Walter Burns feels Some sort of way doing this House of Umoja research. Seems Jesse Jackson threw around the N-word pretty liberally in '73. Just sayin'..

185 responses to this plurk.

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  July 22, 2008 at 17:34 JDHP says he still does! lol
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:35 Walter Burns says quote: "Ain't no N- got no justification to kill another N-." I'm sayin' though; Jesse MUST be smarter than that. Or so I thought. Ugh.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:36 JDHP says I'm sure he is, but he's just not as polished as we have previously thought him to be
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:37 HustleMania says Hmm...that's interesting. Seems like Jesse was always flaky. What happened with him and that kid
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:38 Camping Lisa wonders if the black community is ok with the "N" word as long as you are black. I heard Whoopi Goldberg say it is ok as long as a black person ...
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:38 Walter Burns says You got that right, JDHP; I guess all habits never die. I'm not shocked either, veronicaromm; more disheartened, I guess..->
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:38 Camping Lisa wonders uses it
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:38 Walter Burns says <- shocked it showed up in print as boldly as it did. Hmm..
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:38 Camping Lisa says as a "white person" it can be confusing. I don't like it
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:39 Camping Lisa says the "n" word that is
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:40 JDHP says some people use it to refer to all people not just african-americans. its like a noun alomst.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:40 Awakened says I don't use it and won't respond to it at all. But I don't condemn those that do. *Too liberal and believes in the freedom of speech*
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:41 JDHP says I've heard people say things like "look at that Chinese N---- right there"
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:41 Walter Burns says I have had this debate maybe a million times, especially whiel covering hip-hop for features. Ehh, the world would be much better off w/o it
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:42 MelissaThinks says the argument on the view was interesting. Elizabeth just really doesn't get that we all have different cultures.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:43 JDHP says And Puerto-Ricans use it just as much as African-Americans.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:43 JDHP says Not ALL but where I'm from it is as common as Concrete
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:43 Awakened says do I like the word, the answer is no. But again, I do believe in the freedom of speech.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:44 MelissaThinks says as an Italian American I will say things about other Italians but God help an Irish person if they said it. Same kind of thing.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:44 Awakened says And therefore, if we start banning words we don't like what else do we start banning. It's all tied together.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:44 JDHP says Me too
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:45 Awakened says Enough of our freedoms are being taken away.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:46 Camping Lisa says I understand not "banning" a word., I am a public school teacher and it does get rather "GRAY" when you want to have consequences for
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:47 Camping Lisa says the student who uses the "N" word in a derogatory way when just 2 min earlier it was used by the same person it was used against..
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:47 JDHP says depending upon your position, if your a public figure, you have a different set of rules than a guy from up the block
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:48 Camping Lisa says it seems like it is a word that shows disrespect
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:48 Camping Lisa says so even if you are using it as a "noun" it has an element of disrespect
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:48 Walter Burns says Ahh, the free-thinking Plurkanatti has spoken! There are some interesting viewpoints in this thread....
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:49 AliceMei 혜서 That reminds me...I was watching the Pam Grier movie, Coffy, and they used the N-word a load of times. I was a bit shocked.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:49 JDHP says people will say its ok and its a freedom of speech until your in a position where people expect something different from you.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:50 Awakened says I never said the word is ok. But it does unfortunately fall under freedom of speech.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:50 Awakened says Now with that said, does that mean that I will buy a song from an artist that uses that word, the answer is no.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:51 Awakened says would I vote for a politician that uses that word, no. Would I associate myself with someone that uses that word, no.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:51 Awakened says This is where freedom of speech and your own personal options come into play. We can exercise the **right** not to condone such a word.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:51 Awakened says But we should not ban it either.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:53 Walter Burns says And with FOS comes a certain level of responsibility; and true, FOS doesn't protect the speaker from a wicked backlash. Very interesting...
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:53 Camping Lisa asks how do we teach our children the proper use (or in my opinion no use) of the word...I agree with the freedom of speech thing..but I would
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:53 LEMills is fascinated by how words morph according to meaning and context. Wonder where "friend" will be in the near future (not to derail this convo)
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:54 Camping Lisa asks welcome ideas. I work at teaching diversity and acceptance in a VERY rural school in south central PA
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:54 Awakened says freedom of speech does not and should not dismiss the right to teach your kids the reason why this word should not be used.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:54 Awakened says Personal responsibility is not covered by freedom of speech. It's the same as calling some Asian Oriental.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:55 Awakened says Or calling a Hispanic person a spic.
