Sunday, June 23, 2013

I'm sorry, but I'm not calling it "the n-word".

It's been a long time since I could claim to be anywhere near politically correct; and this late in the game, I absolutely refuse to use the term "the n-word".

I think the term itself is laughable......it's downright silly. 
It seems to me that at least once a year, one of our so called heroes or some idiotic comedian or some such drunken fool or lame duck politician winds up being taped using that word that Paula Deen clearly throws around like someone working the cash register at a McDonald's might use the term "Big Mac". 
I don't use the word myself, it's just not me. Out of respect for myself, my children, the way I was raised, my family at large, the world and the many fine people that came before me.

I just think that the casual use of  that particular word is rather ignorant. 

But..... should occasion present itself where I might be forced to use the word, I'm just not gonna call it "the n-word".
But I don't understand why we continue to act shocked by the casual or even not so casual use of this word or other hurtful slurs as part of the regular vocabularies of these people that Hollywood or the media would have us look up to. 
This is America.

It is what it is.

It's the land of the free, the home of the brave and our legacy was built on the backs of enslaved people and racist notions.

The racism train in America is never late.  Let's not pretend that isn't our countries legacy.

Do we really believe in our heart of hearts that these few people that end up getting busted talking like this are the only ones that do use words like this on a regular basis?!?

I mean......really?!?
So why do we continue to be and act surprised?!?


Why?!?

Anyone who is offended by the use of this word and others like it......shouldn't EVER use this  word or other hurtful words themselves.


I don't use the word....or this silly term.  I don't use it and I'm not going to.

75 comments:

  1. I don't any of this post this time, Reg ... I never watch Big Brother's Indoctrinations on TV ... but, glad to see you back blogging, nonetheless ... where have you been? Love, cat.

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    1. Cat sadly this is the first time I've signed into my blog in a very long time. Sometime this week I will make the rounds and comment on some of the stuff I've missed in my absense.

      I don't really have an excuse either....other than life happening I suppose.

      I believe I'm finally coming to that time when I will stop blogging altogether.......anyway........maybe?!? Who knows?!?

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    2. I hope you don't stop blogging altogether. I love seeing your stuff. It brings a smile to my face.

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    3. I can't say that I don't enjoy blogging No Labels. But the truth is....that day that I'm gonna stop is getting closer all the time.

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  2. Yeah… agreed, Reginald. “The n-word” does sound kinda silly for grown-ass adults to use. However, it is a tad more respectful & mindful than saying it full-out. Too much tragic history & blood-shed attached to its use. Only wish some hip-hop performers would purchase a freakin’ clue… instead of using a variant of the word, getting rich off its proliferation & buying more of their ridic bling.

    I don't use the word, personally. There are far more clever & creative ways to express one's self.

    But the truly irksome thing about Miss Deen’s (or is it Miz Ann’s?) so-called “apology” is that she geared it to people in HER circle who might be affected ( not offended-- affected) by the repercussions of her ignorance (in varying degrees)… as opposed to the worldwide population of BLACK people her dyed-in-the-wool racist ass truly disrespected.

    To that, I say, a POX on her, her brand, AND her multi-million dolla enterprise!

    One.

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    1. I won't be spending my dollar on Paula Deen again anytime soon Moanerplicity. Personally I'm not offended by what she said. As a matter of fact, I like knowing exactly how she feels about me and people that look like me. I think that sometimes when people are carrying on about their first amendment rights, that they do seem to forget that there are repercussions to the things that we say.

      When someone is in business and they rely on the public at large to purchase their goods and services, they can't really afford to offend anyone. A good business person would have just shut the hell up.

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    2. It wasn't even her saying that word which mainly got to me but where she was talking about an old style Southern plantation. That was a lot more offensive to me.

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    3. Yeah, all that bullshit about harkening back to the good old days kinda made me do a doubletake too.

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  3. Who's that guy below Kramer, and what did he say? I don't use the N word either and none of my friends do (in my presence, at least) however, my mother uses it at least once per phone conversation. It makes me cringe.

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    1. Daij that particular gentleman is Jonathan Rhys Meyers. He's an actor. He starred in The Tudors on HBO. A few years ago he got drunk before boarding a United Airlines flight at JFK Airport in New York. Rhys Meyers apparently downed one too many drinks. When United personnel noticed his behavior spinning out of control, they stopped him from boarding the flight. While taking issue with this decision, the Irish actor allegedly started shouting profanities and racial slurs. For Rhys Meyers, the incident is one of many involving his battle with substance abuse. He’s reportedly checked out of rehab at least three times.

