Jacket, Pocket.

That last post drew my attention to something I’d like to ask about;

I’m an Australian so ‘the N word’ isn’t even a part of my culture so it’s easily avoided and I’d never say it, but if it’s part of a song title then is it still inappropriate to say (or type, and is there a difference between the two)? I’m coming at this from a place of complete ignorance so please let me know.

The first time I considered this was a few weeks ago when I was quoting a line from Dave Chappelle’s infamous ‘Fuck your couch’ skit, and I said “They should have never gave you… Money”, and decided to skip the offensive word even though it was part of the quote because I felt too uncomfortable to say it.

To add some clarity and background to why I give a shit about this issue, my father is an incredibly racist man and he was raised in South Africa and when I was younger I actually believed that various ethnic slurs were the appropriate terminology for those ethnicities and it’s been something that I’ve taken an interest in ever since.

What are your thoughts?

1. runningoutintotheblue answered: I’m curious as to what you think of white South Africans generally…
2. chopsizzlegulp said: It’s all part of divide and conquor. It’s like we have to pretend they are not what they are and it’s frustrating. I feel this vibe most when I walk into any govt institution - the employees are brainwashed - in the UK we have Common Purpose.
3. chopsizzlegulp answered: I am not into overly PC terminology when it comes to naming different ethnicities as I think it all ultimately comes from govt propaganda.
4. personaldiscourse answered: I go to an inner city school with mostly black population. I find people often use it w/o thought. Unless in a serious work, I never say it.
5. manofaspen said: Tough call. My general practice is to avoid it whenever feasible, but if not using it would potentially cause confusion or loss of meaning (as in a song title, quote, or poem) I might use it. Even then, I’d feel the need to use a disclaimer/apology.
6. ms-kawesome answered: Not on for whiteys to say. I saw a poem being read on the morning show and it was “n word”
7. vonnegutandcathair answered: i wonder if any of the people who answered this are of color. but in my experience no, it’s not okay.
8. starswillshinebright answered: I feel uncomfortable using any racial slurs, even though I am around people (of different races) who use them (jokingly) who wouldn’t care.
9. zebablah said: i don’t know what’s the norm or “right” but i know i appreciate when someone who isn’t black omits the word, especially verbally. if you feel weird about using it, even to quote it, then I would say just don’t. especially not for that fucking song.
10. gravitational-xpull answered: Here in the bay of Cali there’s hardly anyone I’ve come across that hasn’t used the word. I wouldn’t use it myself, I find it offensive.
11. morganjaine said: i ran into the same sort of problem during uni earlier this year, actually; do you include the (EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE) racist slurs when quoting an academic text from white men observing aborigines during first contact?
12. jumpinghalos answered: I think it is still inappropriate to say.
13. slaughterhousefive said: I think the general consensus is that white people aren’t ever supposed to say it for any reason. I wouldn’t ever say it, even to sing along with a song that used it, but lots of white people are assholes and totally would, so.
14. morganjaine liked this
15. oxfordictionary liked this
16. themainmane answered: Here’s a quote from my friend’s mother, verbatim: “Niggers and faggots are the same thing.” I don’t think that helps, but there you go.
17. wraparoundcurl answered: For me, its not my place to judge people using it. I’m just not comfortable with it at all. So I omit it.
18. oshea-green answered: I agree w/ you. Tell Triple J - No. #98, they said it & I was like, wat?