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:55 Awakened says Parents should be able to sit down, explain to **their** children what the word means and why it should not be used & is not condone by them
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  July 22, 2008 at 17:58 Camping Lisa says many of my student's parents use the "N" word and any host of other words inappropriately. I word very hard to undo a lot of hate taught
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:01 Walter Burns says campinglisa (and all who chimed in) has a point: you have to school the youth of today on it; sadly, parents throw it around just as much..
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:05 Awakened says unfortunately, I agree, there are many irresponsible parents. The children may or may not see your POV. But I still stand on not banning.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:05 Awakened says Although this country does have freedom of speech, we have banned in the past and continue to ban certain books, music, etc.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:06 Awakened says Again, I don't agree with this type of banning. I believe our ability to choose. But banning FOS ...
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:07 Awakened says no matter how hateful infringes on that right which can be used to ban things that we don't want to ban.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:09 Walter Burns says A_NYRican is right on the ban; in fact, I think a ban will have the opposite effect, like those 'Explicit Lyrics" warnings on cd's...
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:10 Walter Burns says Banning language is putting both feet on a very slippery slope, IMHO...good feedback and comments!
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:10 Camping Lisa says I agree with you A_NYRican I just get so frustrated with people who disrespect others or themselves
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:10 Camping Lisa says I think that using the "N" word and any host of others like women who use the "B" word for each other are showing a level of disrespect to
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:10 Camping Lisa says themselves.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:11 Camping Lisa needs to get off of her soapbox...sorry
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:11 Awakened says haha I do too.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:12 JDHP says well that word is not going away, if anything its more prominent now than ever. And its double-standard laced slur
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:12 Awakened is wiping her sweaty brow and taking a good sip of her ice cold water. LOL
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:12 Walter Burns says That's what soapboxes are for!! That's just endemic of self-hate, campinglisa, in all its myriad forms....
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:14 Awakened says I don't think I want that word to go away. I believe we (parents, teachers, the entire community) should teach our kids why...
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:14 Awakened says the use of the word should not be promoted as something positive.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:15 Awakened says the moment that words goes away the impact of the word goes away with it.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:15 Awakened says If you noticed the word has been changed in spelling lessen the impact of what the word means.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:15 JDHP says most people wont bat and eye if its said until you are in the public eye. most people wont address it until Michael Richards says it
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:16 JDHP says or Bill O'riely or... Dick Cheney
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:16 Camping Lisa says A_NYRican I totally agree. I read something by John Milton called Areopagitica which speaks against censoring..it is old but relevant
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:17 Awakened says This shows the impact has been changed to the **new** generation. We have the responsibility to say No, and it means this & it s origin.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:17 Camping Lisa says it is sort of like the frog in boiling water analagy isn't it?
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:18 Awakened says unfortunately, yes it is.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:17 JDHP says or the crab in the bucket
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:19 Awakened says
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:19 Camping Lisa says I have to say I really enjoy interacting with each of you...
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:19 JDHP says
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:20 Awakened says this reminds me of something George Carlin said about changing how people feel about something by changing the word.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:20 Awakened says I remember he said something to the effect that once you change the word to something else the impact of that word changes as well.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:21 Awakened says I wish I could remember exactly what he said because he made perfect sense.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:21 Walter Burns says The spell change was a front, though, A_NYRican; I wonder which forces were behind that? NWA? 2 Live Crew? 'a' is more accepted than 'er'..
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:22 Awakened says exactly it is a front. But when our kids see this as oh well it means something else now. How do we combat that?
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:22 Awakened says we have to gear ourselves with knowledge how words impact our way of thinking.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:22 Camping Lisa asks <as an obviously white woman> why does it not bother much of the Black community when the groups like NWA and 2 Live Crew use the word
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:23 Awakened feels that for all those plurks I never get a chance to respond to I think this one makes up for it. LOL
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:23 Awakened says it only does not bother some. Not all of us feel that way. I don't care who you are, what color you are as a Black Puerto Rican woman...
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:23 JDHP says Because they say it just as much as they do on the records. it a term used as not negatively as it should be but as a way to refer to...
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:24 Awakened says I am here to tell you that I will speak up on not using that word in front of me
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:25 Awakened says and this is where the issue lies. Why does the Black community accept this word? Why is it OK for some to use and not others.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:26 Awakened says I understand why Caucasians are confused. I really do. And honestly, I don't have an answer to that. I can only speak for myself.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:26 JDHP says DOUBLE-STANDARD. Black people have a Monopoly on it. In my opinion. Black people can say whatever about anybody and no one holds them to it
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:26 Camping Lisa says this is why the "white" community gets confused...ok I am not apologizing for the Imus's of the world, but it does seem confusing
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:26 Awakened says I completely agree.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:27 Camping Lisa thinks A_NYRican we think alike
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:27 JDHP says until you are a public figure and you say something bad about Black people. like calling then the N-word
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:27 Awakened says really I do.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:29 JDHP says yes
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:30 Walter Burns says Deep thread. In some parts of the black community, the word is almost defended; in others, it's reviled. There's no consensus anymore..
