(ThyBlackMan.com) Are you offended by this banner? If so, then this article will be of immense interest to you; if you are not offended…no need to read any further.
Saggin’ pants, the call for misogyny, wanton use of the n-word, glorification of thuggery and a gangsta way of life is atypical to former Black America. For the past 30 years, an element of ruin has taken over Black America while the silent majority sits back, watches and allows the community’s annihilation to continue. The time has come for the silent majority to wake up, stand up, and help clean up a mess created by proponents of a self-destructive mind-set—the mindset of the very definition of a “n**ga.”
It behooves BLACKS to re-claim their rightful and dignified place in history, or else, the race will remain irrelevant—presented as inferior, useless beings only taking up valuable space—in the pages of ancient history. The silent majority must take a look in the mirror and say: “Let it begin with me! And let me rest not until I have helped my community once again stand as a strong, viable, united, and honorable people.”
Black America must understand the game that has been played on the group and ACCEPT that the n-word—n**ger or n**ga—is the lifeline that feeds the on-going systemic destruction. Some believe that there are more important or prevalent issues occurring in the black community than to be worried about the use of the n-word. But what if the cause of all of those highly-significant and more pressing issues tied directly back to a “smaller, seemingly less important” factor?
For instance, if a small pebble chips a windshield, over time, the chip—if left unchecked—will turn into a crack, then a spider crack will appear. It will continue to grow and spread until the entire windshield looks like a massive, uncontrolled web. Ultimately, the entire windshield, no longer able to “hold it together,” will cave in under its own weight. This problem could have been resolved—or at least limited—early on by attending to the issue while it was small; but because it went unattended, you will now experience greater stresses and even bigger problems (i.e., having to pay more money to have the windshield replaced, dealing with the insurance company, unable to drive the car until it’s fixed, risking the windshield caving in and causing major physical harm, if not death, if an accident should occur, etc.).
It is the same with the n-word: Before any other pressing issues can ever be effectively and seriously resolved within the Black community, Blacks must first deal with the issue of freeing themselves from a 400-year-old life sentence of subconsciously accepting being referred to as the n-word. Unless the race can first demonstrate the ability to overcome a manipulative and centuries old mindset of mind control, Blacks will just simply continue to live in a paternalistic state of mind and be controlled by others, which is what the embracing of the n-word symbolizes. Even though the word may seem small in the grand scheme of other issues whirling about the community, it has tremendous impact and its effects serve as the root cause of those significant problems the black community faces.
Just imagine how the difficult tasks of many of these non-profit organizations trying to help the community would be so much easier if they didn’t have to ALSO deal with young, not-so-young, and the young-at-heart referring to one another as ni*ga/ers whenever they get angry or frustrated. Just imagine if they didn’t have to deal with lyrics (often in rap but sometimes in regular R&B songs as well) pushing this derogatory racial slur. Just imagine the positive difference of hearing “brother, sister, beloved, king, queen, prince, princess” 20-30 times a day – instead of hearing ni*ga/er 20-30 times a day
Although it is also undesirable and unacceptable to see and hear non-blacks use the pejorative term, their use is NOT the prevalent issue at stake or of concern because when we show self-respect, pride, and dignity, their use will diminish – the many who use it today, especially the youth, are only following what they see from us. The word, when used by a non-black, has NO POWER—unless Blacks give it power to wreck havoc on their emotions. Therefore, Blacks must learn to control their own emotions and stop giving the keys of control to others. Besides, whenever the black community on a whole decides to wake-up from the anesthetized present state, the group will have the capacity—simply through brain power—to inhibit any non-black’s use of the n-word.
Irreparable and psychological harm is done each and every time self-internalization of the word occurs. It’s no accident when rappers use the n-word in the same context with misogyny, glorification of thuggery, drugs and a gangsta lifestyle. The n-word could never be used in the same context of spirituality because the word is satanic in nature and not of God. It’s also no accident that this word is allowed to be promoted through rappers – we all remember the shutdown that happened when rappers tried to promote “kill the cops” type of rapping, right?
