he was keeping it clean for network t.v. which explains why I didn't know. His decision to use the word heifer as a substitute is just as derogatory in my opinion. Why not just show genuine respect for women? I don't understand how someone as intelligent as him has a bankrupt vocabulary when it comes to words to call females. And, as far as Chamillion's statement about how the n-word has grown in our culture-well, my response is this. Like weeds, you take it out by the root and get rid of it!!
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: Oh, and one more thing. As for those rappers and comedians who refuse to give up using the word because it might put a dent in their profits, isn't this just like the backstabbing slaves who sold other slaves into slavery because of their greed? Still doing it, aren't we?
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: SewRite, you're SO RIGHT!! There will be rappers who'll continue to use this hateful, racist word just to be "different and rebellious" and earn street currency. They realize their appeal is artistically mariginal and feel that any "change in course" would place them in the "sub-marginal" artistic category. You're SO RIGHT, they are just like those house slaves who'd run back to "Ole Massa" and tell him what the field slaves were planning. I checked with some of the African, Yoruba griots and found out some of the surnames of these house slaves whose descendants live among us. They spiritually revealed to me this list: Thomases, Fords, Rices, Williamses (Walter & Armstrong), Sowells, Watts a la J. C. sub-par Okla. quarterback. SewRite, you're SO RIGHT!
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Name:
whatdat
Comment: I don't want Mooney or anyone else to stop using the epithet. Rappers who use it, when negotiating contracts with the Jewish or white person sitting across the table trying to cheat and/or lowball them should blast them repeatedly with the term. Those on this board that use it should take it to work and call their white bosses niger--all day every day. Some of you like your white bosses, so you should tell them, "You my niga." Mooney should have called the reporter, if she was white, niger not honey. Those who use the word should say, "What's up niga", when they go on job interviews or apply for bank loans with whites. Most importantly of all, when those who feel there is no problem with the term see white polices sitting in a car, they should go up and say, "What you nigers doing?". Better yet, say that to them when they are making an arrest. Judges also should be addressed as nigers. Yall who use it say no problem. If that's true you should not limit it to Black people. Don't be no punk use it will ALL people. Start today!
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Name:
FiveMore
Comment: Khufu,You were right!Now there is a referendum on using the N-word.Our "black leaders" sucessfully turned the spot light off of Kramer and
placed the blame squarley on us!Kramer is now vindicated and he can continue to say the word in the privacy of his own home.WOW!!!Scott-Free
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Name:
MusicFanatic101
Comment: WHATDAT: Your comment was an eyeopener for me. You are exactly right!!! Brilliant!!!
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Name:
ImJustAsking
Comment: "oh honey" is Paul Mooney gay?
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Name:
McNasty
Comment: It's a start and all of those interviewed here have a large following, Paul Mooney included. Thank you Paul.
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: I commend Paul for taking a public stand. Thank you. As far as taking the spotlight off "Kramer", he is one small, unimportant man who put a large, important issue in the spotlight. IMO it's not a matter of blame, but a matter of how we as a people are represented to the larger world. For better or worse, our athletes, actors, musicians, rappers, etc. are how most of the world "learn" about us as a people. Personally, I don't want to be misrepresented as a n*gga, n*gger, ho, b*tch, etc. shucking and jiving on a different level. I said on another post yesterday, if black people feel n*gga is "our" word, keep it in "our" house. re: heifer, I find it a whole lot less offensive and all encompassing that the b*tch.
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Name:
coneyi
Comment: FiveMore...We were talking about that at work the other day. They ("Prominent Black Leaders")shifted this back on us, mainly the rappers.
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Name:
FiveMore
Comment: Well the black leaders need to ban BET,
black radio and all of the other negative outlets.
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Name:
rozzyr
Comment: I've never liked the word and know enough about my culture to know that there's no way you can make that word positive. The only people using the word so freely are those who really don't know their history and how much their ancestors went through not just dealing with the word but the treatment behind it. We are going downhill fast. If parents don't start teaching these kids about the past, we'll end up right back on the plantation. Affirmative action is about to become a thing of the past. What's next? Meanwhile we'll be sitting here talking about some white man using the "word." White people are too politically correct and smart to say the word out loud but I can guarantee you, a whole lot of them think and say it in private and not the way a lot of these rappers are using it.
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Name:
HoneyMack
Comment: The problem with the word n1gga is that it has been used for so long by comedians and in the mainstream that now 25/20's and everybody think it is ok to say the word. It is now equivalent, to saying "homeboy, partna, etc". I have heard plenty of non-blacks say it in general conversation among one another not using it in a derogatory way. They use the word when greeting one another and giving "shout outs". It has been in use for too long, and is now too late to call for a ban as it is part of our language. You can't put the cart after the horse. Now everybody up in arms and want to ban the word, ain't gone happen. We can't even get together and stop cops from killing innocent black men in the streets, like the young man shot 50 times the night before his wedding, but y'all want to ban a phuccing word. Give me a phuccing break. Guns and bullets kill. Words don't kill. I need "US" to come together and fight for something better than banning a word, because thats never going to happen
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Name:
Fran
Comment: I agree we should stop using it for no other reason than when whites have asked me over the years, "why is it so offensive of a word, when it comes out of a non-black persons mouth." I dont care how you sing about slavery. There is no rationale to it. We should not say it as well. Now, if we do say it and keep it mainstream, then we have no right nor a real logical argument against others use of it. We cant logically say, " WELLL I CAN SAY IT, BUT YOU CANT. and IT IS NIGGAHH not %*$!(@. It is different" I am sorry but eventually we are not going to be able to stop whites from saying Niggah casually, if we do not stop our use as well.
