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A Double Standard In The Use of The N Word? |
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Written by Jovanka Ciares
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Is There A Double Standard In The Use of The N Word? "You Bet
There Is"
The n word is humiliating, degrading and offensive for most people
in the United States. It is so controversial indeed that a young
black author wondered if she should print it out in her new book
"Don't Blame Eve: A Guide To Live Your Life, Your Way". She
ultimately did, and the response was startling. As a young black
woman, speaker and author, Jovanka Ciares wonders why the younger
generations of blacks and Hispanics have accepted this word and use
it as part of their vocabulary yet seem to be offended by it when
someone else (especially of another race) says it.
After the recent incident in which former "Seinfeld" co-star
Michael Richards shouted the n word at a group of young
African-American hecklers at a comedy club in L.A., a huge
controversy over the use of the word arose in the mainstream media
as well as in the black community. The n word is humiliating,
degrading and offensive for most people in the United States. It is
so controversial indeed that a young black author wondered if she
should print it out in her new book "Don't Blame Eve: A Guide To
Live Your Life, Your Way". She ultimately did, and the response was
startling.
As a young black woman, speaker and author, Jovanka Ciares wonders
why the younger generations of blacks and Hispanics have accepted
this word and use it as part of their vocabulary yet seem to be
offended by it when someone else (especially of another race) says
it.
"The word is so offensive that people from all walks of life refer
to it as the n word because they cannot bear to say a word that
brings so much pain to so many" Jovanka says. "However, some young
people in the African-American and Latino communities use it to
refer to one another. They use the word as if saying "brother" just
as much as they use it to offend or insult one another".
Yet, if anyone outside of their group attempts to say the n- word
to any of them, the controversy will not clear for weeks. Somehow,
those young people have trained their minds to believe that the
word does not offend if it comes from their own. Whether we think
it is right or wrong, they have found a way to neutralize the
negative connotations associated with that word.
Why then, is it acceptable for blacks to use the n word with one
another but not for others to use it? Do these young people not
know or not care enough about the connotations of this word or
about its painful history? Do they only remember that the word is
degrading when non-blacks say it? The reality of the matter is that
no one should be throwing around this or any offensive word. But we
cannot control what other people do. We can only control our own
behavior and our reaction to what others say or do.
"When you allow another person to offend you with the things they
say, you are in fact allowing the words they say to have power over
you. If, in turn, we decide that this group of letters put together
are part of a history that inspires us but no longer define us, the
offenders have in fact lost their power over you and you win peace
of mind and the power to control your emotions, impulses and
attitudes."
About the Author:
Jovanka Ciares is an author and speaker who teaches women the
attitudes, behaviors and skills they need in order to reach their
fullest potential. For information go to www.self-improvementwoman.com
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written by aaron j. marko on December 18, 2006
thank you for that convoluted tripe you call an article.