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Why Do African Americans Use The N Word Essay

646 Words3 Pages

hen some people think of the Nigger they commonly visualize a time where there was a very negative connotation to its meaning. They think back on the context of the word in the early 1900’s when it was used to define who African Americans were thought to be (Jones, Pg5).
Some may even say that the word is so taboo that it is uncomfortable to be in the same space as someone who uses the word often. The word "nigga" is a well­known word in the average
African American’s vocabulary. While some may find it easy to use this word, they fail to realize that this is a hurtful racial slur indicated to denounce African Americans. The “N” word shouldn’t be used by Americans because it causes division in the community and has a racist history. African …show more content…

Also, in time where discrimination and other violent actions against African Americans were considered acceptable or normal by a large number of people. The word is a sign of everything that the Americans’ who were slaves fought so hard against in the war for Civil Rights Movements. The continuous use of the word
3 Sanders shows the ignorance and disregards that so many have for people who have fought so hard for us to have freedom.
The “N” word has been involved in many racial divides in the world. President Obama’s recent use of the “N” word in an interview, “Racism. We are not cured of it. And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say “nigga” in public” (Zaura, Deena),shows that although racism is somewhat silent it still exist in large number across the states. There should be no reason for blacks to use the racial slurs that were thrown at African American men, in a sense, to strip them or their humanity to be used on a daily bases. There are far too many other terms of endearment that African American’s can use towards each other that have a lessened pressure of the word to it. While some African American’s have become accustomed to using the “N” word, some

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Now it has a positive meaning behind it, such as many colored people calling a close friend there nigga, now it is equivalent to calling them a brother. Another reason it is so popular in today’s music is because of the rhythmic presentation as well as the history that falls behind the word itself. Saying the word for an African American today is like taking away all of the power from everyone else as opposed to allowing to still mean a racist term and affect them negatively. In conclusion, I believe this word that was once used to undermine and degrade many races, has now been empowered. During the Civil Rights Movement it was used in R&B, rap, and rock songs played by African Americans to take out the negativity and portray the emotions they felt about being suppressed and impairer.

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Taking place in Of Mice and Men, there is a character by the name of Crooks who is an African American who is repeatedly said the n-word to. During a scene where Lennie, Crooks, and another character, Curley’s wife are having a conversation, Curley’s Wife attacks and threaten Crooks by defiantly saying, “‘Well, you keep your place then n*gger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain 't even funny,’” (OMAN 81). Calling him by the n-word, a racial slur, is the one of the most racist things one could say to an African American.

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For example, Mayella and Mr. Ewell always refer to African Americans as n*****s. Even during the trial, Mr. Ewell used the word frequently until Judge Taylor requested that he “keep his testimony within the confines of Christian English usage.” In addition to that, Mr. Ewell had previously requested that the city clear the “n***** nest” that he lives near.

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In the early 1780’s, the phrase “nigger” has created criticism and disrespect which whites have an unwelcome rejection of blacks. The term has spread widely over many decades; the meaning of nigger is extended to “an ignorant person” (Nigger, 2018). In English-speaking land, this word in some cases can be misunderstood as an insult without people consent especially in today’s society. Nigger is commonly used in young generations because there are many jokes into the word. It depends on how people use the term in a positive or negative in black culture (Nigger, 2004).

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