Double Standard....? (music lyrics debate)

[Shannonigans]

So I'm watching some Chris Rock movie tonight, I'm not sure of hte name of it but it's the one where he dies and has to take the body of the old white guy. Funny movie but there's a part where he's in a restaurant in a poor section of town and he's enjoying a hotdog and date with an attractive black woman.

So a Hum Vee pulls up and the music is really loud, it's a rap song (later I hear it's DMX) and Chris Rock (remember, to the world he looks like an older white guy) starts singing the words, clearly enjoying himself.

So....one of the lyrics says the word "Ni**er" and just singing along with the lyrics he says the word. He's immediately punched out by the 2 black guys. He comes to outside the restaurant and his date says "have you lost your mind" and he says "what I like that song" and she says "what if I started singing 'whitey done this' or 'whitey did that'"...but those WERE the lyrics to the song.

So what do YOU think? Should only blacks be able to sing the lyrics as they are? If you're white and you're singing to a song and it has the word "ni**er" do you quit singing?

This has really kind of thrown me for a loop because it seems like a horrible cause of reverse prejudism. There are other scenes in the movie where he wants to watch BET and his maids make fun of him and so forth. Also one where he's in his Bentley with his white butler and is singing along and dancing to Snoop Dog's "Gin and Juice" and 2 blacks in a car next to him are just being really nasty, throwing looks and making underbreath comments.

So does this rub anyone else the wrong way or is it just me?

:belch:

[SouthernJen]

I've never seen the movie, but judging by your description of the scenes I wouldn't be bothered by them at all. I happen to love Snoop Dogg, especially the song Gin & Juice, and I'll sing the song in its entirety. Now, I won't sing the song at the top of my lungs in public, but I have no problem with others (no matter the color of their skin) who sing that song and others like it.

It actually sounds like a movie I'd like, so remember the name of it and I'll watch it! :)

[Shannonigans]

Ok it's called "Down to Earth" and really it IS a cute movie, those scenes just bothered me for some reason for the 'double' standard that seemed to apply.

I dunno, maybe it's just me? LOL

:P

[DiznieB]

Not sure how to word this the right way ... I'll give it my best shot.

It does rub me wrong way and this is only one small example of REVERSE prejudism. Why can blacks use that word yet if a white person says it (or sings it in this case) - it is wrong? I never understood this.

You don't see a white person referring to another white person as cracker.

You don't see a hespanic person referring to another hespanic person as a wetback.

Why do black people call other black people niggers? And since they use the term, why are they offend if a white person uses it?

And FTR I hate the word. Regardless of being allowed to use it, I choose not to just as I choose not to refer to white people as crackers.

Again. I just don't get it. I am not black though so maybe I am not meant to get it.

[Beelzebub]

Not sure how to word this the right way ... I'll give it my best shot.

It does rub me wrong way and this is only one small example of REVERSE prejudism. Why can blacks use that word yet if a white person says it (or sings it in this case) - it is wrong? I never understood this.

You don't see a white person referring to another white person as cracker.

You don't see a hespanic person referring to another hespanic person as a wetback.

Why do black people call other black people niggers? And since they use the term, why are they offend if a white person uses it?

And FTR I hate the word. Regardless of being allowed to use it, I choose not to just as I choose not to refer to white people as crackers.

Again. I just don't get it. I am not black though so maybe I am not meant to get it.


Easy, because throughout the history of the west, whites have been superior. Many ethnic groups are conscious of this; so for whites to use a derogatory term about another ethnic group, they are re-enforcing the idea that whites are higher up and are typically racist like they have been for centuries. It is very easy to label somebody whom happens to be white as racist because they can be considered to be using the word as an insult. A black man would not use it in the same way because he is black. It is a double standard and hip hop artists are to blame. I find hip hop artists who use racist lingo to be cheapening themselves in a way that is not needed.

Personally I find the problem in the word itself. I blame those whom use it on a daily basis to describe a black man and those who use it to describe a black brother

[Mabel]

REVERSE prejudism

There's no such thing as reverse prejudism. Although many automatically correspond prejudism to whites against blacks, it isn't the definition of the word. Prejudism can be any race against any race.

