Paul Mooney vows to stop using the n-word
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
The question is, would abolishing the word really do any good? Here’s what a few other bloggers had to say about it.
Rachel Sullivan over at Rachel’s Tavern:
Maybe something good may come out of Michael Richards racist behavior. When people hear this word used in its historical context, and it is connected to lynching. Its power is apparent, and the idea of reclaiming it starts to look futile. Mooney has frequently defended the use of the n-word… Mooney noted that he was trying to take the power out of the n-word by using in his act (and in his comic writing for Richard Pryor), but something snapped in him when he saw Richards. He realized that the word still had power.
Jay Smooth at hiphopmusic.com writes:
I don’t use the word, and can’t say I’d particularly miss it, but I’m not sure what we accomplish by crusading against it. Does making a word taboo ever do anything but increase its power? If we did succeed in eradicating it, would it do anything to change the sentiments or thought process of those who use it? Or does it bring merely a cosmetic change in the vocabulary we use to reveal those thoughts, and make us less likely to put our cards on the table?
Nova at Novaslim.com writes:
What some of you uppity, self-righteous negroes fail to acknowledge is that “nigga” was being used for decades by blacks, long before hip-hop came into the picture. (Hip-hop in it’s early days never invoked the word.) Think about Lawanda Page or Richard Pryor. Think about your daddy and and your grand-daddy. Although Pryor said he’d never use the word again after visiting Africa, the ball was already rolling. By then it was viral, as slang tends to be. Please stop beating the same drum. Hip-hop and black youth can only shoulder the blame for so many things…
Let’s say Jay-Z stopped using it as well. Have we ended racism? How would you feel if you looked up one day, after spending all of your time and resources killing one word, to find that another word has been created to debase black people?
What do you think? Would abolishing the n-word actually make a difference in race and racism?
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
kim wrote:
Of course not…does changing the political name of a country change the geography of that country?
We all know there is real, substantial work to be done, and while dumping the word into the trash is useful in eradicating the use of the specific word…
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 10:05 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
There’s a whole generation or 2 who have no idea that “the n-word” was used extensively to divide African-Americans into “good darkies” vs. “those who should be lynched” (with the word obviously meaning the latter). You had “colored folk” and you had “niggers.”
I don’t want the result of this whole debacle to be one big “don’t say the word” campaign. The context was everything, and Richard’s lynching reference was far more powerful to my Gen-X/Gen-Y (I’m on the cusp) ears than the actual curse word.
That’s the history that needs to be taught - if more people knew the history, I doubt they’d use it quite the same way. If a word is discussed, it no longer becomes taboo (so you rob the speaker of the “ooh, look at me, I’m so BAD” thrill). ,You might even make the person actually think about what they’re saying.
Too often slang/cursing become a brain-optional habit. Some of my family members (and yes, even the spouse) know better than to use derogatory slang for gays and a few ethnic groups, at least around me. Not because I threw a temper tantrum, but I gave them an English lesson.
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 11:27 am ¶
justin wrote:
Kim, I think you’ve conflated ‘the map is not the territory’ and ‘a rose by any other name’, maybe you haven’t ? I’m probably out of my depth. Changing a name of a country signals and effects all kinds of things but that can or should only be understood on a concrete or gut level everything else is speculation.
. . . most maps are like butchery.
Abolishing the word seems kind of authoritarian. I’m imagining Oprah’s army of white house wives patrolling the streets with paddles.
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 11:57 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
I don’t know why I just thought of this (I blame Oprah), but the idea of censoring the word brought up that truly inspired scene in Blazing Saddles:
Authentic Frontiersman: “The new sheriff’s a ni-[LOUD BELL].. A ni-[LOUD BELL]”
Townspeople: “What did he say?” “He said the new sheriff is near!”
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 12:19 pm ¶
justin wrote:
Debatably, an authentic frontiersman is entitled to say the n word given thee originary sovereignty. So long as that words used appropriately everything’s ok.
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 1:28 pm ¶
justin wrote:
That was sarcasm. I’m still learning that I need to think clearly and consider other people before I post a comment.
