J-Lo and the N word?
 

I'm sure everyone has heard the recent controversy or at least the the new song of Jennifer Lopez (featuring Jah Rule) where she uses the "N" word. After discussing the topic with some friends of mine, do you think that she is getting this backlash because she is not black (even though she is a minority) or the acutal origin of the word? I agree that the word should not be used at all, but it is especially in hip-hop. But why do you think people are making such a big deal about one particular artist using it over another?

The word alone is offensive, yet still embraced by many African-Americans. It is even more offensive, however, when someone who only aspires to the black experience attempts to appear "down" in using it. Many other people of hispanic origin seem to always believe they too share a similar experience.

In response to PointNClick, even if Jah Rule did write the lyrics, this song is on her album and she didn't have to say the word. By saying that someone else wrote it is no excuse. I agree with dirtymike1906, I do thing that she is just trying to attract a new audience. I just think that it is funny that how other minority groups use the "N" word as a so-called term of enderment, but if you were to us another culturally specific derogatory term it would not be taken the same way.

I believe that the N-word is derogatory regardless of who's saying it. However, I realize that many African-Americans use it everyday. To me this perpetuates the idea that it is O.K. to be called or use the N-word to other races and our young people. Jennifer should have realized that this was inapproprite in her song and so should Ja. I'm not saying that we need to label her a racist or anything, but by excusing it we are opening up the doors for someone else to use it. Would it be ok if she was Asian? I doubt it. We should all (Jen. and the black community) admit that what she said might have been inapproprite and will be better thought out in the future.

They had a good discussion on this on BET Tonight last night. Personally, I'm not that mad about Jennifer using it. Like it was pointed out on BET, nobody got pissy when Chanté Moore said the word about a million times in "Bitter." When we say it among ourselves, it gives others free license to say it too. We can't police the use of the word, regardless of the context in which it is used. If we didn't want anybody else saying such a derrogatory word, we shouldn't have "brought it back", so to speak. I don't really think there's anything that can be done about it now.

One thing I can say is that now is a good time for Puff/P. Diddy/whatever to be disassociated with J. Lo, because you know if they were still together they'd be trying to blame it on him.

There's also a thread about this already in the DST forum with a lot of different opinions.

THANK YOU! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

I have read in a number of entertainment based mags and reports, that Ja was the one who wrote the words to the song-- Jennifer simply sang what was written. If this is true, then her use of the word should not be attributed to her. She was just doing her "job".