So, why do blacks silently sit by and allow self—as a group—to be referred to as and cursed by a word drenched in ignorance, racism, bloodshed, degradation, dehumanization, and carnage? Blacks and Black African Americans are far more superior than this, and must think more highly of themselves.
Blacks must realize the importance of change; in order to rejuvenate the black community; that change must begin within self first—moving from ignorance and apathy to ACTION. If upon initial viewing of the banner ad earlier in the text shocked you, made you feel uncomfortable or “rubbed you the wrong way” which should have been the case for any conscious black person, then you are likely annoyed when hearing the n-word used by Blacks and are ready to take a stand.
Join with the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. and allow the voices of the silent majority to be heard—loud and clear FOR ONCE—by signing the petition to denounce use of the n-word by any one of color. Then, pass the message on to others asking them to do the same. Take a stand on this issue and click on the link below to sign this petition.
Staff Writer; H. Lewis Smith
This talented brother is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. ( http://www.theunitedvoices.com ); and author of “Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word“.
Also follow Mr. Smith on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thescoop1
I must admit, BNWW and H. Lewis Smith is giving DG far more dialogue than the mind set signify’s that he or she deserves. No matter what an effort is pertaining to, there will NEVER be 100% acceptance or participation. Fortunately, 100% participation is NOT necessary for Black people to collectively Rise Up. Who is DG? Is this a Black or white person in reality, is this some joker that gets off on bull? The Black people that realize that embracing the “N” word is a sign of the residual affects of Chattel Slavery inflicted upon Black people in America, need to come together and get to work on the problem. We (Black people) have many issues that we need to deal with, and I know that we have to deal with them simultaneously. It’s not like lets work on this particular problem right now, and then racism next month, and teen pregnancy the month after, etc. etc. All of OUR problems (issues) are priority, and should be treated as such. Those that have a genuine concern, when is the last time you did volunteer work at an elementary school, or volunteer work anywhere for that matter, trying to lead by example? Our words are like prayers, we have to put some feet on them and NOT just talk. We have to talk the talk AND walk the walk. Go into the schools, and each one TEACH some. A Black Man Who Cares, Lorenzo B. Gray
The following should be disturbing to all liberated thinking Black African Americans… Memo to Black Kids: http://www.3lr.us/amj after you have read it let your conscious be your guide and proceed to:
http://www.change.org/petitions/black-african-americans-to-denounce-and-stop-referring-to-one-another-as-the-n-word-ngahs?share_id=KieLfUvvjt&pe=d2e
Reginald:
To be quite candid it is most unfortunate, senseless and illogical for this discussion to be taking place at all. Jews don’t discuss whether or not they should refer to each other as hymie or kike, for the simple reason they are not in the habit of doing it…at least not publicly…nor do they disrespect the memories of their ancestors, they simply refuse to condescend to such a level.
Latinos, don’t publicly go around greeting each other as wetbacks, disrespecting their ancestors and each other, therefore, no need for them to have such a senseless discussion as well…its only natural that you just don’t behave in such a fashion. Other than the Black African American no other group lower themselves to embrace a word that demeans and degrades them. Other than the Black African American no other group markets and promotes a word that dehumanized and devalued their ancestors.
It is insulting, humiliating and downright mortifying that Black African Americans don’t think enough of themselves to refrain from such infantile, childish and asinine behavior which we exhibit as a group, in embracing a pejorative term such as the n-word. It should not be happening…but since it does…those of us who are mentally liberated have no choice but to confront those who insist on dragging the memories of their ancestry through the mud, making a mockery of their struggles and sacrifices; insisting upon applying the lowest of standards to us as a group, determined to hold the race to inferior civilized standards of conduct and lack of principled expectations. This is unacceptable and inexcusable thus encounters pursue. Encounters that are entirely unfortunate and shouldn’t and wouldn’t be necessary if we had the utmost respect for ourselves and our ancestors and just thought more of ourselves in general. We have no respect for ourselves and all at the same time wonder out loud, why the rest of the world has no respect for us as well. The nonsense must…SOME HOW…come to an end.
