Interim

for B.T.

If a kid calls his granma "mama"
and his mama "Pam", he's going to jail!
--Chris Rock
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In the interim until our next installment, some Chris Rock (fr. Kill The Messenger) for your consideration, because we are going to look at the racial problem in our country, as everyone is acting as though a rock has been dropped on their collective head now.

This is also in answer to a recent question from a friend in England who asked: "I hear the "N" word is the worst insult a black man can pay to another black man -- is that true?" Some of our dialog first, then Mr. Rock's explanation:
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P: I have been told by folks from the States that for a black man to call another black man the "N" word is supposed to be the ultimate insult, is that true ?

Lisa (as his family is friends with Baron Cohen): No per the insult: Blacks may call each other that til the cows come home; a white person may not say it, though. It is considered an "owned" word by the black community. They have co-opted it, and use it in an ironic sense. I am not sure fully of the implications, but it is used frequently in rap, which is a big part of our music culture.

Sascha Baron Cohen playing Borat would make this sort of mistake. Snoop Dogg, a rapper, started the "Fo' Shizzle, my Nizzle"; roughly: "For sure, my nigger" ... which became a friendly greeting amongst lower - middle-class blacks. Upper classes would generally eschew this, unless, as mentioned, they were in the entertainment industry and amongst themselves.

P: Isn't it funny that it is one law for one set of people and another for others ? What happened to equality ? The blacks can use it but others cannot !?! Go figure ...

Lisa: Well, using the "N" word is not transgressing a law; we have freedom of speech. Hate speech aimed at harming others is against the law, however. It is odd how one can use a distasteful wd. and another may not.

P: Using the "N" word is not transgressing the law ??? This word is used to denigrate a person for the color of his skin !?! To hear a black person using this on another fellow black is not only ironic but it shows the blacks have no respect for themselves.

Lisa: We only have laws against libel and slander and hate speech. To call someone the "N" wd. is telling the truth, though in an unsavory way. I agree, for blacks to use it on each other seems highly distasteful and in fact, is repugnant. It is often heard in violent rap lyrics, and they make my skin crawl should I hear them in a passing car. How can one maintain their humanity while listening to such brutality... it is far beyond being mere drivel?

P.: I just can't understand how black folks can use the "N" word on each other and get away with it , yet if a white person uses it on a black person he/she can be accused of racism & be fined ?!? Moreover, there's now a term called "white ni**er" ????

Lisa: There is a hypocrisy involved in being "politically correct". Instead of saying what needs saying (that using the "N" word is always wrong and offensive), we take a hands off approach and just figure that is for them to work out. Bill Cosby said something a while ago and got attacked for it.

The white N. term has been around awhile. It is an attempt for bigoted white people to make it look like they don't just dislike blacks because they also ascribe their negative qualities to some whites!!! Talk about a doubly pejorative term. And yet, they think it makes them look more fair and balanced!

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Now, to Mr. Rock, on when white people MAY use the N-word:

But the question remains the same: Can white people say "nigger"? And the answer's the same: not really.

But wait a minute, there's one exception. There's one exception. There's one instance where white people can say nigger. And I'ma let it out tonight. I'ma let it out here in Johannesburg. The one time that white people can say nigger. White people are like "this is what I paid for! It's a fuckin' great night now!" The one time white people can say nigger: here it goes; listen closely. 'Cause I may never say this shit again.

The one time white people can say nigger, OK: if it's Christmas Eve, and it's between 4:30 and 4:49 in the morning. If you white, and you're on your way to Toys 'R' Us to get your kid the last Transformer doll, and right before you walk into Toys 'R' Us, some black person runs up beside you, smacks you in the head with a brick, knocks you to the ground, stomps on your face--"take that, you cracker-ass motherfucker!" Riverdances on your head--"take that, you cracker-ass motherfucker!" Takes your money, pisses on you, and runs away--if you white, at that moment, you can say "Somebody stop that nigger!"

Matter of fact, if you white and that happens to you, you can say nigger for a whole month! But you gotta walk around with the police report in your pocket. In case any black people catch you sayin' nigger, the police report will act as your freedom papers.

"Hey, I heard you saying nigger; let me see your fuckin' papers. Gimme the papers; show me the papers!" [pretends to read a sheet] "Christmas Eve! 4:48! You just made it, motherfucker! Pissed on you! ...I hope they catch that nigger!"