LITR 4332: American Minority Literature

DeConnia (Dee) Lott

Research Project: The N-Word.

            N-I-G-G-E-R. Without question, the six letters that make up this word are by far the most controversial in the English language. For half a millennium, that word has been seared in to the collective psyche of black people in America. Although it has been buried under layers of keloidal scars, those letters still ache and throb like a recent burn, a painful, disfiguring memento of our past. Like an unhealed wound on the souls of  African Americans.

            Nigger is a term used to refer to dark skinned people, mostly those of African ancestry ( Wikipedia). Not only is the term “nigger” a “color code,” but in the past, nigger was sometimes used as a synonym for “defect.” Additionally, when performing a shady but functional work, one is said to “nigger rig” it, especially if duct tape is used. It is sometimes used to describe something bad or undesirable. The Spanish word negro originates from the Latin word niger, meaning black. In English, negro or neger became negar and finally nigger (Wikipedia). Words like nigger, and hate speech in general, have an added dimension of meaning, a historical intent to cause harm, communicate a threat or symbolize a power dynamic. There’s a saying that goes, “It ain’t what you call me, it’s what I answer to.” In the not too distant past, black folks had no control over what others called us, we were voiceless and choiceless. Now it is used most frequently by the very people it was meant to oppress.

            The word “nigga,” which is the word “nigger’s” cousin, now simultaneously connotes a subhuman, inferior species worthy of scorn and death, yet it is use synonymously with friend and sometimes best friend. It’s merely the ebonicized , or African American Vernacular English equivalent of nigg-er. In nigga, the “er” sound is dropped and replaced with an “uh” sound, which makes it more suitable for rhythms   of speech. Many African American use it as a term of endearment. At the same time, it is also commonly used as a term of disparagement. The word nigga is thought to be a type of “nigga” defiance, acting like others expect you to, out of spite.

            Today, the implied racism of the term is so strong and derogatory, that the use of nigger in most situations is a social taboo. Many American magazines and newspapers will not even print the word, instead they use simply “the N-word” ( Wikipedia).For example, Paerl Cleage, a writer for Ebony  Magazine writes, “The other thing that makes me nervous is the ongoing discussion of this particular word which has now become so lethal that we can’t even spell it out, but must  content ourselves with using only the first letter…” (Cleage).Another writer, Goldie Taylor, also upset about the N-word restrictions argues, “As with any other word in the English dictionary, one has the right to choose and use them according to their own peril” (Taylor). During the O.J Simpson trial, a retired football player charged with murder, media reporting on and discussing his testimony began using the term “N-word” instead of repeating the actual word (Wikipedia).

             The use of the N-word is so controversial that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold a symbolic funeral for the N-word in as a part of its national Stop Campaign to end the prevalence of racist and sexist language, images, and concepts in the media. The intention of the symbolic funerals is to demonstrate the end of a racially discriminatory practice (DeBose).

            The ways in which the word “nigger” has evolved is devastating. It seems as though people feel that changing the pronunciation or the spelling will take away its power and wash away all the painful memories that come along with it. However, that is very far from the truth. No matter how one says the word or spells it, it hurts. Most importantly, no one should be allowed to use the N-word. Although African Americans feels as though we have something that we can completely call our own and dare anyone else to use, it is a slap in our ancestors face. The N-word is not a term of endearment and it cannot be re-spelled or redefined to be made positive. Stop using and responding to derogatory words.

Works Cited

DeBose, Brian. NAACP to give 'n-word' a funeral. 07 May 2007. The Washington

Times.<http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070501-121857-1140r.htm>

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 01 May  2007.

            <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger>

Abolish the “N” word. 28 April 2007.

            <Http://www.abolishthenword.com/homepage.htm >

Cleage, Pearl. Ebony magazine. February 2007