      I have family that does it too. Most of them know better than to use terms like that around me.

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    2. I'm not a fan of that term, nor am I one to say that term in conversation.

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    3. Anyone that knows me knows not to talk around me like that.

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  4. Universal Definition: nig·ger


    [nig-er]

    Usage note

    The term nigger is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. The senses labeled Extremely Disparaging and Offensive represent meanings that are deeply insulting and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. It is so profoundly offensive that a euphemism has developed for those occasions when the word itself must be discussed, as in court or in a newspaper editorial: “the n-word.”

    Despite this, the sense referring to a “black person” is sometimes used among African Americans in a neutral or familiar way. The sense referring to other victims of prejudice, especially when used descriptively, as to denounce that prejudice, is not normally considered disparaging—as in “The Irish are the niggers of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments —but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile.

    noun
    1.
    Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.
    a.
    a black person.
    b.
    a member of any dark-skinned people.
    2.
    Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.
    3.
    a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised...


    Just sayin'.

    One.

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    1. Recently I had a conversation with an older Caucasian woman that I work with. She was saying that although she was surprised to hear that Paula Deen would use the word (at this point I rolled my eyes); she says that all black people use the word constantly. Then she said if black people can use the word, why can't anyone else?

      So I asked her..."Have you ever heard me use the word?" She said no.

      So I asked her..."Why do you need to be able to use the word?"


      .....silence.....

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    2. You mush have a newer dictionary. Look at an old one - the primary definition of "Nigger" used to be, 'a Black person' and THEN the other usages.

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    3. John I'm sure he used the Internet.

      Sure this brother is a writer, but I only hope that he right clicked and copied this and didn't actually type it out.

      Regardless it's a horrible, reprehensible thing to call someone.......can we agree on that John?!?

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  5. Oh, I have no doubt that she & millions of others use that word, either regularly or in mixed company... and have NO guilt or qualms about it. I too would much rather people be honest w/ their racist ways, b/c at least then I KNOW what I'm dealing with & can act (or react) accordingly.


    One.

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    1. Whenever I hear ANYONE refer to someone with a different ethnic background by a derogatory term, I just assume they feel the same way about me and when they refer to me, they speak in the same terms as Paula Deen would.

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  6. I agree. The "shock and awe" surrounding Paula Deen is baffling to me. She's an old woman born and raised in the DEEP south and you think that word doesn't freely roll off her tongue. Please!

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    1. If it weren't for the fact that all this drama will play hell with her $$$, I doubt she'd even give a half a damn Chele.

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    2. I'm sure that she and her circle of friends routinely say things that would "shock and awe".

      At the same time, they're from the south No Labels. You're from Mississippi and I'm from Alabama. You know the score just like I do.

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  7. No one is surprised P. Deen called Black people niggers. Folks are surprised she got caught. It is an unspoken rule, that white folks who use it can't let it get out that they do. That when the trouble starts.

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    1. Sometimes when people are used to saying some things, they forget themselves and they forget when and where and under what circumstances they're supposed to say these things.

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    2. I agree. Most people aren't surprised...just surprised her dumb butt admitted it.

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    3. Yeah but BayouCreole if she hadn't, I'm willing to bet that ten people would have stepped forward and said "yeah I've heard her say it a ton of times too."

      ....or maybe there is a recording of her voice saying it?

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  8. I always assume most older White people are just a temper tantrum away from using the word 'nigger'. And, I think you would be hard pressed to find one that didn't use the word casually while sitting in front of the TV on any given evening.

    Racism runs deep in this country.

    That said, Paula Deen isn't just a bigot/ racist, she's a stupid and arrogant one who thought she could do as she pleased with no consequences.

    Anyway, I've never been a fan. I've never seen her TV show. So, I had no emotional investment in this woman.

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    1. Oh I've seen her show many times. I remember watching her make bread pudding once with Krispy Kreme donuts; and while I'm not a fan of bread pudding.....shit looked good.

      Once a few years back when the wife and I spent a few days in Memphis, TN; we made it a point to go to a casino in Mississippi simply because Paula Deen had a resturant there.....food was good.

