Has she responded?

I haven't heard anything negative being aired in the media regarding this at all. The only thing I have seen is the quote that was posted in this thread from a couple of radio personalities. Has MTV OR BET featured a story on it?

My real question is, did J-Lo ever decline to use the word while recording? She had a choice to use the word or not. (Just like everyone else)

I guess the message will be, since no one has REALLY objected to J-LO using the word, ANYONE can use it and won't receive ANY objections. I guess Britney, Christina, Pink, N'SYNC and the others will have remixes/raps where they, themselves use the word, too! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Hmm, I guess I'm going to have to disagree. It is not always used on a positive respect. It can be just as cruel and demeaning when coming from a black person that you do not get along with.

I guess I still have to go back to the fact that no matter what, we all know what it means. We cannot fool ourselves into believeing that this word is somehow acceptable, or is different from any other derogatory word.

If that is the best one can do when describing one's best friend, or realtive, then that person obviously needs a bigger vocab. because there are more than enough words to suffice.

I have too; but it is rare, and the context that they used it in was different. I'm just sayin' we send the wrong message when we use it.

This has been a nice debate, but as usual, folks box themselves into a rhetorical trap. Many posters have already point out the paradox and hypocrisy inherent in any anger shown toward Ms. Lopez.

First and foremost, any use of "nigga" or its variants is despicable speech, crude at best. If you are going to use this worse with frequency, for any purpose, then you abdicate the right to dictate its use or be offended by the color of the person or the manner in which they intend it.

Secondly, people that patronize music and videos by artists who preach misogyny, objectification of women, drug use, victimization of the weak, and worship of thug life, have a lot of nerve being upset with J-Lo for innocuous use of the common thug "term of endearment".

Lastly, as has been pointed out by other posters, depending on your cultural upbringing, Puerto Ricans, depending on the neighborhood, are as "black" as African Americans. Same neighborhoods, same schools, same music, same lifestyle. J-Lo is from the South Bronx, which is all Black/Hispanic, so I'm sure she feels comfortable using that term casually among her Black peers, some of whom I am sure have referred to J-lo and her Puerto Rican self as "my nigga". J-Lo is not the problem. It is the glamorization of the N-word in the guise of being "real" in all things "street".

I agree, but I still think there's a huge difference b/w identifying with "black music" and identifying with black culture. You're right about the Klan referrence, too.

I think the "N" word should not be used by ANYONE and everyone who are descendants of enslaved Africans should take offense. So if your African American homie from around the way call you out yo' name by using the word you should get JUST AS UPSET if not MORE upset than someone you perceive as not coming from the same ethnic background as you. Why use a word that was used as a weapon against our ancestors who shed their precious blood so we could have choices and pursuit of happiness.

I used to use the word FREELY and I called my boyfriend from HIGH SCHOOL that one day (years after we grew up.. moved away...went off to college..etc.). He corrected me quick, fast and in a hurry and reminded me that he is NOT a "N" and takes offense to me calling him that. I can't blame the brother and MORE of us should take offense when we call each other that b/c the word is NOT positive....cute or a term of endearment. It is a word created by enslavers used to degrade and dehumanize. There is nothing about the word .. whether you put an "ER" on the end or an "A" that makes it even 1/2 way more appealing.

That is why I have stopped using it. I offend each and every 1 of our ancestors when it is used. So I wish black folks would stop acting like we own that nasty word b/c we DO NOT!

I think the "N" word should not be used by ANYONE and everyone who are descendants of enslaved Africans should take offense. So if your African American homie from around the way call you out yo' name by using the word you should get JUST AS UPSET if not MORE upset than someone you perceive as not coming from the same ethnic background as you. Why use a word that was used as a weapon against our ancestors who shed their precious blood so we could have choices and pursuit of happiness.

I used to use the word FREELY and I called my boyfriend from HIGH SCHOOL that one day (years after we grew up.. moved away...went off to college..etc.). He corrected me quick, fast and in a hurry and reminded me that he is NOT a "N" and takes offense to me calling him that. I can't blame the brother and MORE of us should take offense when we call each other that b/c the word is NOT positive....cute or a term of endearment. It is a word created by enslavers used to degrade and dehumanize. There is nothing about the word .. whether you put an "ER" on the end or an "A" that makes it even 1/2 way more appealing.

That is why I have stopped using it. I offend each and every 1 of our ancestors when it is used. So I wish black folks would stop acting like we own that nasty word b/c we DO NOT!

I think the "N" word should not be used by ANYONE and everyone who are descendants of enslaved Africans should take offense. So if your African American homie from around the way call you out yo' name by using the word you should get JUST AS UPSET if not MORE upset than someone you perceive as not coming from the same ethnic background as you. Why use a word that was used as a weapon against our ancestors who shed their precious blood so we could have choices and pursuit of happiness.