My Brother DG, after reading your response to the non-use of the n-word for all black people somewhat disturbs me. On the one hand you mention some of our most prolific hero’s within the black community from our collective past; and on the other hand you seem to omit the very thing that they all worked so hard to eradicate (dehumanization). They focused on things like being treated as an “equal human being”, recognized for being the creative being that they (we) are to this very day and for experiencing the best that this life had to give. Additionally, they detested the use of the n-word because of what it represented then and today.
They knew that what others called you became a part of one’s consciousness – especially under the conditions that they heard that hideous word day after day. This word was so engrained in our ancestors that it still haunts many us to this very day. We can see the negatives effects of this word on our youth and some of our more mature folks who have never taken the time to investigate why we are the only group of people who still identify and embraces a word (internal image) that imprisons us on a daily basis with every use! This is the equivalent of being diagnosed with cancer and simply choosing to remain in denial – eventually the person dies from the condition and from not acting on sound information that deals with their current state or condition. Now would you say that this is an affective and rational response to one’s situation? I trust that I have awaken your consciences in regards to why each of us should stop using a word that absolutely does nothing for our collective wellbeing! Finally, I would ask you why no other ethnic group embraces a derogatory word to associate with themselves?
Consciously Black,
To all the commentors.
Someone please share with me why there needs to be one right answer. The folk who support the abortion of the N-word – work to abort it. The folk who believe something else – work to stamp that out. Collectively – much like a football team – we are all playing a critical role to achieve a collective effort.
What’s really sad is there is a debate rather than a conversation to see who will serve what role in the fight.
Brother DG, you make our point exactly!! Your reference to Garvey and Dubois sums it up. If we didn’t have the marketed n-word today – which was frowned upon during Garvey and Dubois’ time – we would be ABLE TO GET people to WANT TO KNOW ABOUT Garvey and Dubois – as well as “Malcolm, Marcus, Martin, Dubois, Washington, Turner, Tubman” that you reference above. Do you understand? That’s our goal — to get our people thinking BEYOND what is pushed upon them (music, education, etc.) so they will BE INSPIRED to learn about their great history pre-America and also learn about the Garveys and Duboises. As it stands right now, MANY of our people are not inspired to learn about any of these leaders or any of that important history you write about — and the pushing/promoting of the n-word is enforcing that miseducation and misinformation and disinformation campaign. Do you understand? Let’s work to move forward and not keep beating a dead horse.
DG
The n-word isn’t just a word, it is an image; an image that is considered to be sub-human and 3/5 of a human being. This is how your ancestors were looked upon. The racist system has conditioned you to DESPISE your ancestry which is why you don’t mind taking the very word that dehumanized them and will spend hours upon end trying to FIND justification to embrace such a word. A racist system has never given you permission to RECOGNIZE and HONOR your ancestors and never will. The same effort you are putting in to producing reasons for attempting to EMBRACE this word should be directed towards a movement to immortalize the memories of your ancestors. Blacks hold nothing sacred…ABSOLUTELY nothing and why is this? Because this is how you have been conditioned.
For almost 400 years a racist system has always given you the green light to relate yourself to the n-word. It will never give you permission not to…this you must find the STRENGTH and COURAGE to do on your own. Same for the honor and homage of your ascendants you have been conditioned to despise them. The memories, sacrifices and struggles of your ancestors if they were held sacred you would not be WASTING your time looking for justification as to why this word should be EMBRACED. But then again you have not been given permission to do otherwise from those who endowed you with the word in the first place. It takes a lot of strength and courage to stand up and think for yourself. Those of us who do have the strength are climbing out of that barrel of mental enslavement, and try as you may to pull us back down into that barrel with you…it’s not going to happen.
You all are out of your mind. I am sorry, but I have heard this argument over and over again against the “N” word. It is a red herring, a diversionary tactic to move us away from the real issues that plague us. I read the article, I just think the concept is ridiculous.
You don’t treat a symptom you treat a disease.
Go back through the great leaders in our history, Malcolm, Marcus, Martin, Dubois, Washington, Turner, Tubman.