      But I'll tell you what, as God is my witness I'll never spend another dime of my hard earned money on her big collard green eating ass again!!!

      Oh I hold a grudge.....I still don't eat at a barbecue restaurant here locally because of something the owner said years BEFORE I moved to this state. I don't buy Texaco gas because of something that happened in the 80s. I won't ever buy another Papa Johns pizza again.........and wait for it, wait for it........I haven't been back to Chick Fil A for one of those delicious ass chicken sandwiches since you chastised my silly ass last summer.

      See, I hold a grudge Val.

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    2. Most of them are a temper tantrum away. I had a patient who took her last breath calling one of the nursing assistants a nigger.
      She literally looked at the woman, said "nigger" and then died.

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    3. See Val, even this late in the game I can grow.

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    4. Maybe that patient felt she just had to say it one more time on her way to see the devil?!?

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    5. Wow, BC, she was a nasty old racist right until the bitter end.


      Yep, and that's pretty cool, Reggie.

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    6. I'm sure that old lady will give the devil hell Val!!!

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    7. I never was a fan of Papa John's Pizza, anyway.

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    8. I enjoyed it, but my wallet is now permanently closed to it. When I lived in Maplewood, NJ there was one on Springfield Avenue that I ordered pizza from on a fairly regular basis.

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  9. I was more shocked that the fool wanted to have a wedding and have the black men dress as slaves! That nut must be smoking something! I wonder how Oprah's ass feels after chumming up to Paula's racist ass! I'll say this though, that darned #paulasbestdishes on twitter made my week! That was thee best satire I'd seen in a long time!

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    1. BayouCreole she just wanted to harken back to days of old. There are a lot of southern.....and northern and western and eastern Caucasians that feel the same way. They want to return to "simpler" times when they could be free and open with their bigotry, without repercussions.

      "[W]hen asked if she wanted black men to play the role of slaves at a wedding she explained she got the idea from a restaurant her husband and her had dined at saying, “The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie.

      “I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America…after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War…It was not only black men, it was black women…I would say they were slaves.”

      Yeah......she's hilarious alright BayouCreole; and yes, I did read some of that stuff off the Internet. At least some of us can laugh about it.


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    2. I'm actually surprised Oprah hasn't come to her defense, BC. But, maybe she's trying to get the interview so she wants to appear impartial.

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    3. I was actually thinking the same thing Val.

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    4. Yes, I was shocked at the whole "wedding thing" too BayouCreole.

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    5. Yeah No Labels, she had a hankering for the "good old days".

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  10. Did you read where she told her security guard who is a black man that, he was so black that she couldn't see him against the blackboard?! That MF'er makes me want to choke her.
    You know I know they want to return to simpler times. We're deep south people. See it all day. They're getting their asses beat down today for that foolishness though.

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    1. Nah I hadn't heard that BayouCreole, that's pretty sad.

      What I do know is that the good old days weren't always good and today and tomorrow just aren't as bad as they seem at times.

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  11. Reggie,
    I have no problem with the word. I use it. I feel like this. If I use it how can I get upset when someone else uses it? That would be hypocritical. So I could give less than a damn if this crazy ass woman decides to use it. If people don't support her choice of words...then don't support her buisnesses. The only thing rich people worry about is being turned into poor people. So hit her and fools like her in her pocket. We don't need any pointless protests and marches or any of that jesse jackson/al sharpton type shit. Just don't support fools like this. This is America. We have choices. If you don't like something..don't fuck with it. Cut it off..leave it alone..and it will go away.

    Just saying...

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    1. Well then Dirty Red we're gonna just have to agree to disagree on the usage of that word that you and Paula appparently like to use so much.

      I just can't do it.

      However, I do agree with you where the monetary thing is concerned. I won't spend my dime there EVER again. I hold a grudge. This past year in particular I've been trying to work on me. Sometimes I've looked in the mirror and not liked what I've seen.....so I've made it a point to make changes. I think we all grow....when we want to anyway.

      I don't use the word because I choose not to.

      It is what it is.

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    2. It is what it is No Labels. Just like Popeye, I yam what I yam.