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Name:
DCGG
Comment: Paul Mooney shut your gay azz up - your old bytch azz just trying to jump on the bandwagon all of a sudden and get some media, nothing more, how you gonna work with Richard Pryor a million mofo years ago and just NOW decide to stop using that mofo word...bytch please...
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Name:
TRTR
Comment: Oh just stop using the word except when referencing it in its historical context -- which was from racist Whites against enslaved Blacks. How will NOT using that word hurt us? In fact, NOT using the word will EMPOWER us. Come on people, wake up and realized that using that word is NOT working for us -- it's working against us. Check out www.banthenword.org for information that will empower and enlighten us.
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: It's all part of the same problem. We are disrespected in many arenas and IMO we shouldn't be doing and saying things that promote that disrespect. If they perceive us as n*iggers and feel comfortable voiceing and expressing that because it's use is so prevalent maybe it's not a big leap to shooting us. We perceive mice as bad and nasty and therefore have no problem killing them. Now if someone went on a campaign to change the image of mice, we might start to look at them differently and act accordingly. Simplistic, but you get my point.
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Name:
HoneyMack
Comment: YLawdY>> point made, point taken
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: WHATDAT: Thanks for the eye-opener, it's something really to think about. I will use your rationale when I run into another youngster at the H. S. where I volunteer when I hear that dreadful word. They always tell me, "yo, old skool brotha, we be just using dat word just to be real. Ain't no offense at tall. Now, its not hard to understand that Mexican students who been here only 2 or 3 years are scoring HIGHER than African-American MALES at this school, North Central H. S> Indpls. IN in math and VERBAL skills. Thanks for that pearl of wisdom that will augment my arsenal. You've made my day!!!
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Name:
khufu
Comment: im sorry..didnt Richards say something about Black folks hangin' from a tree?
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Name:
khufu
Comment: man, white folks control ya minds.....right on cue you guys perpetuate the mass hypnosis and self-enslavement....RICHARDS said more than the N word.....dont ya see they are spinning you and youre engaging in the act of helping them to spin? LOL it's sad...I know the story in now about the N word and not the racist remarks Richards said but your response should be...."The N Word is not all he said..." again they have turned you, the Black victim, into the perpertrator..they got yall hatin' yourselves and you dont even know it LOL lawd hab mercy!
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Name:
khufu
Comment: fivemore watch this
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Name:
gtann404
Comment: whatdat, excellent point!
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Name:
letmein
Comment: Damn, I can't believe I'm about to say this...***breathe...breathe...** Khufu, I agree with you. I wasn't half as offended about the "N" word as I was about him talking about us hanging from a tree with a fork up our azz! Baztard!!
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Name:
katgrrrl
Comment: Wow, HoneyMack, Khufu, Whatdat, Rozzyr, YLawdY, I couldn't agree more with what you're sayin'. And to get off topic for a sec, I've wondered about Mooney's...erm, lifestyle myself a few times. I Love him to death, but I have wondered...
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Name:
MissE
Comment: Khufu, is that our fault or theirs? Are we as a race so naive that we let them do this to us? Should we be blaming the white folks or ourselves, the black folks?
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Name:
B00TANEB00TUS
Comment: I was listening to KRS1 and Mooney discussing the use of the word...Mooney's gonna stop and KRS wants to only use the word in certain contexts...They talked about issuing a Pass to use the word...I respect Kris as an artist, but setting rules about how and when to use the word is ridiculous...It's not that Krammer said the word, it's what he said after...You will never hear a comedian get sooooo riled up that he'll make holocaust remarks...That sh1t ain't gon happen...He11 you won't hear Horoshima remarks...I say fucc Krammer for the lynching remark...He can show his punkazz apologizing all he wants...What he said cut us all...These so-called leaders should be taking his beyotch-azz to task for that...Nigg@h ain't going away...It's too profitable and has taken on a life of it's own...Go take a look at any picture of Black folks being strung up and burned or listen to Strange fruit...That sh1t was totally fucc'ed up...Fucc Krammer...I used to enjoy watching Seinfield...It didn't bother me that there was'nt many Blacks on the show...The sh1t was funny...When I see it now, all I wanna do is beat the sh1t outta Krammer....
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Name:
HoneyMack
Comment: letmein>> ok hello, thats where i got pizzed.. dayum the word.. he was talkin about stringing folks up, that what we should be made about!!
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Name:
PHScott
Comment: If you check out "The Richard Prtor Show" DVD, in the roast Richard Pryor referred to Paul as "Miss Thing" and also said Paul was with him when he "f**ked his first f*gg*t." It really didn't sound like he was joking, either. It don't matter, though- Mr. Paul Mooney is one of the funniest comics around and is brilliant in the field. Onto the matter at hand, people make personal choices about their use of certain words, plain and simple. Applaud them if they want to make positive changes for themselves. I, on the other hand, will call you a b*tch if you're acting like one, or a 'ho if you're wearing the uniform. I try not to use ni**a in public, but if you're acting like one, well, there it is. Finally, it amazes me that rappers and moguls name themselves after criminals of OTHER RACES (Noreaga, Gotti, etc.) and want us to take them seriously about Black causes. Get a clue...