I used to use the word FREELY and I called my boyfriend from HIGH SCHOOL that one day (years after we grew up.. moved away...went off to college..etc.). He corrected me quick, fast and in a hurry and reminded me that he is NOT a "N" and takes offense to me calling him that. I can't blame the brother and MORE of us should take offense when we call each other that b/c the word is NOT positive....cute or a term of endearment. It is a word created by enslavers used to degrade and dehumanize. There is nothing about the word .. whether you put an "ER" on the end or an "A" that makes it even 1/2 way more appealing.

That is why I have stopped using it. I offend each and every 1 of our ancestors when it is used. So I wish black folks would stop acting like we own that nasty word b/c we DO NOT!

Hey DeltaQTE:

I agree we should be offended when J. Lo uses it but I feel like we have to start at the source because I can't control what she does. I can however not be hypocritical and yell and scream when she uses it in the same context we do. Ultimately the onus (sp?) is on us as black folks to stop using it and referring to each other as such. So I am saying I can't worry about her using it, Eminem, Beastie Boys, Big Pun, Cuban Link, Fat Joe or any of these other artists when DMX, Ja Rule and SHYNE all use the word heavily and in the SAME CONTEXT in their music. SHOOT Shyne's album have songs TITLED w/ the word. So we really need to check ourselves first before we run out there trying to check others.

I agree also with that we need to stop using it, but J.Lo isn't some boriqua on 23th street, she is a national figure and should think about using words(or anything else) like that before she does that, not because ja rule wrote the song and said it was ok.

She did a concert on TODAY and Matt Lauer asked her about the heat about the "N" word. She said "It really hurts me that folks would think I am racist and I am not going to waste much time worrying about it" plus she had a huge diamond on her finger and Matt asked her if she was pregnant and going to get married and she said no she wasn't pregnant and as for the marriage part, we would have to see.

At the same time she was on Puffy was on GMA and said he knows she didn't mean anything by it and how puerto ricans in New York use the word also. Then he goes "I'ma let J.Lo slide this time saying the word" I was like whatevea.

Interesting enough, it was friday the 13th yesterday, and J.Lo twisted her ankle during one of her songs, and a light bulb in the GMA studio burst and sounded like a gunshot while puffy was there, hmmmmmmmmm.....LOL!


QTE

Soror, is it safe to assume that you would be upset if ANY celebrity or "national figure" (African-American or otherwise) used the N-word, or is it just J-Lo in particular that perturbs you? Just curious...



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S.H.A.D.E.
10-Lambda-SP00
Memphis Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Lady of DSTinction

"Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change."

Hey luv,

Yes I have slowly turned that way, like I have said in my earlier posts, we all need to stop using it. I have slowly been doing that. Now I say "wassup negro!" or "wassup nephew/niece" just like snoop says he has started doing instead of saying nigga. Snoop probably does say it still, but even him making that little step is good IMO.


QTE

No offense but I think the acronym for the "N" word is one of the MOST ignorant things someone can say. Regardless of what you say it means - it means just what we all know it means. But to go along w/ the never ignorant getting goals accomplished what is wrong w/ a white person or non-black using the word in that context if that is what it supposedly means now? Also if we as AAs accept the word then WHY OH WHY did the NAACP fight to have the definition of the word revamped to not include any reference to black people? Are we insane or what?

No offense but I think the acronym for the "N" word is one of the MOST ignorant things someone can say. Regardless of what you say it means - it means just what we all know it means. But to go along w/ the never ignorant getting goals accomplished what is wrong w/ a white person or non-black using the word in that context if that is what it supposedly means now? Also if we as AAs accept the word then WHY OH WHY did the NAACP fight to have the definition of the word revamped to not include any reference to black people? Are we insane or what?

this is not pc or the culturally down thing to say, but, jennifer had no business letting anyone geek her up to let that word come off of her lips. if she were as down as she would like to act then she would have checked herself. makes no matter who she dates, she will never be black, ever. and it is not ok. i have real issues when artist try to play the cultural fence. she and mariah are both guilty of playing black when it benefits them and then they play mainstream when the they want to. i don't think it's cool.

Here is an interesting article related to this topic >>> http://www.eurweb.com/articles/colum...4607172001.cfm . Check it out!

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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

Excuse my nosey self, but I didn't see BET last night...how did J. Lo respond/react when Ja said that? Did Free or the other VJ say anything? Details, details!

I was actually thinking about one of the posts where someone mentioned, "I bet J. Lo doesn't think of herself as black" and I wanted to know how she would respond to that...

Can somebody please tell me exactly what "boriqua" means. I studied Spanish for years and never heard it until Big Pun came out.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it signifies a female Peurto Rican born or descendant from my understanding.



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To Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated-Fortune Favors the Brave

According to my "Boriquan" co-worker, it means male or female Puerto Rican born in Puerto Rico but many non-Puerto Rican (island) born Puerto Ricans call themselves Boriquas as well.......




[This message has been edited by Eastcoast Sunshine (edited July 18, 2001).]

