Speak Out!

I have always had a problem with the network selection of almost all profanity being censored but the "N" word being allowed. It reinforces the ignorant masses that the word is acceptable and the pain that accompanies it with many of us.

I have mixed feelings about censorship. I strongly believe in the right of free speech. But, it also seems as if the longer this labeling and name-calling goes on in the media, the more it is accepted. Being a woman I am also strongly opposed to the words b**ch and other derogatory terms used for females, but my teenage daughters seem to accept these words and find no offense in their use. Maybe it is because the younger generation uses these offensive terms to describe themselves. Whatever happened to self-respect and civility?

BTW, Tavis, I saw you on Bill Maher and fell in love. Am now a huge fan.

The rationale is simply blatant disrespect for black people. Folk of other races still don't take us seriously. It amazes me how hateful and ignorant some people can be but how seriously can we expect them to take us when so many black people are calling each other the N-word?

It is my opinion, at this current moment in our history; the N-word should be banned from TV, if they also ban the H-word (white racial slur), W-word (Mexican racial slur) & all other racial slurs as well. Reason I say that is because I must admit that I use the N-word consistently with my Black friends and only my Black friends who agree that the word is one of a connection to the past original sin of America. That’s right, I don’t use the word with all Black people. Any other racial term should have that same reasoning. I don’t use the H-word or W-word since it is not referring to my racial group and I cannot attest to the viability of its word.

Also, I don't see it as a word of love or expressing affection to another brother in the struggle of understanding what freedom is in America. But I do understand the reaction that it brings from people whose skin color would have gotten them legally treated unfairly about 50 - 60 years ago. And even to this day, wherever I go in America, no matter what clothes I have on or what words are coming out of my mouth, the initial definition that people generally have of me is pegged with the N-word, by Blacks, Whites and Browns. So, at times I say it to my own people out of frustration of this fact to let them know that this is still how some see us. Is this counter-productive? I must admit, probably so, but it is difficult to understand who I am anymore.

I have been told for most of my life that this is how people see me and from the treatment I received from those I lived around in both Black and White neighborhoods, I have received my confirmation. This is a deep issue. And I am glad that American society is starting to be exposed to a deeper level of this issue of being Black in America. I had the pleasure of seeing Roland Martin and Condoleezza Rice agree on something today on CNN: the issue of the fact that America is dealing with a "birth defect" from the effects of slavery. And the N-word is part of that defect.

We hate the word, but yet we can't deny it as a part of our history. So what do we do with it? For all of its negative connotations, it has been a force in making us who we are today and one of the main reasons why we, as a Black generation, are fighting to either change what it means or to destroy it altogether. One thing I believe we can all agree on is that the birthplace of the N-word was one out of a time of the dehumanization of the African people when they were ripped from their home. And America cannot just forget that it happened and say let’s move on; when clearly Black people have not reaped the benefits in equal standards to the other 60%, especially since our ancestors helped build America. If America would treat everyone as truly equal then I think we can heal this birth defect and get past the N-word like White people have gotten past the H-word, at least it seems that way. But fairness and forgiveness have to come first.

This is a real minefield, for in my opinion, ANY word, no matter what "list" it's on, is neither never or always "appropriate". One thing our society has truly diminished, is its ability to factor CONTEXT into what sets off our "offensive" meters. Barack's use of "typical white person", or Tony Snow's use of "tar baby", have been vilified & protested, yet neither speaker meant their words to imply any kind of "racial slur" or "denigration" of any individual or group.

Of course I needn't even mention Rev. Wright's out-of-context snippets, currently saturating & poisoning the airwaves. I wish there was some law, requiring news organizations to provide what was said preceding and following their oft-aired "sound bites", as they so easily give viewers a completely distorted meaning to what the speaker is actually saying.

Anyway, so too, the "n-word"; as a white male, born & raised on the south side of Chicago, attended a very diverse, overcrowded public high school, and having spent my adult life (as a musician) working with blacks, playing in countless all-black venues, dating sisters, rooming with black friends, etc., and as comfortable as I may have ever been with anyone, & often even others assuming myself to be black, I have never in my life uttered that word. For to me, it represents all that is evil & wrong with the history of the treatment of black people, since slavery days, up to and including the present.