The focus and intent of their message and method was one of fundamental change to the systemic oppression and reaction to that oppression by Black folks. It wasn’t minimalist, nor a time wasting venture like signing a petition to stop a word that may or may not be utilized in a self flagellation fashion as suggested in this piece.
I defy both of you to name me one leader of substance in our history that focused on something so immaterial and expected such a great gain from it.
Let us start with Marcus Garvey. Garvey had a platform of pro-Black power, expressed through economic, scientific, and political excellence manifesting itself in racial respect, power and pride. IF we follow that vision today the SYMPTON the “N” word would be auto corrected upon achievement.
Dubois argued among other things that leadership of the best of us on behalf of the rest of us would provide us with the capacity and resilience to address the double consciousness imposed by being Black in white society. IF we achieve that vision, the the “N” word would be in material.
Even if we wiped the “N” word from the face of the map right now it wouldn’t change the pathologies caused by oppression that inflict us now.
Even from a organizational management, economic, and structural analysis of issues you don’t correct systemic problems with non-systemic solutions.
My point to you well intentioned brothers is that there is a such thing as economy of time, and dispersion of energy. Meaning that time spent on one thing can not be spent on another, and than time can not be recaptured, therefore it is must me used in the most effective manner possible. Secondly the dispersion of time weakens the strength of any movement like a light bulb versus a laser beam. A laser beams focus and intensity allows it to burn through almost any substance. That is where we need to be.
So yes, I read the article. No I do not agree with it. The above reason reflects why I think we should direct our energies to more effective responses to our condition.
DG
Clearly, you either did not read the article or if you did, failed to comprehend what you read.
Yes, really dude, the n-word!! Did you even read the article? How can you NOT realize the impact of a negative word on a community? If your parents called you stupid at least 5 times a day from birth until the age of 10 — how do you think you’d see yourself? Duh, as stupid!! If we DIDN’T run around calling one another ni*ga/er or hearing it thrown at us through music and videos while we’re dancing and singing to it with our iPods, iPhones, MP3s, etc. plugged into our ears, pumping through the stereo system in our homes and cars, or as a ringtone that way too many of us have from the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye, Lil Wayne, Drake, etc. then, BY FAR, the 6 issues you list above would have much less of an impact on curbing the advancement of our community.
If you don’t understand the centuries-long history of the dehumanization process that took place (and is clearly still having an impact) then you’ll keep your stance on thinking the n-word has no impact. It had an impact on our ancestors for centuries, we’ve had no education, therapy or anything to really DEAL with the residue from enslavement and all the trauma associated with it, so why would you think the continued use of that word is somehow so indifferent that it is having a positive or no impact on us today. Brother, please!
If half of those who use this word stopped using it (other than in its historical context when TEACHING about its HISTORY), you’d see a substantial change in the areas you list that we should focus on (1) white supremacy (2) economic upward mobility (3) community identity (4) poor education (5) culture of materialism (6) destabilized family structure. Do you really think that with probably at least 50% of us using the n-word all-day every day, listening to it, dancing/singing to it – and another 30% being complicit by saying nothing when it’s used – is NOT having a negative impact on our community? Do you really think that use – and the mindset we know is associate with the use of that word – is NOT having an impact on the speed of improvement for those 6 areas you want to focus on?
If you have problems believing that, don’t worry, the people in positions of power DO NOT, which is why they allow that one particular derogatory racial slur to be intentionally globally marketed and keep many people not only using it but others, like you, acting as if the promotion/marketing of it doesn’t matter!! The load of your 6-list priorities llis would be GREATLY REDUCED if you didn’t have a bunch of people on your team and that you’re trying to “fix” dragging you back by constant use of the n-word and the mindset that’s been associated with it for CENTURIES. Please wake up and open your eyes.
Ok. This is ridiculous. We spend SO much time focusing on something that is the smallest part of our problem. The “N” word really?
How about we focus on:
1. White Supremacy
2. Lack of economic upward mobility
3. Lack of community identity
4. Poor education
5. A cultural of materialism
6. Destabilized family structure
Really dude, the N word? Come on.
Where are our priorities!