Comments on Marvo's Thought of the Day: The Battle of N's Pt I

Ok, I looked is up myself, just so that I won't be...

2007-10-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, I looked is up myself, just so that I won't be speaking from the minds of people on the radio. I have a website for you to go to its
http://www.blackhistoryjohnmoore.bravehost.com/chapter3.html.

I am indesisive about the "N" word. In one instanc...

2007-10-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

I am indesisive about the "N" word. In one instance I believe that banning the word leaves the power of the word in the hands of those who gave the word power to begin with. I also believe that banning the word takes away the power that it gives the new generation that stands firm on understanding the domains of the word and it's orgin- see the so called "bastard generation" understands the history of the word, and puts the power of the word in the hands of those that should own the word. however, in rap lyrics or whatever, Chamillionaire said it best, if you stop singing the song at that word in the concert, the white people continue to sing it regardless. However, just because Black people stop saying the word, doesn't mean that white people will no longer say the word, in fact, they will continue to use the word regardless- but it will be more so of their power instead of our power.
You can take any word and make it degrading, and you can take any word and make it empowering. Bad means Bad and Bad can mean Good. Shit (excuse the word) means dodo, or shit means something fantastic. Depending on the position of the word and who is saying the word is how we empower the word. If the black community wants to regain the power on what we consider insulting then I believe that the empowerment is in us gaing the power of the insults back versus leaving it in the hands of the oppressor.
In this case, NAS is a genious. He understood the ramafacations that he was going to get by using the word for his title. However, I feel as though Nas will touch and bring about different things that is not understood about our society. For example, on the radio today, there was a lady that brought new information to the forefront of understanding of the word Negro, Nigga, Nigger, Niger or whatever. She states that the word was created in Egypt spelled NGR- no vowels because vowels were not created yet. however, the word was used to call black males gods of a sort- the strength and being of gods. If this is true and i hope that everyone will tend to google or research it yourself, then I would then suggest that it was an empowering word to begin with, and the word was stolen (as many other things) and used and degraded by our oppressors. If this is the case, then why can't we or why don't we take back our word and create it to empower US. In fact, I'm sure that Nas will talk about black people and how we are some sort of gods of the earth on his CD. If this research tends to be true, will that lead us to continue to want to abolish the N word?

Regardless of who buys the CD, the fact remains th...

2007-10-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Regardless of who buys the CD, the fact remains that "WE" say that the white community cannot say nigga. I didn’t say I was in support of the "N" word, I said that me not using the "N" word, should not be a prerequisite for white people not using the word. I think "WE" make a bold and POWERFUL statement, by saying independent of what we do you cant say it. We can debate with Nas when the time is appropriate. I also wrote the Dick Gregory wrote a book titled Nigger. I don’t know, but I think I can assume that out of the seven million books he sold a good portion was to white readers. I think it a contradiction that Nas is getting so much bad press, for an album title he hasn’t had the opportunity to explain. Being familiar with Nas' music, leads me to the conclusion initially that he a grand point he will make.

Coming from your younger brother, out in Minnesota...

2007-10-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

Coming from your younger brother, out in Minnesota- with a lot of white friends- I find it difficult to allow the "N" word in any context. It is ironic to me, that you accept the word to be used in rap songs, (or in Nas case, his CD title) becuase of a new definition that the hip hop community created for the word to be used within our culture but, failed to mention that the majority of the people who will be buying Nas new CD will be white Americans.