[kingclick]

Shannon,
I think that is exactly what that movie was trying to do. To show the ridiculousness of "white guys can't but black guys can" mentality. I think it was poking fun at our racial divide and pointing out it's not always white people who are "stereotyping" black people.

[Jory]

That is a good point about the movie KL, but IRL, I hate when black people use the word nigger just as much as I hate it when whitey does it. It is trashy talk plain and simple, and it makes who ever is using the term look foolish.

[GracieMae]

No one should use racial slurs for any reason IMO.

[Mabel]

From what I understand (because I've had this debate before, and argued that black people shouldn't use the N word if they don't want white people to - and since then understand more of where they are coming from) is that by them using the word, they take the power away from the word, when a white (or other race) would use it in a negative way...sort of like making it common, so that it loses its insult power....
But because white people have used it for so long as a negative, demeaning word, whites shouldn't use it, because from our mouths it still holds negative connotations. Sort of like how my sister and I can call each other chubby, but if someone ELSE calls us chubby, that's crossing a line....

At least, that's how I understood it from the person I debated with. I'm still not sure how I feel - I can see where it would be better for a white person to NOT use the word (I'd prefer NO ONE use the word), because it is a word used for ANOTHER race, and if there's a CHANCE that it could be insulting, we should steer away. On the other hand, instead of judging an entire race, and saying they can't use the word because of the negativity, why can't you go on a case by case basis, because I'm sure it's quite obvious when someone is using the word to hurt and insult, or someone's tryin to use the word in a comeradery way...

I don't know. I've learned a ton recently on the racial situations in our country, and am still trying to feel out where I stand - I know that in my heart, I don't give a crap what color people are, I care about personality and qualities.

Maybe Sable could jump in and explain it better for us?

[Mabel]

Honesty, I'm not sure the N word has ever crossed my mouth even in discussion. My mother raised me to view it as even dirtier than a swear word.

[Beelzebub]

The problem with racism is the very language used can be considered divisionary. There are no races within the human population. This misconception should be blamed on scientists during the 17th 18th and even 19th century who tried to prove whites were superior.

The only divide that can be made are ethnic groups.

[Jory]

is that by them using the word, they take the power away from the word, when a white (or other race) would use it in a negative way...sort of like making it common, so that it loses its insult power....

Yes, I have heard this argument before, and I think it is a lame one. I don't like when women call each other bitch or c*nt, but I have heard the same argument applied here as well. Offensive is offensive, no matter who uses it.

I know many well educated black men and women who also hate the word nigger regardless of the color of the mouth it comes out of. It is low class as is the use of bitch or C*nt from woman to woman.

[Shannonigans]

I honestly think that's how I felt. I was uncomfortable because I was raised to think that nigger was a bad word. I'd get in all sorts of trouble for using that word. But I grew up in a predominately black neighborhood and the word was thrown around between blacks especially black males as casually as the word "tomato"...

But as a white person I KNEW that I'd better NEVER use it...

I just think it's a really negative word with a bad connotation and I think it's stupid that ANY person would want to use it especially blacks themselves.

[karaokeguy]

I think that is exactly what that movie was trying to do. To show the ridiculousness of "white guys can't but black guys can" mentality.

I think we're agreeing again....

Kind of off subject...but can I call KL a cracker?

[Loveone]

I think we're agreeing again....

Kind of off subject...but can I call KL a cracker?
What kind of cracker would he be? a Ritz or a saltine? LOL

[ehartsay]

Easy, because throughout the history of the west, whites have been superior. Many ethnic groups are conscious of this; so for whites to use a derogatory term about another ethnic group, they are re-enforcing the idea that whites are higher up and are typically racist like they have been for centuries. It is very easy to label somebody whom happens to be white as racist because they can be considered to be using the word as an insult. A black man would not use it in the same way because he is black. It is a double standard and hip hop artists are to blame. I find hip hop artists who use racist lingo to be cheapening themselves in a way that is not needed.

Personally I find the problem in the word itself. I blame those whom use it on a daily basis to describe a black man and those who use it to describe a black brother

This is sort of like a woman using the word 'Bitch' for another woman (in kind of a comradely 'you go strong woman' way, possibly) VS. a man using it.