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:29 JDHP says Imus is a D-Bag
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:32 Awakened says he may be. But again, he brought up an issue that continues to be an issue in the Black community today - unity.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:31 JDHP says the damage is done, obviously.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:33 Walter Burns says What amazes me is that I have never heard any other derogatory term thrown around/embraced as much as 'N-." what is THAT saying? Anything?
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:34 Awakened says exactly DCW but you know why because the group that should have denounced it embraced it themselves.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:35 Awakened says As a Puerto Rican, I would never allow you to call me a spic. Some hispanics do but very few. Most would denounce the word immediately.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:36 Awakened says I have a young lady here in Plurk who constantly throws that word around. I never respond to those plurks.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:36 JDHP says Yeah, thats crazy. Who's behind that?
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:39 Camping Lisa says I think that DCW Burns will have a sky rocketing Karma after this thread
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:41 Walter Burns says I feel you, A_NYRican; As an African-American, I cringe when I hear it; as a journalist, I need the FOS; I hate the conundrum, personally.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:41 Awakened says this is what Plurk considers a quality Plurk
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:43 Camping Lisa says DCW burns anytime you want to do a fascinating story on the "Challenge of Diversity in rural america" you can come to my school and
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:43 Camping Lisa says interview me and some of my students
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:48 Walter Burns says You know what, campinglisa? That sounds like a VERY good idea!!!! can you shoot an e-mail to williadc@phillynews.com with a few specifics-
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:49 Walter Burns says -on your school?
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:49 Walter Burns says Well, this is a hot-button issue, A_NYRican and The Plurkanatti is not short on opinions
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:50 ampersandrea says I've skimmed the plurk. I hope I don't repeat anything. I think its a cop out to 'embrace' a word by changing the -er to an -a.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:51 Camping Lisa says no...but would you have it any other way?
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:51 ampersandrea says Do I use it? Yep. To describe people that don't take responsibility in themselves, their neighborhood, family, community...
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:51 ampersandrea says people...of ALL RACES
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:52 ampersandrea says I would actually. I would rather have a world where the word doesn't apply to anyone.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:54 Awakened says but again you have changed the meaning of the word.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:56 Awakened says so basically, this is the problem. The impact of the word has been changed.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:55 ampersandrea says I always thought it just meant 'an ignorant person' - with racial undertones, of course
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:56 Awakened says using it in the context that it was used it, you are basically saying all Blacks are lazy and irresponsible.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:56 Awakened says the problem is that our youth don't know what the word means. Another issue.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:57 ampersandrea says but I didn't say I was using solely on black people though. I said people of ALL RACES.
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  July 22, 2008 at 18:59 Awakened says but that's the problem
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:00 Awakened says please research the word. After you do, you will never use it to describe anyone.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:00 Awakened says see the origin, why it was used and the purpose it served.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:00 Awakened says or if you want I can do this in a private plurk.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:04 ampersandrea says ok.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:04 ampersandrea says I just wiki'ed it.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:05 ampersandrea says and also I understand that wiki isn't the end all of research
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:06 ampersandrea says but *I AM* at work...
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:07 Awakened says haha I understand. When you can. But I am glad that you are trying to understand.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:17 Walter Burns says It's very complex and layered; I also think, to the older generation, the folks that were born prior to 1950, it carries a lot of pain...
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:18 Walter Burns says for the younger cats, those more edgy, worldly, it may carry a different context. My grandmother would fall OUT if she heard it, for example
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:19 ampersandrea says see - my dad had this campaign. T.E.N. = total elimination of niggas. And he defined niggas as ppl who are irresponsible.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:20 ampersandrea says That's where I got it from.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:20 ampersandrea says and outside of the historical context - I still agree with that.
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:23 Awakened says OK. And please don't take this the wrong way but you just proved my point. Change the word changes the impact. *Amen*
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  July 22, 2008 at 19:32 Walter Burns says This is some thread. 144 responses, including perhaps 20 of my own. I appreciate everyone's comments! Free thinkers, indeed...
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:17 LEMills is back from a 2-hr meeting, and no one's mentioned Joseph Conrad yet! Mostly, though, I'm interested in the community-based useage.