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Name:
NueNue
Comment: I agree completely with Khufu, Richards said more then just the n word he said “if this was 50 years ago”… its not just about the N word. But that is all people are caring about. That’s disgusting. And I’m not trying to be funny but I read this:
“yo, old skool brotha, we be just using dat word just to be real. Ain't no offense at tall. Now, its not hard to understand that Mexican students who been here only 2 or 3 years are scoring HIGHER than African-American MALES at this school, North Central H. S Indpls. IN in math and VERBAL skills”
And I thought to myself, this sounds like something a white man who writes for a sitcom would say. And what does saying the N word have to do with high grades in school. You can blame that on neglect for students or parents participation or even just a bad a$$ kid but not a word. I said the N word all the time and I was in the advanced classes in an all white school from Washington State…Just from reading your comments I would have to say maybe you should think about your statement and try again. “old skool brotha”
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: Hmmm.... it's clear to me just by the responses on this board that the N-word ain't going no where anytime soon. Some think its okay and others (myselfe included) believe it should be banned. I said this before and I will say it again... WE CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS! If we want to continue use the N-word then we need to stop being offended when we're called the N-word by blacks, whites, hispanics or whomever! All that BS about the N-word being a term of endearment and desensitizing ourselves with excessive use is silly! It's still a load word in the mouth of the wrong person. We control its impact BECAUSE it was design to inflict pain and degradation. In our spirit this is clear... despiter our worldy thinking. Why is that so hard to understand? It's not algebra, People. I applaud Paul for taking a stance and anyone else who follows him. As for the rappers who couldn't refrain for just one moment to give an intelligent curse-free interview, it's clear we've failed some damn where. No social responsibility. No cultural pride! No damn self-respect!
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: Sorry about the typos and missing words - I was trying to type at the rate my thoughts were being generated. Forgive me!
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Name:
PHScott
Comment: Couldn't agree with MrUnapologetic more...
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Name:
sgrantla
Comment: Why do you care if Mooney is gay or not??? I assume you're not sleeping with him.
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: khufu...good morning. I found his other remarks to be more disturbing than his use of the N word, but when it comes down to it what is more important, taking this one mental midget to task for daring to voice his personal feelings or a call for all of us to demand a higher level of true respect across the board? O.K. we can not watch Seinfeld or go to Richard's shows (wasn't doing either anyway), but what will spark a larger accountability..concentrating on one man's lynching remarks or having open dialogue about what we should or should not accept as the norm for our people?
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Name:
sgrantla
Comment: Back to the real issue.... I was more offended by Richards saying "50 year ago we were hanging from a tree..." than niggerr because it sounds like feelings he kept under his skin. Also as someone said before, we need start at the root of the matter. Meaning stop using niggerr and niggah completely. I don't care if you refer to your dawgs as niggah. Niggah came from niggger! Get educated DCGG and to anyone else who think it is okay to use this word. We as Afro-American / Blacks need to stop completely and change the way we are look at. Start today. It takes time but when we see others doing it we all start to see the light!!!
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Name:
NueNue
Comment: oh yeah and im not african american. i am american or black i hate that afro and african american crap. i've never been to africa stop saying i am. We dont call white people german american or italian american
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Name:
queeniebunz
Comment: Here is the thing - we can shut down these rappers who use the "n" word. We are the parents of the CHILDREN who buy this crap they call rap music. We are the ones with the money NOT the kids. Why are WE allowing our kids to purchase filth that degrades women and routinely refers to ourselves as the "n" word? We are to blame for this mess being so popular. Every time we say "oh, I just listen for the beats" and ignore the nasty language, we are giving the record companies the message that they can continue to produce this garbage. And it is garbage. We are to blame because we could keep our money in our pockets but instead we give in to these children who badger us into buying that mess. I don't have kids myself but I don't buy stuff like that for my nieces/nephews - why do those of you with kids allow them to buy this mess? Why do you allow them to dress like thugs? Why do you allow your girls to dress like little baby hookers? WHY? Please let me know.
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Name:
NYC1
Comment: The N-word is big business and generates billions in entertainment and sports so one or two people not saying the word will not change that. It's a big part of hip hop culture. I applaud Paul Mooney for taking a stand.
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Name:
HoneyMack
Comment: NueNue>> thank you.. Can i get an AMEN!!! i am NOT African American, quit calling me that. I am not from Africa and i don't know that heritage, when you call me that i feel you are taking away from the ones that are here from Africa and know of their heritage today right now. Asian-Americans and Mexican-Americans speak in their native tongue, eat their native food and know of their heritage so they have earned that right. Quit trying to as*similate me into one because of the color of my skin.
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: Maybe because the parents are buying the music and maybe daddy dresses like a thug and mom dresses like a hooker? Is it really children that are buying the majority of this or young adults? Not buying it for your kids is a start, but there are so many avenues for them to still be exposed> With ipods, computers, download sites, it's not realistic to think parents can censor all of these outlets. A bigger problem is a lot of the kids that need the censoring won't get it because they have parents that don't get it. Who protects them?
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: I get what you're saying, Queeniebunz. Although I don't have any children of my own, I have nephew and nieces and I am always challenging to be responsible in the music choices, friendships and all other life decisions. Parents definitely have a lot of power and should really pay more attention to what their kids watch on TV and listen to in their IPods. Unfortunately that's not happening hence the problem we're facing today!
