# Does using the word 'nigger' automatically make me racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 12, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709 "2002-07-12T22:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/21 "2002-07-12T23:54:11Z")
> [@](#): > > What upsets me is that the almighty powers of the music industry (esp. MTv) have decided that the ONLY music you are allowed to see on television is hip-hop, rap, and its various permutations. What utter crap. They haven’t decided that’s what we _can_ see; they’ve decided that’s what we _will_ see, because they’re good capitalist pigs who make their money selling Sprite and Nikes and Tommy jeans through commericals. The music is the draw to make you sit still while the feed you the commercials, get it? And so they make very emotionless decisions on programming that in a nutshell boil down to this: They play what their target audience (and their advertisers’ target audience) likes to see. And that includes a lot of rap and R&B. I don’t care for it much either, by and large, but I don’t blame MTV for failing to play music I personally like. Apparently, a lot of people like what they _do_ play. > [@](#): > > The fact that the majority of these artists are black has nothing to do with it – I hate that form of music even if it’s a white or latino person singing. If the fact that the artists are black had “nothing to do with it,” you wouldn’t call it “nigger music,” would you? Of course not. You are the one tying the race to the music, so don’t be so disingenuous as to claim that in your mind the one has nothing to do with the other. They obviously do. Sure, you can use “certain words” for “effect,” but you can’t dictate the effect they have. To most people, the use of that word indicates ignorance, hostility, racism, or some combination thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/22 "2002-07-12T23:58:39Z")
Oh, and to say you’re using the word “nigger” to describe the music itself, as opposed to the people making it, is so disingenuous as to be laughable. The music obviously has no inherent race, while the artists do. A race-based insult – and that word is almost always an insult – obviously applies to the artists, not the music – if you could artificially separate the two, which of course you really cannot. Truly, you’re digging a deeper hole here. Was that your intent? ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeremy_s_Evil_Twin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/23 "2002-07-13T00:02:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuaSponte \* > **Last I checked, any type of music video, “pure ROCK” or not, are pretty bloody insignificant, in the grand, or even picayune, scheme of things.** Or so you say. We all have different priorities. I could care less if we ever find Osama bin Laden or if some priests molested a few kids or if that Inglewood cop should be arrested for police brutality. But when a few monolithic corporations connive to decide what type of entertainment is available for me to enjoy, be it music videos or radio or whatever, well, that matters to me. And not just me, either. Millions of people have had careers destroyed (or built out of whole cloth) because of the way the music industry is set up. If you were passionate about, say, animal rights, and I poo-poo’ed all over you about it (not because of your opinions but because you even HAD an opinion to begin with), how would you feel?? > [@](#): > > **A person whose equilibrium is dependent upon the ready availability of a particular type of television programming has, shall we say, deeper issues.** Well, I can’t say I’ve ever been tempted to carry an AK-47 into a crowded building and start firing away simply because MTv won’t play any Slayer videos. But hey, it’s always an option, I guess. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Jeremy\_s\_Evil\_Twin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeremy_s_Evil_Twin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/24 "2002-07-13T00:11:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ferrous \* > **Wow. I _might_ have been able to give you the benefit of the doubt before you wrote that, but that tears it. You used the word because to you it’s “the expression of ultimate disgust”?** All right, you obviously misread my post and are taking my words completely out of context. (Seems to be a common theme today.) But on the off-chance that I did in fact stumble over the words and express myself badly, let me explain what I _really_ meant. Yes, “nigger” is an ugly word. But NOT because of what it describes. It’s ugly because of all the nasty connotations attached to it. So when you hear it, it stands out – even more so today than 20 years ago. There are a few movies from the 80’s that used the N-word in a way that seems far more racist and upsetting than what was originally intended. For instance, in _Trading Places_ when Don Ameche says, “Do you really think I’d let a _nigger_ run our business?” it comes off as QUITE jarring, and a viewer in 2002 is more inclined to write off Don Ameche’s character as a pure racist, than someone in 1982 who would just think he’s being a jerkass. Which is the irony in this whole debate, I guess. I used the word in a way that wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago, and even though I knew it was pushing the limits, the enormity of the response kinda baffles me. But maybe that’s the joke. Or something. But please, no more of this twisting my words around in that double-standard way. I so _totally_ hate that, you don’t even wanna know. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/25 "2002-07-13T00:23:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeremy’s Evil Twin \* > \*\*There are a few movies from the 80’s that used the N-word in a way that seems far more racist and upsetting than what was originally intended. For instance, in _Trading Places_ when Don Ameche says, “Do you really think I’d let a _nigger_ run our business?” it comes off as QUITE jarring, and a viewer in 2002 is more inclined to write off Don Ameche’s character as a pure racist, than someone in 1982 who would just think he’s being a jerkass. > > Which is the irony in this whole debate, I guess. I used the word in a way that wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago, and even though I knew it was pushing the limits, the enormity of the response kinda baffles me. But maybe that’s the joke. Or something. > . \*\* You seem to understand that, at the very least in today’s world, that word has the specific conotation of ‘racist’, indicate you understand that in today’s world, if a character in a movie used that term, they would be thought of as a ‘racist’, but claim that you’re _surprised_ that people might conceivably think that you are one??? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/26 "2002-07-13T00:27:48Z")
