(no subject)
That one word. That one word that drives blacks and whites alike crazy at the thought. That one word. That one word that I can say, but you can't. That one word soaked in two hundred year's worth of pain and misuse. Let's discuss that one word.
I don't think anyone should utter it. I never have. Never will. My dad throws it around every now and then. And I just give him that look, that one look that says you know you've wronged. You know it wasn't necessary. But you said it just to say it. Even when there were hundreds of other words you could have used, you said it. You know it's something I don't want to hear. But you said it anyway.
As much as I think that no one should use that one word, I accept the fact that some blacks do. After all, it is their choice. I have as much control over the next as you do. What can I do to stop it besides voicing an occasional opinion or stray glance? Some black people use it, some don't. I'm content with accepting it.
Now. White people, the majority, white people should never use it. Ever. I don't care if you're sitting in the car with me, singing along to to the music, and Ja Rule spits the word midrap. Not only does it make me question your character it makes me question why you were listening to Ja Rule in the first place. The word should not leave your lips in my presence.
Why? Because it makes me slightly uncomfortable. It makes me actively think about what you just said. That can't be helped. That can't be changed. It's something that I will always and most likely continue to think about when provoked for the rest of my life. It's something you, the majority, don't have to worry about. So why force that upon me? The context matters not. It makes me uncomfortable, it forces me to think about it. It forces to me to act, whether to ignore it (pretending that it didn't bother me, when it did) or bring it up.
When a black person says it, it makes me actively think about it, but it doesn't make me uncomfortable. And I'm able to care less about it easily. I'm able to move on easily. I know that it is a term of endearment in it's own twisted backwards way. And yes, I'm sure there are whites who use it as the same. But it still brings me back to the point of my comfortableness. Do you want to make me uncomfortable?
"But why can you, and why can't I?" That argument makes me want to die. It makes me want to stop living. It makes me want you to stop living. And it makes me want your whole fucking family to stop living. And any white person that perpetually argues for them being able to use the word kills me just a little bit. What for? Why? Why do you want, why do you think, why do you desire to use it? Must we not have anything of our own? Do you want to take that away from us too?
Many of those who are in the majority cannot seem to recognize the difference between racism and prejudice. It's all about power. The majority has it, the minority doesn't. Minorities can be bigoted and prejudiced all they want, but they don't have the power to act or assert their values onto the majority. They don't have the power to actively discriminate on the basis of race. Minorities have to go to the majority for everything they need. A minority can not be racist. Simple as that.
If you cared about me as a person, as a friend, you'd stop this silly argument altogether. Be content.
I don't think anyone should utter it. I never have. Never will. My dad throws it around every now and then. And I just give him that look, that one look that says you know you've wronged. You know it wasn't necessary. But you said it just to say it. Even when there were hundreds of other words you could have used, you said it. You know it's something I don't want to hear. But you said it anyway.
As much as I think that no one should use that one word, I accept the fact that some blacks do. After all, it is their choice. I have as much control over the next as you do. What can I do to stop it besides voicing an occasional opinion or stray glance? Some black people use it, some don't. I'm content with accepting it.
Now. White people, the majority, white people should never use it. Ever. I don't care if you're sitting in the car with me, singing along to to the music, and Ja Rule spits the word midrap. Not only does it make me question your character it makes me question why you were listening to Ja Rule in the first place. The word should not leave your lips in my presence.
Why? Because it makes me slightly uncomfortable. It makes me actively think about what you just said. That can't be helped. That can't be changed. It's something that I will always and most likely continue to think about when provoked for the rest of my life. It's something you, the majority, don't have to worry about. So why force that upon me? The context matters not. It makes me uncomfortable, it forces me to think about it. It forces to me to act, whether to ignore it (pretending that it didn't bother me, when it did) or bring it up.
When a black person says it, it makes me actively think about it, but it doesn't make me uncomfortable. And I'm able to care less about it easily. I'm able to move on easily. I know that it is a term of endearment in it's own twisted backwards way. And yes, I'm sure there are whites who use it as the same. But it still brings me back to the point of my comfortableness. Do you want to make me uncomfortable?
"But why can you, and why can't I?" That argument makes me want to die. It makes me want to stop living. It makes me want you to stop living. And it makes me want your whole fucking family to stop living. And any white person that perpetually argues for them being able to use the word kills me just a little bit. What for? Why? Why do you want, why do you think, why do you desire to use it? Must we not have anything of our own? Do you want to take that away from us too?
Many of those who are in the majority cannot seem to recognize the difference between racism and prejudice. It's all about power. The majority has it, the minority doesn't. Minorities can be bigoted and prejudiced all they want, but they don't have the power to act or assert their values onto the majority. They don't have the power to actively discriminate on the basis of race. Minorities have to go to the majority for everything they need. A minority can not be racist. Simple as that.
If you cared about me as a person, as a friend, you'd stop this silly argument altogether. Be content.