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Name:
NueNue
Comment: Honey mack. Everytime some one calls me african american i give them a blank stare and correct them. We should always acknowledge that we are americans.
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Name:
HoneyMack
Comment: Queeniebunz>> u are right, i am an old school mother. I buy the clothes so I make sure the clothes fit properly, belts are worn everyday, when i buy music as much as i don't like Wal*mart, i buy the cd's for them there because they only sell the edited version, I go through the MP3 player to see what other music has been downloaded.
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: Nuenue, as much as I agree with you, I have to say that your issue is somewhat beyond the scope this conversation because WE CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S OKAY TO BE CALLED THE N-WORD!
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Name:
PlanetRock
Comment: Paul Wall hit the nail on the head by saying that his mother would not allow anyone to use the word (including him). That's where it starts - at home. As simple as it sounds, everything starts at home. The word was not used in my household, and I can recall my grandmother mentioning that people use the word because they cannot express themselves as proud men. As an adult, I "get" what she meant. If we think about it, why would anyone on this earth want to use that word for anyway...and it should not take a Kramer incident to open discussions about the word. No one culture owns any word, so if you don't like the word...guess what...don't use it, period. BTW, Paul Mooney said "oh honey" (giggling)
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Name:
HoneyMack
Comment: MrUnapologetic37.. no its not ok, but the word is not going anywhere, it is ingrained in our language.
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Name:
Bertie
Comment: Khufu--as much ish as you take on these boards at times--you are on the money with this one. Noone is even talking about the pitchfork in the azz, lynching statement. Kramer openly wished for the times when a white man could kill a black man with impunity--the whole nigg#r issue is a red herring, and you're right its meant to throw responsibility for Kramer's outburst back on us because we're the biggest promoters of the word today (thru music, comedy, general convo, etc.) But we've never promoted lynching each other and focusing on that part of Kramer's outburst would leave the debate squarely on Kramer (and white america's lingering racism and growing hostility towards us).
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Name:
theLinNC
Comment: Am I missing the point of the “Kramer” rant in which he uses the N word? I hate the N word, do not use it and do not let anyone use it around me. My view is that anyone who freely uses it has low self esteem of themselves and others. But since some of our people have starting using this word as a term of endearment, the Pandora’s Box is gone off that word. It is NEVER going to be shut down. No matter how you perceive the word
After hearing ‘Kramer’s” rant I was more disturbed by his use of language of “at one point in time we would have your N azz hanging from a tree with a pitch fork up you azz”. That has raciest connotations than the N word. I guess it made the N word made it worst due to the context of the statement.
But the statement comes from a NERVER WAS COMIC. One man, one voice. Does he represent all white people? No. Do people think like he does? Yes. Will some people always think like he does? Yes
Here comes Pimp Jesse and of all people Mr. Paul “25 worst N$%^ Moments in History” (BET SPECIAL) Mooney. Pleezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. This is a dialog for nothing, to do nothing about nothing. I am sure those 2 black gentlemen in the comedy club have been called worse names by better people than “Kramer”, now they want to sue for distress. Plezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz All this buzz over 1/4th comedian. Don’t we as black people have bigger problems?
Let’s teach our children right from wrong, teach our kids the difference between reality and a song. Teach our kids there is prejudiced and ignorance, how to recognize both and don’t be either. To fight for causes worthy and true and to never follow ideals of a fool.
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Name:
TRTR
Comment: If more of us knew the legacy of our African history (before White colonialism and all that) we'd be proudly calling ourselves African. Remember, our ancestors were stolen/kidnapped from AFRICA and brought to America, which was then built from free slave labor. We've got so much learning to do about our African heritage, which is why using the N-word (a word put on us by slavemasters) is so destructive for us. We've got a long road ahead, but on it we must go...
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Name:
HoneyMack
Comment: PlanetRock>> psst, Paul Wall is a 25/20 so really he had no bidness using the word n-e-way!
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Name:
PHScott
Comment: Well, I sincerely hope Michael Richards gets his issues resolved. I also hope we as people can one day come together instead of continually segmenting ourselves among racial/political/economic/religious lines. You know, it's funny that we are called Black, caucasians are called White, Asians are Yellow, Hispanics Brown, etc. Perhaps we should all just be crayons...
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Name:
NueNue
Comment: MrUnapologetic37 although I appreciate your opinion I can not agree with you. At all.
The subject is that word but it’s also about the fact that they turned this situation into "it’s your fault black America so stop doing it" If I’m not mistaken Michael Richards said the N word numerous time BUT first made the racist comment. SO it’s about a lot of things. It’s a dirty word but we didn’t say it. That white man did. I don’t condone that.
THEN he had the audacity to say he apologizes to the afro Americans... the whole situation isn’t right....so I’m not just worried about should I stop saying it I’m pizzed at even if I did say it why is that a scapegoat for him?
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Name:
theLinNC
Comment: TRTR - I do not have a problem with african- american history, but not all of us black people came from Africa that were involved in the slave trade. The majority of Africans do not consider us african americans since non of that culture survived our 300years of slavery and they look down upon the American black for being weak and enslaved. I am BLACK and I and PROUD. And sccording to your brith year you can be a host of things on yoru birth certificate -- My grandmother did not have a birth certificate born 1895: My mother and Father are Negro's 1929, my sister is colored 1956: I am Black 1966 : 1 neice is afro-american 1981 the other neice is african american 1984 . So .........
