Such a simple word..with various meanings and even harmless, unless I directed at my boss, a policeman, a judge, or the wife of my highly irritated neighbor. If it did occur and I was disrespected because of it(and put on the front page of the newspaper)..I could never stand on the premise that it was only a “word”.

They have the “F” word now and a newly revolutionized community has decided that because of the hurtfullness of this word..Those who cause harm to someone will be charged with a HATE crime if this word is used while assulting another human being.Even simi intellegent people should be able to draw the direct simularities of a word that has thus far caused nothing but pain..nothing but disrespect, and was the last word a lot..of our ansestors heard before they left this earth..

As for me and my house..we have made a promise not to glamorize or romantisize the “n” word, no matter how “in fashion” it is. We niether use it nor abuse it. It doesn’t matter that folks are making money off of it, and it doesn’t matter how often the masses use it, or who says it’s ok..It is settled with us and it isn’t alright..

My parents always said that “if you know better you need to do better”, and since my vocabulary is extensive, I am able to articulate myself without using..outdated,unnecessary,and painful words to express my point of view.

A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Do I believe that Sherrie was right? Well, first you have to be “Black” in my opinion to understand where she is coming from. There are code words for all cultures. Let’s be honest, “nigga” is a code word our community. I believe that she was hypocritical in her statement to Walters, but she was justified in my opinion. Because, from what I saw and heard –what she was trying to tell Walters, was I dare you even go there.

Yes, as a journalist you do have the right to question. But, Walters knew what she was doing. I think it is a topic that needs to be discussed in our community more–in regard to the ramifications of the word and how it was used against us.

We have to do better, and if nothing else, Sherrie should have had a dictionary to tell Walters what the word COON meant–and seen how she [Walters] would have looked on national TV!

No, Walters does not deserve a pass! What has she done for your community?

Another point is that many Black people are suffering from the residual effects of Chattel Slavery. To know the historical link of the “N” word to Chattel Slavery, yet continue to use the “N” word is a sign of willingly having the mind of a Slave. Allen Jones said something about a fella being physically hurt for defending his belief that the “N” word should NOT be used towards him. I beg to differ with Allen Jones, and conclude that the use was the “N” word was NOT the issue, that the issue was the fella feeling disrespected regardless of what word the other guy used to offend him.

You see, Allen Jones misses the picture that the fact that Black people will use the “N” word when trying to disrespect another Black person is confirmation of what the WHOLE issue is about with Black people needing to STOP using the “N” word. DG says that words are symbols and that WE determine what they mean. What WE is DG speaking about? Obviously the WE is NOT Black people. The last time I looked, WE are not controlling ANY major MEDIA, WE are not editing or composing any DICTIONARIES. Jewish people demanded that Michael Jackson remove a phrase from one of his albums “Jew Me” and he did, without choice.

I was reading in the World Book Encyclopedias dictionary several years ago, and looked up the word Ni**er/Ni**a and looked up the word Honky/Honkie. When I looked up the “N” word, the first thing it said in italicized letters, was “Negro” then it went on to say “Any member of a dark skinned race”. I then looked up the word Honky, and the first thing that it said in italicized letters was “Slang” then it went on to define Honky as a white person, and said that the ORIGIN was unknown. You see DG, the people controlling things made sure that the “N” word was shown as what is felt towards a PEOPLE, and that they do NOT mean it as slang either.

So DG, don’t tell me that WE determine the meaning of words, the infliction upon a people is a more accurate estimation of the meaning of a word,as it is meant by a SOCIETY. I Lorenzo B. Gray am A BLACK MAN WHO CARES, and KNOWS that Black people NEED to STOP using the “N” word.

Finally, let me say this, oppression only works when you dehumanize the individual. This was done in Rwanda and with the African American slave which is why the word N-**** was used. With the people in Rwanda their oppressor (the Dutch) used the word Cockroach to create hate and discord among the two people (Hutu and Tutsi) of Rwanda. Both of these mind warfare’s that centered on the use of a “word” for decades had and continued to have a devastating impact on the people so much so that these words are still being used by the oppressed people to interact with one another today even though the physical season of oppression has long been over. This is why we as a people must discontinue the use of this hideous and dehumanizing word (not eliminate it as that would be silly). Please consider that each time we speak the n- word we are in essence disrespecting our very beautiful heritage and all of the people that persevered it for us.

RS – Peace & Light

P.S. I agree that Whoopie is in her own world – afterall she choose Goldberg as her last name. The rest of us were given our names.

Whoopi’s an a-kisser who knows which side of the bread her toast is buttered on!