2008 Woodie Awards
Nigger or Nigga?
Lewis student examines present-day status of the 'N' word
Joachim Borha
Issue date: 3/25/05 Section: Opinions
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Ignorance or acceptance? Has the word nigger or nigga been accepted in modern society or are people just blind to the real meaning of the word nigger.
The word nigger is seen to mean brother to some or as a term of affection. To be precise they say that nigga has those connotations and nigger is an oppressive word used while slavery was stitched in the fabric of our society. So are the terms one in the same or are the terms different. African Americans are usually the voice to which the questions are addressed. So most would also suggest that nigger was negative in the time it was used to oppress but African Americans would say that the word's definition was "switched" to meaning something positive.
Against that argument, a lot individuals inside and outside the African American race would say that the word means ignorant, so every time someone uses it, they in turn call each other ignorant. Some even go as far as people outside of the African American race express amusement when African Americans refer to themselves as a nigger. But both sides of the argument agree that it is wrong for masses outside of the African American race to refer themselves or African Americans as niggers.
As an African American, I would be called nigger two to five times a day by other African Americans. I hope people honestly don't think that the intent of everyone who identifies me as a nigger is calling me an ignorant black man, nor should a person believe that people label me with affection similar to friend or brother when they use that word.
The word is a term of "general identification" according to Davey D in his account "Nigger or Nigga." When African Americans call me nigga, they use the term categorize my blackness not my ignorance or my relationship with them. The word nigga does not exist. It is slang for the actual word nigger, which is a symbol to the accent that African Americans had and have when they use the word today and in the past.
The word nigger is seen to mean brother to some or as a term of affection. To be precise they say that nigga has those connotations and nigger is an oppressive word used while slavery was stitched in the fabric of our society. So are the terms one in the same or are the terms different. African Americans are usually the voice to which the questions are addressed. So most would also suggest that nigger was negative in the time it was used to oppress but African Americans would say that the word's definition was "switched" to meaning something positive.
Against that argument, a lot individuals inside and outside the African American race would say that the word means ignorant, so every time someone uses it, they in turn call each other ignorant. Some even go as far as people outside of the African American race express amusement when African Americans refer to themselves as a nigger. But both sides of the argument agree that it is wrong for masses outside of the African American race to refer themselves or African Americans as niggers.
As an African American, I would be called nigger two to five times a day by other African Americans. I hope people honestly don't think that the intent of everyone who identifies me as a nigger is calling me an ignorant black man, nor should a person believe that people label me with affection similar to friend or brother when they use that word.
The word is a term of "general identification" according to Davey D in his account "Nigger or Nigga." When African Americans call me nigga, they use the term categorize my blackness not my ignorance or my relationship with them. The word nigga does not exist. It is slang for the actual word nigger, which is a symbol to the accent that African Americans had and have when they use the word today and in the past.