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  12. I am surprised that America is still so racially divided. It's 2013. I'm embarrassed that I can't even go to the Food Network's Facebook page without having to see thousands of racist posts. I don't use the word, never have and never will. I have never been a fan of Paula Deen. I'm happy that the companies that employ her have taken a stand against the nonsense she spews out of her butter filled mouth.

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    1. I wish that I could say that I'm surprised Mlvlatina, but I'm honestly not.

      There are some really nasty people in this country. Particularly since they don't have to step out in the open with their attitudes. They can just hide behind keyboards and express their keyboard courage. Oh they might not say it in your face or so that you can see. But take an opportunity to check out one of the commenters on Dirty Red's page.

      http://dirtyredsblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-only-thing-rich-people-fear-is.html

      Check out the blogspot link that Vargr suggests....there is nothing but blatant, nasty, un-American commentary there.

      Some people are just nasty. These are the expressed opinions of our fellow Americans......the people that live next door to us and work with us. The people we see at Sears, Walmart and The Waffle House.

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    2. Wow. I am rarely at a loss for words, but after reading those comments... Wow. :(

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  13. Hi Reggie,
    This is a really powerful post.
    I don't use the n-word but I do use the c-word carefully at times not to wound other human beings but to lessen the power of it's emotional charge and deflate the shock, hate and hurt it's meant to inflict. These words are written and spoken from fear and fear divides us. I want to bring a different energy to people so we can all begin to heal.
    Thanks for helping me think about this. . .

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    1. I'm glad that I could help you think about this CalmCoach.....now if only you'll help me. What exactly is the "c-word". You lost me there.

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  14. C*NT or See(C) You Next Tuesday

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    1. Ah ha, I've been educated this day.

      CalmCoach I have a biracial friend who dates both Caucasian woman (like his mother) and African American women (life his father). He says that his simple mantra is to never call a Caucasian woman a cunt or an African American woman a bitch. According to him, that usually ends those types of relationships or turns them into a living hell.

      Of course, I do my best to stay away from these two words as well.

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  15. I was always sure of her feelings on that. The one time I watched her program I knew. She's so typical. Glad she's getting her comeuppance. and if it hadn't been for the former employees lawsuit none of this would have come out.

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    1. I actually like her show, I'd been watching it for years. Her "homey" charm sells well, not only in the south, but throughout the country. Plus she's got a face like that Quaker guy from that box of oatmeal.....all that good wholesome stuff will sell when bread don't.

      Still, I hate to see people put on airs and act as if they're surprised that someone would be talking like this at home on a regular basis. I mean.....c'mon............

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  16. hey i love your blog and my name is reggie too hahda do you like me???

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    1. I guess there is a new sheriff in town and his name is Reggie Burton!!!

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  17. Exactly. To the day I do not understand why anyone is surprised whenever the rich and powerful white people of the world use the N-word. Lol. Hell, the poor white people even use the word. America was built on the word.

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    1. The racism train is never late in this country Don. So I have a very hard time understanding why anyone who has lived in this country throughout their lives would be surprised that this word might be thrown around like a frisbee in some homes in this country.

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  18. i've loved reading all of the thoughts on the recent news and this issue in particular

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    1. It is a rather interesting topic Real College Student of Atlanta.

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  19. Hey Reggie,
    I did a post on the "N-Word" a couple of days ago after CNN's special. This topic comes up often...I'm not surprised at all when I hear that some highly rated celebrity uses it, not any more. It's a shame to feel this way I guess but nope. I am surprised by the civil war wedding thing though, her mind is warped.
    And, with this issue like many other these days people are using this to be openly racist.

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    1. Truth be told Linda, her mind isn't warped, she's just a product of the old south.

      Sure we want to believe that people don't talk like this behind closed doors. We want to believe that we've truly become a post racial, civilized, open minded society. But the simple truth is that these are just average people. Just like the people next door.......which is why I hate them motherfuckers now.

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  20. I am not shocked, though it falls out of the mouth of the people you would least expect. This big time soccer manager over here, lauded for advancing the profile of Black players, was caught "off air" (studio mic was still on). He was making jokes about this team with a lot of black on-field players, how they can field "10 little nigg*rs" blah blah. As usual muthas, and even some black players, came to his defense, bullshit passionate pleas, about how he's not racist. double speak, but hey this is the real world.

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    1. It is what it is Chrome, I'm never surprised. I stopped being surprised a while back.

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