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 1:54 pm ¶
kim wrote:
Of course, those colored folks easily morphed into uppity niggers when they decided to make claim to some simple American privilege, such as a new car, or service in a place in which they’d patiently waited in line until they should rightfully have been the next to receive service.
I’m not going to place on a value hierarchy the two terms, as it would be a value system created and maintained by the self-serving White who thought to determine the human value of Blacks as they saw fit.
I think the parsing of the ideas that these two terms represent is miles away from the difference between the values and behaviors found in street culture and its spiritual counterpart, “decent” black folks, as lucidly detailed about ten years ago in some article in the Atlantic, or Harper’s.
It is, today, the “decent” Black folk who cringe most at the use of “nigger,” but the people who use the term, both Black and otherwise, don’t really care what that group has to say. The usage is one of backlash against the taboo on its use, the definitions which gave power and societal cache to the taboo, and a self-flagellating attempt to turn the word on its axis and recreate it on one’s own term.
Getting rid of it will only give rise to its deification, or some other sweet smelling word. It’s always a start, but the word is not the problem. It is the garden in which it was cultivated.
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 4:47 pm ¶
Meg wrote:
i don’t think it would end racism but maybe it would remove the ready made excuse of “i’m not racist cos chris rock says it”
it would be absolutely clear, with no defence, that using the word was for no other reason than to insult, degrade and threaten someone for their skin colour. Plus i think black ppl should be having this argument of whether they can reclaim the word or not - everyone else should just stop trying to act ‘cool’ by reappropriating a word. I guess i can’t ever hear that word without thinking of what i learnt in many years of history class so can’t think of a time when i’d ever use it as ‘just another word’ or a word of affection
Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 6:47 pm ¶
H. Lewis Smith wrote:
BOOK CRITICAL OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO USE THE N-WORD
Los Angeles, CA., - Author H. Lewis Smith has written a thought provoking, culturally divided book that will not only spark heated conversation, but can also bring about real change. The N-word is often used in the African American community amongst each other and is generally not a problem when spoken by another African American. However, once the word is used by a Caucasian person, it brings on other effects. The question is “who can use the word and why?” Smith believes it is a word that should be BURIED!!!!
The book is written in a manner that all can understand. The points are well-taken and the wording is easy to follow. There are quotes from great people in our history including Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet Tubman, James Baldwin and many, many others. Smith has mixed history with honesty, love with life, education with effects. This is a great book for educators, parents, managers, professionals, newsmen, and anyone else wanting an in-depth look at the N-word, the effects and the solutions. A MUST READ!!!!
To learn more about Bury that Sucka, please visit http://www.burythatsucka.com
Posted 01 Dec 2006 at 2:52 am ¶
Mrs. J wrote:
I agree that placing a ban on the word will inadvertently give it more power.
As a black person, I was never a big fan of its usage, due to its historical meaning. But I can’t say I’ve never chuckled when I’ve heard an educated black person say “N*gger, please!” It’s a matter of a code that those outside of the black community do not understand. Not unlike the way many Jewish women are fine to use the word “JAP”, but would be very offended if a non-Jewish person did. There are probably Yiddish words like this to, although I don’t know what they are. And some feminists have reclaimed and empowered the word “bitch”, but that doesn’t give frat boys or rap artists the right to throw it around. People know this already, so why is this understanding so hard to apply to the word nigger?
Sadly, it feels like we’re spinning our wheels with this one. I think our society needs to be much more concerned about really trying to end bigoted thinking than simply the words that are by-products of it. I hope that one day, if people ever lose their racist ideology, the “n-word” will finally be devoid of meaning.
Posted 01 Dec 2006 at 2:45 pm ¶
Gin wrote:
Blacklisting the word from our vocabulary doesn’t help people make more rational decisions when dealing with other races. I think that it hides the problem and discourages interaction. By explicitly disallowing use of the word, who are we punishing anyway?
Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 5:06 am ¶
Aaron Backstrom wrote:
I loved this book!! After reading it the word nigger could never come out of my mouth. It the book “nigger” was used sooo much it a negative way it made me sick to my stomach.. I am only 15 years old and i feel this book can change the word that is just used for fun. I think all young african americans should read this book!! THIS BOOK CHANGE SOO MUCH!!!!!
Posted 15 Mar 2008 at 9:29 pm ¶