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Name:
theLinNC
Comment: apologies for the typo's
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Name:
TRTR
Comment: theLinNC, we've all -- those of us born here in America as well as Africa -- been conditioned to think a certain way about one another. Most of us have been miseducated through an education system set up by White supremacy/racism here in America as well as White colonialism takeovers all across Africa. All of that over HUNDREDS of years has led to the "issues" that are supposedly between Africans born in Africa and Blacks or African-Americans born in America. The bottom line is we all come from ancestors who were BORN in AFRICA, which makes us Africans. Again, Africa is where everyone's beginnnings are, Africa is where mathematics, philosophy, science, art, etc., etc., ALL began. But due to the falsification of history from our enslavers and colonialists, that history has been greatly distorted. But if any of us takes the time to do some research on our African history, everything will be there hidden in plain sight. All it takes is a commitment of time to find out, which unfortunately too many of us will not do. I've shared this before, but here it goes again, search for Cheikh Anta Diop, John Henrik Clarke, Molefi Asante, Asa Hilliard, Yosef ben-Jochannan, Jacob Carruthers, Amos Wilson, John G. Jackson, and Marimba Ani for starters. There are many, many more, but these individuals are excellent starts. For the most part, you will rarely hear about them in school and will have to self-educate. But if you take the time to research their books and writings, you will truly be enlightened and empowered and not be debating about whether to call yourself American or African. The bigger picture is knowing, understanding, and appreciating your history way before ENSLAVEMENT in America.
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: IMO...our history in this country has shaped who we are today moreso than our ancestors history in Africa pre-slavery has. Study the history for the sake of knowledge, but I don't see it redefining for me what I should be called in 2006 especially knowing how I'm perceived in BOTH countries.
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Name:
akosuaa
Comment: EXCELLENT POINTS TRTR!! When u know your history, u know WHO U ARE and WHAT TO CALL URSELF! And u recognize the hands of the oppressor on your mindz, behavior, etc. It's no justification for the use of the word, PERIOD! Not by us and MOST DEFINITELY BY WHITES. RECOGNIZE self hatred, bigotry, and mental enslavement by knowing who u REALLY ARE, not what somebody else wants u to be!
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Name:
TRTR
Comment: YLawdY, not sure if you studied the history or not, but I feel maybe you haven't. If I'm wrong then, pardon me. But when/if you do, I'd love to hear your comments after studying our history. Somehow I think you'll better see the connectivity.
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Name:
beegirl
Comment: I agree that the most offensive part of Kramer's rant was about lynching/killing, but I don't think that we should sweep the N debate aside either. I am glad that we are talking about this on a national level. If the N word is so positive to/for us now, then we shouldn't be offended when anyone says it in any context. We all know that they call us that under their breath, and when we call each other that, they probably laugh because we are proud to refer to ourselves in a derogatory way. And to all the people who say "The word is too ingrained in our culture. One person doesn't make a difference, so why try?" I am so glad that our ancestors were not as defeatest as you all are because we'd still be using separate bathrooms and riding in the back of the bus. I had a negative experience where a former friend from another country started using the word around me, and when I called her on it, she said that's what she thought we all LIKED to be called. I hate that word.
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Name:
ChocolateBrownGal
Comment: I don't need any 25/20 OR Black Leader to tell me about my responsibility or leading "the Movement" to stop using the N-word. We r Grown-Azz folks! I am accountable for my actions...just me. I do not use the N-word. I'm also responsible for curtailing the use of it in my presence, so if another brotha or sistah repeatedly uses the N- word in my presence, I should be bold, angry & comfortable enuf to tell them of my discomfort and my offense to the word. My peers should respect me enuf to cease using it in my presence, if not I'm shutting the conversation down. As for the comment above about rappers unable to give an intelligent curse-free and respect for women interview or song...AMEN!!! Again, BET as well as VH1 need to stop airing these fools and we need to stop buying their CDs.
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Name:
MajorG
Comment: I HOPE OUR ARTISTS AND ENTERTAINERS WILL FOLLOW SUIT AND NO LONGER USE THE "N" or "B" words.Delores Tucker had it right all along now it takes the Kramer Racist" to alert our race the offensiveness of these words in referring toour OWN.I gues better late than never.Now lets all follow through and rid our vocabulary of the words.
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Name:
theLinNC
Comment: TRTR- I have completed some of this reading and some others not mentioned, I understand the concepts you are bring to the table. You are right all life started in Africa - all people from all continents are African American and no other race claims this fact except for black people because it is undeniable. I feel the plight for my people on the African continent, I feel a since of kinship for a place I only have genetic memories of. But for 300 years my history, my family, my people’s history is here in the United States. I can no more claim Africa as my home land as I could the Antarctic. Nor can I clal my self a Native- American for having some of that heritage. I know my place in this world and where my heritage and loyalty lies, but my 300 years as a slave, Negro, and black experience does not tie in the African- American concept. Because all other races that use the hyphen moniker, Italian- American, etc, came here by choice. The kept ties and family bonds with their homeland and people. They chose to be Americans, we did not.
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Name:
theLinNC
Comment: a rose by any other name is still a rose.
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: Nuenue, I was being sarcastic!
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Name:
LawdHvMrcy
Comment: 'Scuse me, but isn't a 'heifer' a young female cow? Does Mr. Mooney believe that the term 'heifer' is any better than refering to a woman as a female dog? Lawd Have Mercy. Imma add him to my prayer list.
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: theLinNC ...well said.
