J. Lo and the "N" word
 

Hello ladies. I'm always interested in your thoughts so I thought I'd find out what you think of this. If you've heard J.Lo's new remix to "I'm real" you'll notice her use of the "N" word...something to the effect of "n****s sweat me." On Hot 97, Starr suggested that black people write her record company to let them know they are not pleased with her use of the word. I'm torn. On the one hand, she is not black, so imagine if you heard Christina Aguilera or Justin Timberlake talking about "my n****s. On the other hand, we do it so flippantly, how long did we think it would take for people who are comfortable with us and our culture to start doing it. But all in all, I think she was wrong for it, she could have just as easily said "spics", but she wouldn't have dared.

Good point but puerto ricans have the SAME roots as African Americans so if we embrace the word and claim it is used positively then why can't she? After all - she is black. I do use the word e'er now and then and I am not proud of myself b/c I am trying to stop using it b/c there is nothing positive about it. Our forefathers were killed while this crude word was spat at them with venom and hate. I know our ancestors did not die so we AA's can continue the legacy of disrespect shown us over the centuries. Overall...if we can use it so can she (in the same context).

J. Lo ain't black. Not to me, anyway. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

What do I think? I think it's wrong. But I think that a rush of letters or calls from African-American listeners would only reinforce how hypocritical some of us are, because I also think it's wrong when I hear it from anybody's mouth, black or otherwise. I haven't noticed another huge letter-writing campaign against the numerous black artists who use the word... so truthfully, why should J. Lo or her record company execs listen to what we have to say?

[This message has been edited by SweetestDiva (edited July 03, 2001).]

I'm glad this topic has come up. I absolutely, positively http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gifHATE/LOATHE/ABHOR http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif the use of the "n" word by ANYONE, and ESPECIALLY by BLACKS! It's SO SAD & PATHETIC that whites can oppress us so much that they can actually "convince" (for lack of a better word) us to call ourselves the same offensive things they've called us! It's just like we've been brainwashed to believe that the very negative connotations whites associate with the word are actually true for us as a people.

I don't buy into that BULLS**T EXCUSE that "it doesn't mean the same thing when we say it"!!! Fact is, WE didn't create the word! Let's look at our history! I don't give two s**ts and a rat's a$$ what it has come to mean now that we're using it--it is and always will be a word meant to OFFEND and DEGRADE blacks. That, in and of itself is reason enough to erase it from ALL languages, from English, to Ebonics, to Hebrew, to Yiddish!

Fact is, we, as BLACKS, are so lax and carefree in our use of the word that we have NO RIGHT to be offended when anyone else uses it, and yet, for some reason we are! WTF?!?!? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif If we are still getting pissed about non-blacks saying it, then we should stop using it. PERIOD!

I am disgusted by it, and ashamed when I see/hear whites (who buy more of our music than we do) jamming to a hip hop song drenched in the "n" word! I always wonder what they're thinking when they hear us call ourselves the very thing our grandfathers and grandmothers FAUGHT to avoid for years! I always think that they're secretly smiling at their granparents' accomlishment-- that they've made us belive that we ARE niggas!

As long as WE keep saying it, THEY keep winning.

And I'm Out!

the411

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[This message has been edited by the411 (edited July 03, 2001).]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DSTPRL:
[B]After all - she is black.


I would bet my LAST dollar that SHE doesn't think that she's BLACK. I guarantee that if someone were to call her "black", then all hell would break loose. Oh and don't let somebody call her a n@#$$! She wouldn't stand for it, so why should we allow her to use the term?

Jenny Lo is NOT black and something tells me that she's glad she's not.

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"22 Resurrected Jewels of DiSTinction"
Gamma Pi '01
Columbia College
4/12/01

[This message has been edited by Imperial11 (edited July 03, 2001).]

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/nosmile/claps.gif I WHOLEHEARTELDY agree with you!! Dropping knowledge!! You're being added to my list of GCer's I want to meet!!