> [@](#): > > But they are just words. And I’ll grant that it was partially insensitive, but mostly what I was going for was an expression of total disgust. Got it. Just words, no particular intent to offend. But wait, you have stated you DID have intent. Your intent was to convey what for you, is the embodiment of total disgust. And the word which best illustrates the depth of your disgust is… nigger. But it’s just a word… Ow, now my head is starting to hurt. > [@](#): > > We all have different priorities. I could care less if we ever find Osama bin Laden or if some priests molested a few kids or if that Inglewood cop should be arrested for police brutality. But when a few monolithic corporations connive to decide what type of entertainment is available for me to enjoy, be it music videos or radio or whatever, well, that matters to me. Now I’m curious. I’d like to hear why you feel that the sexual molestation of children by authority figures is a lesser issue than what sort of music videos you have available to watch at a given time. **JET** , you may want to look the work empathy up in the dictionary. And psychopath, too, while you are at it. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/27 "2002-07-13T00:41:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeremy’s Evil Twin \* > \*\* > But they are just _words_. And I’ll grant that it was partially insensitive, but mostly what I was going for was an expression of total disgust. It’s not like I said, “music created by niggers.” It’s the _music_ I was railing against, and attaching such an un-PC word to it was aimed at expressing the ultimate form of disgust. For some reason, “that shitty rap music” just doesn’t have quite the same effect I was looking for. > > And how do you guys know I’m caucasian, anyway? 😉 Would it make any difference, if I were known to be black? \*\* seeing as it was _I_ who called you an asshole, I suppose I should respond here. What’s the problem with the word asshole, sweetie? Why are you _so_ upset? Asshole: a word meaning the hole in your ass. the hole where shit comes out. Is it _my_ fault that the word has bad connotations? Asshole is just a _word_. And I’ll grant that it was partially insensitive, but mostly what I was going for was an expression of total disgust. Besides, pumpkin, did I call _you_ an asshole or did you just infer it? I simply said, and I quote: “like we need yet ANOTHER asshole poster here at the dope.” For some reason, “stupid idiot” just doesn’t have quite the same effect I was looking for. mea culpa. asshole. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/28 "2002-07-13T01:32:41Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/29 "2002-07-13T01:45:50Z")
I don’t think using the word “nigger” automatically makes one a racists. My dad refers to my aunt as a nigger all the time, and not only is she whiter than Hitlers wet dream, he doesn’t imply the word as a racist term. He calls her that because it’s the most insulting word he can think of. Insulting not that he’s comparing her to a black person(he’s not), insulting as in " nigger is such a terible, awful word, so that’s what I’m going to call you" type of thing. (my dad doesn’t care for my aunt. Or haven’t you figured that out yet?:D) He never refers to blacks as niggers, so I don’t feel using the word to insult my white aunt is racist. It’s the context of the word and how it’s used that may or may not make it’s use racist. I’ve heard black rappers refer to their _cough_cough\* “music” :rolleyes: as “nigga music”. (that’s nigga, not nigger). So does that make it ok for anyone else to refer to it as “nigga” music? I personally couldn’t care less. Worrying about what kind of words a person uses is a waste of my time. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/30 "2002-07-13T01:49:09Z")
For crying out loud. If you’re goint to tell us that you DIDN’T expect an uproar over your choice of words, you’re either very, very naive, or you’re complete liar. I vote for the latter. :rolleyes: Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/31 "2002-07-13T02:14:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeremy’s Evil Twin \* > **I’ve always maintained that my glee over such incidents was because of the big wake-up call it gave to the victims (the ones who survived, at least.)** Oh, I thought that name looked familiar. You’re the one who hero-worships school shooters. So what kind of fucked-up “wake-up call” are they supposed to give? I sure don’t see any. (Though I’m surprised to hear MTV still plays music, much less that anybody cares…) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709/32 "2002-07-13T02:32:11Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** I suppose we _could_ have a debate about the meanings we assign to words, the psychology of insults, “political correctness”, the importance of symbolic as well as more tangible forms of discrimination or prejudice, etc. But y’all seem mostly to be focused on discussing this one individual, and the place for that sort of discussion is in the Pit, not here. (Unless the one person we’re talking about is Richard Nixon or something.) Since the person whose words are being critiqued is in fact the person who started the thread, I’m going to close this rather than move it. If **Jeremy’s Evil Twin** really wants to Pit himself, I’m sure he can do so. If anyone wants to have a debate about the meanings we assign to words, etc., feel free. If anyone wants to rake anybody else over the coals, y’all know where to go, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-using-the-word-nigger-automatically-make-me-racist/118709.md?page=1)