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Name:
YLawdY
Comment: Oh, hush, cuzzin heifer.
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Name:
LawdHvMrcy
Comment: Well MOOOOOOOOOOOOO back at you, Cuzzin Lawd! lol
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Name:
FiveMore
Comment: I made it back now.Khufu, Are you ready for class?
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Name:
FiveMore
Comment: Lawd, What about wanch/wench(sp) or strumpet? Would he use those words to address females.They are all bad to me!
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Name:
MOTHERSHIP
Comment: TRTR I've be advocating that to these folks for years now. A house without a foundation cannont stand and one has to know of whence he came.
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Name:
Tiedie
Comment: Ok...maybe I'm old and slow, but what the hell is 25/20? I have never seen or heard that expression before.
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Name:
ChocolateBrownGal
Comment: >>>tiedie it's slang for "whitey". THe 25th and 20th letters of the alphabet
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Name:
Tiedie
Comment: A hispanic co-worker asked me how I felt about not using the N-word on yesterday. Like I told him, I come from a time and place where that word in any variation was not pleasant, or endearing, and resulted in an instant beat down of many "25/20"'s when I growing up. I also told him I came from a self-respecting Black family that did not allow that type of negative, self-denigrating behavior. Other races take the images they see on TV, or the words they hear on the radio and use them to form their opinions about us. You never see them looking at college campuses, churches, or other respectable venues when they want to learn about black people. You see them in our clubs, restaurants, or any other place where we're cursing loudly, grabbing our crotches, and acting a plumb AZZ fool. To them, that is the black experience. Whenever they want to express an attitude, they all want to do the ghetto black girl impression. When they want to be "down", they try to speak slang. Sure, we can't control what other people say or think, but we can stop giving the ammunition to continue sniping at us. This whole thing with the N-word is about personal responsibiity. It's time for us to stop being so eager to entertain, and start mobilizing to take our rightful as a progressive and respectful people like our ancestors did.
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: LawdHvMrcy>That is what I stated at the very beginning of this thread. His decision to use the word heifer as a substitute for the b-word is just as derogatory. Why is his vocabulary suddenly bankrupt when thinking of names to call females? Does he hate women? I'm beginning to wonder...It's clear he doesn't really respect us!!
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Name:
Angel
Comment: I don't think anybody has forgotten the other comments Michael Richards said besides the n-word. However, he's a washed up actor/comedian. What else can be done about him or to him? He has no current show to boycott or projects in the pipeline that we could put pressure on execs not to support. I think most people realize that it is a waste of time to focus on Richards at this point--he has no clout or power. If he were Tom Cruise and made those comments, all hell would've broken out because he's involved in many projects. I would hope we would come together and force those working with him to dump him and hold him accountable.
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Name:
LawdHvMrcy
Comment: Sewrite/Fivemore... We are >< on that. Unfortunately, I think Paul Mooney dislikes women, but for a whole different reason. (lol) I just found it to be odd that he thought that 'upgrading' women to heifers was a good thing. Truth be told, I have never found him to be funny, anyway. Didn't he get backlash earlier this year for talking negatively about Diana Ross?
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: queeniebunz, NYC1, and YLawdY>My sentiments, exactly. A lot of us CROWN these rappers who so blatently disrespect us. We crown them and we put them on thrones!!! We embrace them instead of rejecting them. WE SUPPORT THEIR GARBAGE AND FINANCE THEIR BLING BLING LIFESTYLES!!! Sound familiar? Making the oppressor rich. Too many Black parents allow their children to purchase or have access to this trash and then the community and society has to deal with the fallout! A couple of nights ago, Jay-Z was defending and justifying his disrespect of women on his cd's. Just come out and say it Jay-Z. You will degrade women IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT!!! So, just take your place along with all of the other sorry sell-outs!
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: Angel>I agree. Good point.
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: LawdHvMrcy>I haven't heard about the Diana Ross alleged incident, HOWEVER, I wouldn't be surprised if he did. The man clearly has issues with women!!
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Name:
whatdat
Comment: Tiedie, here is an approach (not better just different) for your Hispanic co-worker: What do you think about the s-word or the w...b... word? Then when he or she answers, a simple, "There you have it" probably would suffice to get the point across. Let i said, this is simply another way of dealing with such questions. It fits my personality because i don't feel i need to explain anything about my people to others.
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: NueNUe, you say you're from Washington State where not a lot of African-Americans live. You mock my statements about our young African-Americans disrespecting our ancestors and thus having poor language skills. You say you ain't no African because you've never been there. Great, Africans don't want no Uncle Tomming, wannabee on their continent!! Africa doesn't need just anybody!!!!!!!!!!!
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Name:
khufu
Comment: well i have said it amillion times and Ill say it one more.....Richards is a 33rd Degree Mason and Jesse and Sharpton were approached (Maxine Waters, too as an Eastern Star?) to protect him and not figuratively beat his azz...told ya'll
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Name:
khufu
Comment: im african
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Name:
khufu
Comment: ome miss the larger picture: 1) how the victim of racism and oppression constantly gets turned into the perpetrator--white folks and racism and white cultural supremacy is THE REAL ISSUE!; 2) Its larger than Richard--a white person can get away with publicly denigrating Black folks over and over and over--and Black folks do noting; 3) Black "leaders" sell out Black folks constantly (Jesse should have met with the two brothers who were offended by Richards); 4) white folks care nothing for Black folks 'cause most Black folks dont care anything about themselves......thosae are underlying issues of the Kramer Scandal....stop making it just about him and the N word---wake up already....