How can we get nad at other folks for using the word if we continue to use it?! I used to use the term when I was younger but once I got to college and became eduated and enlighted on what I was really saying I made a conscious decision to no longer use the word...I think it's hypocritical for blacks to get angry at her but then some of us turn around and call our "homie" a n*&$%!! WTF is that!! However, I think that Miss J.Lo has gotten a bit TOOOOO comfortable with black folks and has no business using the word either (just like we shouldn't use it)...I think she's just trying to imitate what she thinks will sell in hip-hop culture...when she hears black rappers use the word, she thinks "Oh, that's hip-hop"...I think it alll relates to the fact that the true culture of hip-hop today is disillusioned and not like it used to be...now it's all about who jacked who for their platinum ice...I agree--"they" are winning an will continue to until we as a people can get over issues like this.



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"If there is no struggle, there is no progress"--Frederick Douglass

I agree w/ the411. I hate hearing that word from our people b/c it makes NO sense whatsoever for US to be calling each other that. And as far as J.Lo using it...I most definitely DO NOT condone that. That girl is NOT black. That girl reps Puerto Rico like there ain't no tomorrow! If you watched the making of the video for "I'm Real", she goes right up to the camera and flashes her little Puerto Rican flag bra top she has on and says "Puerto Rico!" She ALWAYS throws in her roots whenever I hear/see her. I agree w/ S_N_S in that she is getting TOO comfy w/ either her fellow black peers or w/ the whole hip hop scene. Frankly, I can't believe she'd say that. She must obviously think she's "down" enough w/ US to do that. Whatever!

I am glad this topic is here, because my boyfriend and I were discussing her use of the word today. I am definitely down for writing and e mailing her record people and sending e mail and messages to different places to get the ball rolling. That chick is getting a lil to comfortable. Does anyone know where to write or e-mail?

I hope ya'll don't mind me posting. If anyone of you do, just ignore me. Ok, I'm white and I hate the word. And I know it has to bother(for lack of a better word)african-americans(or ya'll who refrain from it's use) 10 million times worse than it could ever bother me as a white person. I honestly wanna blow up in someone's face when they use the word around me. And unfortunately, it's use is rampant where I live(as it probably is in many places), and is used by ALMOST everyone I know at some time or another. The one person I know who does not say it is my mother. I honestly cannot stand the "n" word. It drives me up the wall. It's hard to explain to ignorant, naive people why the word shouldn't be used and just makes me cringe. I wish people would get over thereselves(grammer?) and realize it's no way to go through life ignorant. PLEASE move into the 21st century(it is that century, right??). Everyone is equal and should be treated accordingly http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I hope my post was okay and you all seem like extremely nice, smart and enlightened people. Ya'll are great http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by CRMSNTiDEGRL717 (edited July 04, 2001).]

Ok, the word is NOT going to go away. That's for sure.

Chris Rock said it best, when black people say it, it is saying "wussup" etc. If white people or other say it, it does not translate like that, you think of lynchings, police dogs, and the KKK. That is just a fact. Just because we use it doesn't mean someone else should be able to use it, cause they damn sure wouldn't do the same for you. Cause if they could trade skin with us guess what? they wouldn't!

Just because she was with Puffy doesn't mean she gets a "ghetto pass" I am on the radio and you can be sure she will get clowned by miss qte.

I hope yall don't mind a brotha jumpin' in on this.

The word originated from the slave drivers on the first ships to the west coast of Africa. These slavers were the dumbest(least educated), poorest europeans; and did ANYTHING-including risking their lives- for a meal. They were Portuguese, and their language has its roots in Latin, much like Spanish, English, and Italian. The word "nigga" comes from the Portuguese/Spanish word Negro, which means black(color). Because these
slavers were from the lowest socio-economic class, they couldn't even speak their own language properly; thus, nigga-instead of Negro. The word stuck with us because we too, had trouble learning how to pronounce the languages of our enslavers(thus we were considered dumb). To use that word confirms what many white people think of us already: if they aren't dumb, why do they adopt/accept such an offensive term to refer to their collective selves?

As for J-Lo being black; she is not, never was, and never will be. She tried/tries to be when it's profitable for her; but now she knows yall gon buy her cds, she can be herself. She is Latina; and that's that. It is true that our bloods mixed when the conquistadores and their slaves came; but not many Latinos care to remember that fact. I look at them like they are our "cousins", instead of brothas.

