The Use of the
N-Word in Media
The
use of the N-word has always been offensive throughout history based on the
origin from the way it was used to identify slaves coming from the mouth of the
slave owners. The word “Nigga” is arguably the most offensive word in language
topping all other curse words due to the fact that this one word holds so much
history. It seems as time passes in today’s generation we embrace this word as
a statement of endearment rather than a statement of offense. This issue has
recently been brought up after the premiere of the movie “Django”. The film
uses the word “nigga” very freely some people were not happy with, especially
because this word was used very frequently by white characters, who are the
most hated people when using this word.
Personal
Experience
Although
I do not personally have any negative feelings about the movie and the way this
word is used in today’s time I still can relate to the ones who do, regarding
the fact that I am a black man myself. I feel that the word is more of a
minority word used among minorities the only time it is a problem is when a
white person would use it but since “Django” is just a movie I understand the
message that was trying to be displayed in which I did not find it offensive.
Me and my peers use the word all the time as meaning of endearment rather than
offense, even among other minorities such as latinos, arab, etc..
Pro
Side(Agree)
In this article “Teaching Tolerence” it explains how the N-word has been
transformed from a word of hate to a term of endearment granted by the ones who
used to be called the N-word on hatred terms such as our generations parents.
This article explains how in todays time the youth uses this word as an anology
for the term “friend” which is the reason why even white kids say it to each
other. Studies show that white kids are the most consumers of hiphop music
which is a big reason on why they see this word as a friendly term rather than
a term of hatred being that the N-word is a big influence in the hiphop
culture.
In this “MTV” Interview the rapper Nas address the use of the N-word in
the movie Django and how it was not a problem. Nas is a black man himself who
has also named one of his studio albums “NIGGER” but he did not see any offense
to Tarintino’s madness. Nas felt that the term was necessary for the movie to
show the “rawness”
of histroy dealing with slavery. Opting the word out of the film would be a way of covering up and hiding history from everyone. Nas doesn’t find the word offensive just a way to identify the truths of history.
of histroy dealing with slavery. Opting the word out of the film would be a way of covering up and hiding history from everyone. Nas doesn’t find the word offensive just a way to identify the truths of history.
In
this article of “The Root” Tarintino explains his reason for overly using this
word is to bring the 21st century audience back in time to the 18th
century so they could see the truth of time. He explains that he understood it
could start a controversy among certain spectators but he doesn’t want to hide
the truth from any of his viewers in any type of way it just isnt his style. He
stresses that he wasn’t meaning any offense but simply was only trying to
re-create an important time in history for the ones who were ignorant to the
facts of history.
Con
Side (Disagree)
This article in “The Daily News” the famous director
Spike Lee speaks on the movie Django and its use of the “N-Word”. Lee argues
that this film is disrespectful to the ancestors of African Americans due to
the fact that slavery was ideal to the holocaust, according to Lee. He feels
that Tarintino did not feel that slavery was as serious as it really was to the
African-American culture with all the pain that it has caused as a race.
In “The Hollywood Reporter” this article talks about how
the N-word is a term of hatred and verbal abuse. This article also talks about
how the movie “Django” went overboard with the use of the word but since the
south is so accustomed to the language some people didn’t even realize the type
of offense the film was delivering, according to the article. Also it talks
about how Tarintino is throwing the issue of slavery into the faces of the
black community by making this movie and allowing the white characters to use
this strong word so freely.
In the “Huffington Post” comedian Katt Williams speaks
on his thoughts about Tarintino and his use of the N-Word in the movie
“Django”. Katt Williams doesn’t agree with the film or the actors he has
threatened to punch Tarintino for using this word so freely and not being a
black man. Williams still looks at this word as a big issue coming from a white
male who are the most forbidden to use the word.
Visual
Conclusion
After
researching and dealing with this topic about how the media depicts and uses
the “N-Word” my views have not changed much. Even though I am a
African-American male I understand the history of slavery and the weight that
the word holds but I am not offended at all by the over use of it in movies and
television and etc.. I still feel that the word is more of a word for minorities.
When white people use the word on screen I understand that it is a job for them
to re-create a real life moment in time. Only time this would trigger any
thought in my mind is if this word was used by a white person in real life
toward me in a negative way.
