[Exquisite5]

I performed a search before starting this as a new thread, so I hope this fits in well enough here, and that since it is an older thread it still gets some play.

I received this email today. I am not certain if it is true, or not, but even if its not----the situation even as a hypothetical should spark debate. Is this a fair ruling? (I think not) Have we as African American's done this to ourselves? Can we expect anymore of the J-Lo's of the world (and the student in this case) if WE tell the world "nigga" is okay?

Here is the email I received:
WHITE STUDENT LET OFF FOR USING 'N' WORD AGAINST BLACK TEACHER

Judge says 'nigga' not the same as 'nigger'
by Davey D
(Mar. 18, 2002) *A major WACK Award goes out to those who insist and continue to use the N word. Whether you spell it NIGGER or NIGGA, you still get the WACK Award. Weekend before last, the ridiculous logic of using this word came back to haunt us.

A San Jose, California judge allowed a white student who committed a hate crime against his black female teacher off the hook. His defense reasoned successfully that the white guy did not commit a hate crime when he vandalized school property because he spelled the N word N-I-G-G-A and not N-I-G-G-E-R. Yep, the white guy used the "friendly" version of the word and got away with it. Dude wrote 'Thanks Nigga' and had an arrow pointed to the teacher's name.

For those who are still shaking their heads in disbelief, here's what went down. A white student at a San Jose high school got upset with his African American teacher for suspending his white friend. In retaliation he spray paints a school wall with the teacher's name and the N word which was spelled N-I-G-G-A. The police were upset. The teacher was upset and the community was appalled. Dude goes on trial for this hate crime and his
defense attorney brings in some witness to testify to the judge that there's a difference between the two spellings of the N word. The judge listens and lets the white dude off and says no hate crime was committed and thus a dangerous precedent is set.
San Jose's Black Police officers association were extremely upset over the ruling. After all, they know all to well what this will lead to. Next time some cop pulls you over and hurls the N word he can get off saying he said N-I-G-G-A and not N-I-G-G-E-R. Should you be careful before you file a racial harassment suit against a coworker or an insensitive boss? After all, he or she may actually be using the 'NIGGA' spelling of the word. I couldn't help recalling the speech that Minister Farrakhan gave at the
most recent Hip Hop Summit in LA. He emphatically warned us, "If we keep putting something out there we will one day have to answer for it." This recent court interpretation of this hate crime and the use of the N word as proof. Think about it.

end of email

Also, has anyone checked out the book "Nigger: the strange history of an ugly word"? I think that is the title, I know for sure the first word is nigger. Its written by a black Harvard professor..of English,I think. He talks about Nigger's evolution and how because of rap and nigga, and black colloquialisms, the word nigger is no longer what it used to be....both in power and its ability to demean. I haven't read the book, but saw the author, the comic Monique, Tempest Bledsoe, and some rock star discussing it on Politically Incorrect. I'm thinking of buying the book, if only to see what exactly he has to say..

thoughts anyone????