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:17 LEMills There's no parallel in the white world (I don't think). We don't throw around "WASP" as an in-group term of affection or derision, (do we?)
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:21 Walter Burns says LEMills is very smart; that's one of the points I was trying to make!!
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:24 LEMills dcw, you're going out on a limb there! But "honkey" (sp?) was not something we called ourselves...
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:24 Awakened agrees with LEMills and I know that was one of the points but again this will bring me back to my soapbox. I need to eat to type that one.
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:25 LEMills So perhaps it's a word that has a mixed affection - a "safe" word to signify an oppressed group
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:26 LEMills but used by the outsiders to reinforce that oppression
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:28 LEMills And while I'm here... I really, REALLY dislike the frequency of "d-bag" - just another sexist remark in a world with too many already
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  July 22, 2008 at 20:49 Camping Lisa says I just realized what you meant by "d-bag" I thought it meant "dirt bag"...
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  July 22, 2008 at 21:24 LEMills HA! I'm always reading it as "douche" (there are so many levels to that... the procedure beingsomething of my mother's generation)
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  July 22, 2008 at 21:25 LEMills [but I derail again] it's all context, though, isn't it?
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  July 22, 2008 at 21:43 latoyasutton says this is a good conversation to have. And it's being handled intelligently too. You don't see that too often.
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  July 22, 2008 at 21:54 LEMills Well, one reason may be that the usual bunch of commenters for Damon's Daily News articles aren't on Plurk! (or at least I don't think so)
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  July 22, 2008 at 23:37 lilyhill Words have the power to hurt. ANY words. It's the intention behind them. Never allowed hate speech in my house. Awareness starts there.
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  July 23, 2008 at 00:02 Walter Burns says You got that absolutely right, LEMills. And lilyhill is also right; its amazing how much music I thrown out, over the lyrics, for the kids
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  July 23, 2008 at 00:41 JDHP says wow this plurk is still going? COOL!
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  July 23, 2008 at 01:14 Awakened says lilyhill you are right on the mark. Awareness starts in the home. Unfortunately, like one of the writers here wrote, some just don't.
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  July 23, 2008 at 01:15 Awakened says Or use the word themselves. It's the education of parents - the community as a whole that needs to change. But banning is not the way.
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  July 24, 2008 at 01:55 SquireHogg wishes everyone could read something like this. This has been a wonderful discussion of issues that should be discussed more openly, more often.
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  July 24, 2008 at 01:58 SquireHogg says the more you learn about people of different faith, race, color, gender, ethnicity, nationality- the more you realize we are all the same.
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  July 24, 2008 at 01:59 SquireHogg says Words don't matter. Respect matters. I heard Richard Pryor say the N word a million times, and I never felt he was doing anything wrong.
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:01 SquireHogg says I can call myself a freaking Hebrew. Anyone who respects me can say that. (I am Jewish, although do not practice the religion actively)
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:02 SquireHogg says Some jewish people would say I'm not a good Jew. Fine. But if a racist calls me a friggin Jew, not good.
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:03 SquireHogg thinks if we respect eachother, words don't matter. And believe it or not, I actually respect Jesse Jackson on in many ways.
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:04 Camping Lisa says SquireHogg that I think we teach people how to treat (or call us) so if we use words for ourselves that our offensive from others..it sends
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:05 Camping Lisa says confusing messages...
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:05 SquireHogg here's my shocker: I think the whole thing was done on purpose!!
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:07 SquireHogg Someone, somewhere thought that if JJ did something wacky, and Senator Obama distanced himself, it would be good for the Obama campaign.
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:07 SquireHogg asks how's that for keeping this wonderful plurk going!!
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:08 Camping Lisa says I think this is not where we were going with this thread...
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:11 SquireHogg says I see what you mean campinglisa, and agree. I was taught to respect people of other races and faiths by my parents.
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:11 Camping Lisa says
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:13 SquireHogg says And yet sometimes I remember hearing words or generalizations that I knew were wrong. I made the choice to respect AND to be sensitive...
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:12 SquireHogg about language.
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:14 SquireHogg (campinglisa is right- the last thing I want to do is needlessly inject politics into an important discussion.
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  July 24, 2008 at 02:15 SquireHogg says you all rock. I'll check back later!
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  June 18, 2009 at 18:43 Mortalwind The truth is young white males who enjoy the hip hop culture myself included use this term amongst are selves
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  June 18, 2009 at 18:45 Mortalwind In the same way a lot of young black men do. As a term of endearment. Does that make it right? Probably not.