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: HOT DAMN khufu!!! You hit the nail on the head. The nerve of Jesse and 'em to give Richards the venue to make "amends". I have yet to hear of Jesse and 'em running to the aid of these young men, who are the true victims in this sordid event. No, they were left to seek the assistance of the white establishment. Well, Richards has finally agreed to a face to face meeting with these guys. I for one hope that this meeting(bribe) is in the best interest($) of these guys.
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Name:
NueNue
Comment: fanteeking-
You’re funny.
Number one I’m an Air Force brat so my parents being stationed in Washington at the time I went to high school was reason for me going to an all white school.
Second. I’m not African American. I’m black. I’m not from Africa. My ancestors are. I was born in America.
Third. The school, family and media is the reason for our young children failings in life not the n word. And last but defiantly not least...if you volunteer at a school talking the way you talk on this blog then maybe you should enroll in some classes with those same students you mock. Young people need good role models who lead by example not some one trying to "be down" and talk just as ignorant as they do if I am an uncle tom for succeeding and making a good example to other young females then I will be that.
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Name:
PHScott
Comment: In case you all forgot, each cast member of Seinfeld made ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER EPISODE in the final season, and they did 26-30 episodes. Do the math: He may be a washed-up actor, but he is set for life. I am in no way defending what he did, but I'm just lettin' y'all know that man ain't hurtin' for nothin'... Besides that, he is NOT the problem here- he is just the flashpoint for this round of discussions. If I recall correctly, we have been here before. Nothing happened then, nothing will probably happen now, and I probably won't live long enough to see the change actually happen. Forget about bad language- what we need to fight is the no-knock raids the police are using to crash into folks' homes.
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Name:
DCNupe
Comment: Khufu, dude I must give you props for what you started earlier this week with the entire Mason breakdown. I truly would not have looked at the situation that way, but after watching the boards and the national media for the past week, I must say you are ON POINT! This may be the last compliment you get homeboy. But you stuck in there and fought everyone by yourself, and you enlightened us all.
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Name:
DCNupe
Comment: I cant believe I'm writing this, but I think we have been hoodwinked, bamboozled, run amuck, and all that good/bad stuff. The blanket has been pulled over our eyes, BY OUR OWN LEADERS. We should stop using the world as a community. All us educated bright negroes should know about 5,000 other words that can be used. I watched Def Jam the other night, and it was disgusting how often the N-word was used, and not even to make a point. I'm going to the bathroom N$$ga, I'm hungry N**gga, That's my N**gga. People, something else can be substituted for that world. That word does not make most (95%) jokes more funny. I hate to say it, but its time to grow up. We say we want to be grown and sexy, well its time to grow up party people.
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Name:
Marlin
Comment: i have mixed feelings WE are so quick to jump on something like this such as a word......paul mooney is my play daddy by the way, and i would like to see him not say that word....lmao lmao! anyway, this is a perfect example of US being worried about what they say. i will not defend what comes out of my mouth if i said it; i meant it. what they need to understand is this IT AIN'T OK FOR YOU TO SAY IT. period. i was taught that age old rule as a child. it comes from somewhere else when i say it.when he said, it came from somewhere else that our parents and grandparents know al too well. you may not agree but i will not fake the funk and pretend a dad gummed thang. i am gainfully employed, intelligent, beautiful young lady and if i wanna say it; i'm gonna. so, go clear your credit, feed your kids, send them to school with healthy meals, quit having so many uncles for your kids they get 'em mixed and get your behind beat cause you are a freak as a mamma.......soo many other things to worry about besides this word that has no meaning to me......messy jesse and al shady? i was done with those two a looong time ago....ever heard of obama? now that's a class act.
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Name:
whatdat
Comment: NueNue, what does Prof. Geneva Smitherman, Dr. Ernie Smith, and Dr. Robert L. Williams--among others--say about what you are calling ignorant speech? Oops, wait a minute those are Black experts, but you went to an all white school. So what does the Linguistic Society of America say about our speech? We should be so very careful about calling others ignorant. There is always the danger of blow back.
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Name:
edondada
Comment: Wow, all it takes is one white guy onstage exposing his ignorance and we have world leaders debating the word. I thought we reclaimed the N-word a long time ago? To me and my generation it became a term of endearment, not the destructive, hateful, ignorant word it had been in the past. Are we that easy to get at? Yeah right, we should stop using the word - you really think that'll drain it's power?! If a joker like KKKramer can get this much reaction from uttering the N-word as a slur, imagine what would happen if someone with actual power used it? Especially after we bury it like Paul Mooney says he's going to do. C'mon Black people, let this one go. Oh, and whaddup, y'all still my n**gas!
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: edondada>It's called racism once again rearing its ugly head. I disagree with your position that we should "let it go". There is life and death in the power of the tongue!!! What is said and not said means everything. Those who insist on continuing to use the word ALMOST ALWAYS know WHEN NOT TO as someone already pointed out. You know why? Because they know its power!! We are discussing this issue because of vile things Richards SAID. Now, if words have no power then why are we talking about this then?
