Kristopher Campbell
Staff Writer
Hey ni**a. Yes, you ni**a. How would you feel if someone addressed you in such blunt demeanor? Would you nicely greet that person back or would you be offended? Would you ask that person to not refer to you as “ni**a?”
This debate on the “N” word seems to never end. My questions are simple, why do we continue to use the “N” word in our everyday language? What does the “N” word mean to you? Since the originating definition of the word was placed upon African-Americans during slavery to African-Americans now educated enough to walk the campus of Jackson State University, I think that it’s time to put the word in its deathbed.
The word ni**er was originally created to demean and devalue the African-American race, taking a Spanish word for the color black and attaching its definition to the people of the similar color but adding lack of intellect, social stability, and importance to its definition.
Today, some say the “N” word’s meaning has changed and no negative connotations should be attached to it. It has become an everyday word of brotherhood like, “that’s my ni**a” or “What’s up ni**a?” Many songs from popular artists promote the use on a daily basis.
I feel that the meaning has not changed but we have become ignorant to the fact that the word was created to degrade our community and what we have done by accepting the word is become ignorant to the advancements we have made as a people and are still making. Keeping the word relevant is only creating a barrier from reaching our true potential as a people.
From the sagging of pants to the high number of African-American males in the correctional system, the “N” word has become a stereotypical description of the African-American male.
From abuse of power cases like Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, even the media presents African-American males in a negative light. The gatekeepers always seem to revert back to the black man being in the wrong.
Here on the campus of JSU, there are tons of black men exemplifying that they are not “ni**as.”
Michael Gorden, a junior mass communications major from Atlanta, Ga. said, “I am the SGA Vice President, I am a man of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., I am in the Army ROTC, a job that many people are afraid to do, and I am in college. The “N” word does not refer to me or any of the men around me because we are all invested in shattering stereotypes and making something positive out of ourselves.”
Charence Higgins, a double major in psychology and theatre from Madison, Miss. said, “Historically, the “N” word means ‘lover of ignorance.’ It is the highest insult one could place on another human being because it suggests that not only are you ignorant but you will never escape from the ignorance because you embrace it.”
Higgins added: “Being a “real ni**a” is not something to aspire to be or embrace. It is not a term of endearment. We’re literally telling young black men that they have no hope of becoming knowledgeable, impacting members of society. Only when we change this constant degrading or our own can we move forward as a people.”
Henry Goss, a junior mass communications major from Jackson, Miss. said, “The “N” word does not hurt me but it is still highly disrespectful. I am currently the NAACP President at JSU and that alone shows me that a word cannot limit my greatness. The “N” word is disrespectful because it dehumanizes a person into something of little to no worth. When one examines the historical context behind the word, he or she will see that it was solely used to categorize and devalue African-Americans.”
From a collegiate stand point, many students are not ignorant to the negative connotation of the “N” word, but as a people we have to get on one accord to abolish this from our vocabularies and way of thinking.
Are you a ni**a?” I’m not.
The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.