.. so why would jennifer be upset, I mean, she IS "down," right? and everyone who defends her use, along with that of Fat Joe and Big Pun, etc, says we're all family, right, we come from the Motherland? so, she is a nigga, too right?

so why are folks upset? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif

You know Eminem and Fred Durst have been waiting for this opportunity to get ready to show how "down" they are, if they haven't already.

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The most beautiful thing in the world is, precisely, the conjunction of learning and inspiration.
-- Wanda Landowska

Did anyone see Jennifer and Ja Rule on 106th and Park last night? First off, as much as I heard that "I'm Real" Remix, I NEVER knew it was Jennifer singing.
Anyway, AJ and Free mentioned the controversy and Jennifer went on to say how hurt she was and that she didn't use it to be hurtful...she also mentioned that Ja wrote the song (big deal). Then, Ja went on with a less PC response: he said "Jennifer is Boriqua...and since when haven't Boriquas been N**" Jennifer didn't seem to pleased with THAT response (nor with the fact that Ja told everyone Jennifer was married, different story).


Chaos

Well, I thought the whole interview on 106th and Park was funny. I mean, Jennifer atleast USED to be down...she just looked really uncomfortable during the interview. I guess she's gotten used to the Hollywood scene. But, what do I know....
Jennifer looked a little nervous after Ja made the statement about her being a N, too. I think Ja was too crass...he doesn't seem to have much control over his big mouth (hence the fact that he told everyone that Jennifer was married). I think AJ and Free saw how uncomfortable she was, and left it alone...the LAST thing they need to do is upset a guest (unemployment line). Jennifer didn't say anything...she was obviously ready to move on to the NEXT TOPIC.
I actually felt uncomfortable by the interview AFTER Ja said that...maybe his statement took a lot of people off guard. We're talking about removing the N word from our vocabulary, and here Ja is telling the world (whoever watches BET) that Jennifer is an N, too. I guess he sees the word like a lot of folks do...it isn't a bad word as long as it is used by those within the African diaspora. Just ellaborating on the show, don't shoot the messenger http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Chaos

I WISH I had seen that show, if only for that one moment! I am LMAO over here!

Well I saw the brand new J.Lo "I'm real" with Ja rule. And when it comes to the part where she is suppossed to say niggaz, she doesn't even mouth it(you know in videos they just mute it out, but you can still tell they said something bad) but it just shows her smiling and then it goes back to the song, so I guess she isn't that comfortable with all the hype around the word, oh well!


QTE

First of all, I want to say that J Lo is not Black. I think I have to agree with the person who said she's probably "glad" she is not black. Some blacks use the term but that doesn't allow everyone else to use it. I know hispanics that call each other "wetbacks" but that is not something that I would ever say to them. I understand that things have a different meaning depending on the context. She and all people should realize that, though some blacks are comfortable with the term, not all blacks have an appreciation for it. Some of us are still very hurt and angry about what our people have gone through and don't find it "cute"! Just because she dated Puffy doesn't mean she is totally accepted by all blacks.

Why is it that no one said anything about writing to Ja-Rules label about his use of the 'n' word. Or any other rapper for that matter.

Actually, we discussed that on page two of this thread.


Chaos

Kwesi Mfume of the NAACP hosts a show here called the Bottom Line on Sundays. This past week one of the topics on the show was J-Lo and the N-word. They had a very heated debate about it. One of the panelists, who objects to the words use and widespread acceptance amongst Black people, and another who is not as put off by the word, both agreed that a big point and difference for them was how loud we are about it. For instance one panelist said she felt as though all though all groups may have some who will use a derogatory term about themselves, she does not hear their children hollering it on the train or putting it in their media to the level that we do. Our wide spread and public use cannot help but cause a spill over at some point. I mean think about, White kids buy rap music in greater numbers than Black kids do, learn all the words and rap right along with every mf and n on the album. They are being conditioned by the word and how can it be shocking when they then become comfortable, maybe even too comfortable using the word. Really, in many ways we put the words in their mouths and then get mad when they come out.

Star of Star and Buckwild who set this off in NYC was one of the guests and he said for himself that he does not like the word and does not respond when greeted "what’s up my n" and the like. Mr. Mfume ended the segment with an African Proverb that says "it is not what name you call me but what name I answer to." I thought that was interesting.


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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
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#3 of ER 30
Spring 1999

"No finer girls will you ever see, and I'm so glad I pledged- for what?
For DST!"

I think opinions run along the lines of where you grew up or what different part of the country you have been exposed to. I don't think JLo was trying to be black or be accepted. Latino's using the word is very accepted in New York. That's why so many latino arttist use it.

Also, the island of Puerto Rico was called "Boriqua" by the natives of the island. Of course, it wasn't called PR until the Spanish came. Those who are particularly interested in PR becoming independent of the US call themselves "Boriquan". (At leat that's what my African American Anthro. professor told me.)
[

QUOTE]Originally posted by Eastcoast Sunshine:
[b]
According to my "Boriquan" co-worker, it means male or female Puerto Rican born in Puerto Rico but many non-Puerto Rican (island) born Puerto Ricans call themselves Boriquas as well.......