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Name:
edondada
Comment: Words have power because of how they're used. We reclaimed the N-word to take away its power. I could know a white guy all my life but he can never greet me with "What's up N"? I could know a Black man for 30 seconds and he could use the same term and it would be ok. That's us taking the word back. The old school don't like it because the word had different connotations to them. But if you were born in the last 30-40 years, you may not see the N-word the same way--particularly if you were raised in a predominantly Black community where the majority of times you're hearing the word from people who look like you, not people who are using it to demean you. We all know there are white racists who have used this slur and continue to use it. Why all of a sudden the big uproar? Because of Kramer? Are you kidding me? There's an uproar in the Black community, Jesse Jackson and Black Hollywood celebs having debates all because a washed-up sitcom star spews some racist bile? That's sad if that's all it takes to set us off.
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Name:
NueNue
Comment: What do you mean whatdat? If you’re talking about the way we all talk today that’s not ignorant speech. Not being able to put a sentence together when you type is ignorant. This is a discussion where you need to have thought out ideas and complete sentences. I didn’t like how he mocked the youth with there bad language but he couldn’t put a proper sentence together, then attacked me by labeling me an uncle tom because I went to school with the CAC's. Just because I did doesnt make me anyless black then anyone on this board.
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Name:
SewRite
Comment: Edondada>But why use a word that was once used by our oppressors as a "term of endearment" as you put it. As many words as there are in the English language why THAT WORD? A word that carries such hatred and evokes painful memories for so many. And, the confusion it has wrought because of the hypocritical double standard that says we can use it but other races can't. That's the point Oprah was trying to make to Ludacris but instead of taking to heart what she was saying he got offended. He's too busy making money off the n and b word for one thing. Personally, I have always been against the use of the word and so have a lot of other Black folks. It didn't take the Richards incident for me to speak out. I already have been. However, for some of us it did take Richard's racist tirade to give us a much needed wake-up call. A wake-up call for some of us to stop using a racially charged word that we get highly offended when others use that same word against us!!
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: >WHATDAT, please don't waste anymore of your billiant mind and profound logic on NueNue. After I returned from living in Ethiopia and learning their language years ago, I returned to Jersey and was happy with my newly acquired knowledge about Haile Selassie and the Amharic language. There was a very insignificant number of older African-Americans who would argue, "Boy why you speaking that African stuff and talking about that African history. I ain't no African! I was born in Bennetsville, S. C. and done lived in Englewood all my life. I hate Africans because they savage and cannibals!! These same folks were didn't realize that a tree with diseased roots bares rotten or dysfunctional fruit. NueNue saying he/she ain't African must gravitate him/her to the 'superior' civilization of europe. Let NueNue continue to talk like Samantha or Sam Suburbia, play frisbee and euchre with his/her vanilla suburban neighbors. Africa don't just accept just anybody....Mother Africa has high standards. I will NueNue to southeastern Yugoslovia. He/she should just just right at home. WhatDat, I admire your mode of thought. Your post are ALWAYS deep and on target!!!!
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Name:
NueNue
Comment: Fanteeking i dont even think YOU know what your talking about but its ok. I'll pray for you. I dont have to go to africa to be proud im black and to do good in life. Its sad that there are so many people like you who feel like an event or going through certain things makes you who you are. I dont come on this board to argue so back to the subjsect at hand. the subject of this board is still the n word ban and i am still going to stand by the fact that we shouldnt be focusing on the word but the comments he keeps down playing.
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: NueNue: I really don't need your sympathy nor your prayers. I'm doing just fine. As far as your illogical statement that life's experiences have no bearing on who you are. That's absurd. Certainly, it does! Do you think Dr. King or Malcolm would not have been the great Historical Icons that they are had they not tasted the bitter fruit or American racism? Do you think that Nelson Mandela would be the great World Leader that he is today if not for apartheid in South Africa and the many years he spent on Robbins Island for fighting for the freedom of South Africa? You're right you don't have to go to Africa and live there to be proud, but my experience is that it made me PROUDER of being African-American. You may consider yourself as American rather than African-American, but if you are identifiably African-American...but maybe you can pass for white...then the next time you see the tape of Michael Richards just realize that a whole lot of Americans feel that way about you. But, go ahead and salute the flag and be proud of Christopher Columbus and Tom Jefferson....that's your perogative as an American. But, the next time some 'American' calls you a N***er...just remember what ole Fanteeking told ya.
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Name:
NewSchoolPrincess
Comment: WOW. I thought this conversation was about micheal richards and people sayin N*gga. some people on this board are so proud of themselves they cant even stay on topic and have to boast about going to africa. LAME! anyway the topic is that dumb a$$ white man and junk so all i am gonna say is he shouldnt have said it. i'll say it if i want to. im black. he isnt and if he told me that 50 years ago i would have been hanging from something i probably would have acted an a$$.
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Name:
fanteeking
Comment: NewSChoolSista: You meddlin'!! Nobody wuz talkin' to you. Thatz how a lot of people get hurt on the street, stickin' their noses where it don't helong.
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Name:
NewSchoolPrincess
Comment: LOL, naw i was just sayin the board went alittle off course. When i meddle you will know. Im watching SNL and they new word for yall that dont like the word n*gga is Kramer. im still sayin n*gga, but yall can take that kramer joint and run wit it.
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Name:
barnone
Comment: to NUENUE....WOW!!! i'm not surprised by your comments as many Black Amerikkkans feel as u do. i am however, saddened. it's a very sad predicament when a person is so filled with self-hatred they attempt to disconnect themselves from their very roots. sure u may have been born in amerikkka but that is merely a result of the theft of your ancestors whom i'm sure r rolling n their graves at the sound of such ignorance.
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