Monday, September 8, 2008
* Hearing the N-Word on Morse Avenue
The Howard Area Community Center prides itself as building "a better Rogers Park through community-based support and education...." Yet, today, I witnessed a group of teens hanging out in front of the satellite office at 1527 West Morse Avenue shouting out the n-word at each other. I wonder who's teaching these children it's okay to spew this word with such voracity?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
I'm sure it has something to do with all the great parenting they've received, Craig.
I volunteer at the Computer Clubhouse on Morse, and can tell you that it is very well run, and provides a much needed safe space for kids to hang out, and explore their creativity through computers. But when kids break "ground rules" of the clubhouse, they are asked to leave for the day, and often loiter outside. I'm guessing that is what you witnessed.
It starts at home. My late dad was fond of the N-word. In fact, curse words were part of his regular conversation. Once my stepmother heard him use the N-word too often during a phone conversation he was having with one of his friends. "I don't like when you use that word, Walter," she told him. He ignored her, continued his conversation, and used it a few more times.
I don't buy the arguement that use of the N-word by African-Americans is a way of lessening its power. It was (and still is) a word used against us to downgrade and intimidate us.
I've heard it used to refer to people of other races. I've heard people of other races use it around African-Americans, thinking they have a free pass to do so because they happen to be friends with an African-American. I'm not going to say that I've never uttered the word. But over the years, I've made a conscious effort not to use it because it's ugly. Also, you can ask others not to use it, when you keep saying it.
Words are just words. They aren't guns or knives or even a punch in the face. Nor are they a ticket to paradise and success. They are just words, a series of letters strung together. I am uncomfortable with the polically correct police nor have they gotten us very far -- except to have arguments over the inanities of language. It's a slippery slope to the bleak world presented by Orwell. It seems to me that the attempts by some to regulate others' thoughts through policing their speech hasn't worked. Let's try something new. And instead of focusing on $%#@ing words, let's focus on actions and how people live. Avoidance of so-called bad words does not a good person or an upright life make.
I can understand the concept of African-American males using the n-word as a way of taking the sting out of the word and reclaiming their rightful place in the world. In part, I don't blame them. On the other hand, their calling each other that can also be understood as their oppressing each other without even realizing it. ... I hear that a lot in Rogers Park. It's disturbing, but than again it's an aspect of a culture I can't relate to.
You need to visit my blog and you will, regretfully, know why.
http://my-dreamtime.blogspot.com
Scroll down to the post entitled, 'Yesterday'.
Now there's a shocker.
Can we go back to blogging about important community concerns?
I'm missing it - I don't see any post entitled yesterday LOL
The N word:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec
I beg to differ, Pearl. Words do carry power. Ask anyone who was the victim of verbal abuse from a parent or a spouse.
Nope, we can't control what people think or say. All we can do is be mindful of how we speak to others.
the N word is another work for my brotha it doesnt mean a insult,but if u say the er at the end u can get yo ass beat
I can understand the concept of African-American males using the n-word as a way of taking the sting out of the word and reclaiming their rightful place in the world.
this is a fake and stupid a** theory. If it were true, why is no one working hard to take the "sting" out of d*go, k*ke, be*ner, etc.? Don't be fooled. Just because a few guys who never went to college or most likely haven't even finished high school came up with this "theory" of taking the "sting" out of n*gger doesn't make it FACT. Say it to the average black man (include me) and it's an insult that might result in an altercation.
and don't get me started on that "if it ends with an 'a' it means this" crap...
Well then you should shut that cockholster you call a mouth craig.
Post a Comment