I’m still
sitting here trying to understand all of the outrage behind Paula Deen’s
comments. Don’t get me wrong, I’m disappointed in her because I was truly a fan
but the fact that so many Blacks are expressing their discontent amazes me. I'm not justifying her use of racial slurs or making other racist remarks. Quite frankly I'm disgusted by the whole chain of events, however, I have more of an issue with the blatant double standard from the Black community versus hearing that a White woman from the deep South has uttered the word "Nigger" from her mouth either in the past or even yesterday.
For whatever
reason, some Blacks think it’s okay to use the “N” word as it’s culturally revered as a “term of
endearment”. Some of our most beloved rappers are really the guiltiest;
throwing the word around like it’s some type of badge of honor. I don’t
know about you, but that’s not flattery to me. I think it’s hypocritical for us to say that
it’s okay for our youth to address each other with greetings like “What’s up my
N^&&a” or “N^&&a please!” or “This N^&&a here” but get
angry if a Non-Black person says it. What’s the deal with that? Who in their
right mind would want to be addressed that way?
I do not understand how a word that holds such
a historical semblance of hatred, now holds such cultural significance in our
community today. Honestly, the word holds no power over me personally because I
know who I am and from whence I came. However, I find it hard to believe my
ancestors were marching so we could have the freedom to vote, the freedom to
eat where we chose, also wanted us to have the freedom to refer to each other
with the same racial epitaph that was once used to justify Jim Crow.
While most
people that use this reference really mean no harm, it’s actually doing more
harm than we know. See when we run around town referring to one another as
Niggas, Bitches and Hoes, we are unknowingly giving everyone around us
permission to do the same. I can’t stand the word, I don’t care who uses it. It’s
degrading, derogatory and offensive yet we only find harm in it when someone of
another race says it. How stupid is that? Better yet, how stupid are we?