It's up to each individual within the black community to choose to use it, just as other ethnic groups may use terms with each other, that those outside should never use, and it's unfortunate that today it is used so prolifically, and in the hip-hop culture, to the point that many young people, white & black, have no real clue as to its true meaning & significance. Maybe in the long run that might be a good thing, as having some words being so highly charged creates a minefield others on the outside find so volatile, they shy away from any discourse, in fear they may trip the wire, unknowingly. But as long as those of us who have been around when Jim Crow & segregation, & the more overt racism existed, or those who've studied it, it is just not acceptable for public (or private) discourse.

All this is to say that, in the context of making a larger point, such as in a story line of something happening in those times, a historical re-telling, or even in present day, if it's to portray the ignorance & racism of the character, it should be allowed. We don't want situations like when there was to be a showing of Spielberg's D-Day, and debated whether some of the "salty language" of our boys fighting in the killing arena of those beaches in France, should be censored. Of course, the whole issue of our being ok with very graphic violence, but shock over love scenes, nudity, or language is a whole 'nother thing....

Alternative Solution: Why didn't Al Sharpton, NAACP and others address the N word with the FCC already??? I seem to recall that the NAACP performed a symbolic burial ceremony of the N Word in Detroit, Michigan recently.

First, I feel we should start a petition and first ask the FCC for a formal response as to why they feel the N word is not obscene, offensive or abrasive, so this word can be edited from the airwaves of TV and Radio??? The FCC had no problem flexing its muscle when Janet Jackson flashed the world during the half time show at the Super Bowl.

Second, I feel that we need to force the media to pick up coverage on the FCC's formal response. If everyone visiting this web page emailed the editor of their local newspapers and television stations, it will raise America's awareness to this unjust issue.

Third, in my opinion, to spark this change, we are going to need the support of a majority of Americans, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Native etc...When you look at the numbers (population & demographics) there are not enough black folks in America to get the FCC to change its current policy. We need other races to join the good fight, and that is also, in my opinion, the only way a real HEALING can take place here in America. If White, Hispanic, Asian, Native etc don’t fully understand the total issue, hurt, and pain associated with this word then we should ask ourselves what are we fighting for???

The N word should definitely be put on the list, but we first must stop using it amongst ourselves. I too am a school teacher and hear my middle school students use this word constantly. Their argument is always the same. They use it as a means of affection towards one another, and my question to them is always, "Why would you all want to be called something that was used to degrade our people and is still being used today by some people to degrade us?" I can never get a straight answer out of any of them, but they continue to use it anyway. When white people see black people using it as freely as some of us do, then they think it is okay to use it themselves. I believe that this is the same rationale with the media. If rappers and other black entertainers use the word so freely in their songs, then the media outlets probably think that gives them the right to let it slide in their programming.

I don't buy the argument that when black people use the N word that the power is taken out of it either. Our ancestors are probably turning over in their graves when they hear such nonsense. As many of them that were called the N word while they were being whipped, raped, and or murdered,
we think it is okay to use it on each other? I don't think so.

I do not allow my students, black or white to use the N word. To me that is worse than saying any other curse word. I have never heard any of my white students use the word, and when my black students use it, I make sure that I make a big deal out of it because I want the white students to understand that it is not a word that anybody should be using for any reason at any time.

The definition of African Americans by others (i.e., mainstream media), is getting crazy! We all know that the use of the n-word in our community has always been there. However, with present-day media outlets allowing the word to be used freely, the n*bomb is being empowered. Have you visited an inner-city middle/senior high school lately? If you haven't let me tell what's going on.

On my first day (as a sub-teacher) at a predominantly black middle school in New Jersey, the first student greeted me with, "Whassup my n*gga?" And that was from a thirteen year old girl! When such a lack of respect is among our young people (and not to mention our young ladies!) you would have to agree that we have reached a crisis. Now, the folks in charge of the mainstream media, which only 3% is controlled by ALL minorities (according to www.freepress.net) want to allow the n*bomb. We must define ourselves NOW, family. Visit me at: www.famdo.com