Like 411 said, it's stupid for us to use that word.

"Not many Latinos care to remember that fact." It all depends on WHICH latinos you are referring to. Latinos are mixed with Spanish, Indian, Black, and other European ancestry, having one, more than one, or all of them as a dominant influence in their culture. The Latinos who have more Black influence ARE PROUD to be mixed with this race...mostly in the islands including Puerto Rico. Of course SOME Latinos with more European ancestry won't see the "fact" because their "culture" is more European (ex: South American Latinos, with the exception of Brazil, Belize, and Panama, and a few others <- there are Black Latinos here)
I am using the term "Black Latinos" loosely meaning more Black influence or latinos who relate more with the Black side of their background, just to make my point clearer...
The U.S. uses "White Hispanic" and "Black Hispanic"...but not plain Hispanic...this is confusing; I don't know if they still use this. Also, just because they may look "white or lightly-tanned" doesn't necessarily mean that they may NOT accept their Black side...it's the way they are brought up.

See, even IF a culture has a mixture of Black and other cultures, there are STILL many Latinos who relate more with the Black influence than the European one. Many Latinos celebrate their heritage and roots with their music (that has African drums and other instruments and beats that originated in Africa, for example: Merengue). They also have different foods. Many "Black Latinos" also speak a different Spanish dialect because of these influences.

So Latinos in general share a mixture of cultures, but there is usually a side more dominant than the other and this is what influences how they are brought up and what culture they will mostly relate to. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I agree...the "N" word should be done away with...but so many rappers and people use it, it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

[This message has been edited by D.COM (edited July 04, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by D.COM (edited July 04, 2001).]

Hey, I just heard "Mi Amore" with Angie Martinez and Jay-Z...she also uses the "N" word...a lot of people use it.

What?!!!

I personally haven't heard her use of the word because my musical preference is christian.

However, to comment on anyone not of the African American race using the word is just outrageous. But why should you be offended when someone calls you such-if you use it on a day to day basis.

I am a female of color-my ancestors are a great melting pot of mainly African American or at least that's the dominance by my skin color.

If you had a son who was handicapped and some called him straight up retarded would you be offended by that? They are just stating a fact right. How do you know they didn't mean retarded in a "good" way? Exactly!

As educated individuals, most of us having and seeking college degrees how can we allow ourselves to be degraded. You don't hear white people calling each other crackers and rednecks, italians calling each other wops, chinese saying what's up chink, etc etc. So why should it be said what's up my nig?

If I'm not mistaken aren't you making the ancient definition of Nigga mean "person of color specifically african americans".

So many people wonder why other cultures look down on US. Ever think it could be that some people don't respect our own race enough to make something positive for addressing each other.

Instead, they'd rather kill each other up over chump change for drugs and armory. Your pockets are only temporarily fat. What happens when you get to be 30 and 40 if you make it that long? What happens when you get caught? What happens when you sell someone some imitation? Etc etc. How do you really think drugs are brought over here? And why do you think they will ban Marilyn Mason and keep kill a nig.

Do you really think we've traveled far enough in time that it doesn't matter anymore?

What can you say for our race?

How many know all the words to the "Negro" National Anthem?

What holidays are truly African American Holidays?

Why does the Holacost get all respect and slavery gets pushed over like it's a crutch for black people?

Why do black people still feel inferior to whites?

Remember the saying together we stand, apart we fall?

Who would be afraid of something that is afraid of itself?

Welllll, I don't like it when blacks use the N word...but, we can't compare our use of the N word with that of non-blacks. It's a completely different word and meaning...it doesn't make it right...but, we would be lying if we compared the two usages.
I don't think the issue is whether or not Jennifer is black--she's ethnic when she feels like it, just like Mariah---I think the issue is that whites and "others" will hear her use the word...and since THEY don't see her as black...they will feel it is okay for them to use the word.
I don't think it has much to do with her being comfortable with the black culture (b/c the N word isn't necessarily part of our culture), but similarly, Eminem feels quite comfortable with our culture (maybe too comfortable) and he states that he would use any word EXCEPT for N word (out of respect for the people who's music he is copying).