The Use of the Word 'Nigger'.

(The audio blog for this entry can be heard at the new Bigmoutheryadio Youtube Channel.)

The title of this post contains a word that many people, including myself, consider grossly offensive, but its use is at the very heart of today's post. (Read the entry...)

Last week in America, a popular talk radio host was attacked for repeatedly using the word 'nigger' during a broadcast. Dr. Laura Schlessinger was talking to a caller about the use of the word, criticising African-Americans who use it liberally.

Before I go on, it’s important to clarify that my interest in this topic has nothing to do with passing judgement on where, when, how or why black people use the word. My interest lies solely in how, as the human species, we are communicating. To that end, I ask people from every ethnic background to share in this discussion…agree…disagree, whatever…but please share in a spirit of compassion. I realise this is a big ask for a place like Youtube, but y’have to dream.

I saw the story on Newser as it was ramping up. I posted a comment under the story. Usually, Newser publishes member comments unchecked. This time, though, I received the following message:

I've since posted two more comments on the topic. Both contained the word, as it's known. The second was a deliberate attempt to see if using the word was the reason for its being sent to a moderator:

In general, there's no problem with Newser's actions here. It's their site and they may accept or reject comments on whatever basis they choose. I can do the same with comments posted here, and Google, the owners of Blogger, are within their rights to delete this blog entry. Hell, they can even kill the blog.

My problem with Newser is not that their decision to ban certain words is arbitrary, it’s that they give their readers the idea that it’s not…like there’s actually some kind of ‘moderation’ process, where content is examined and judged according to contextual merit. But no…

Personally, I have nothing but contempt for the word, or at least what it stands for. I hate it. That hatred is on record. It conjures up images that, as a white man, I can barely imagine. But I do imagine. Centuries of utter horror and inhumanity, encapsulated in one six-letter word. And the bit that always makes me simultaneously choke with tears and turn over with nausea is the basis for such treatment: the amount of melanin in a person's skin. It sickens me.

So where's this headed? Why decry a detestable word and then use it (in the title, no less)?

Context.

I'm all for ripping to shreds anyone who uses the word in a derogatory way. I'm even prepared to question the nature of discussions about the word in which it may have been used gratuitously (such as Schlessinger).

But how can the subject be discussed in a circumspect, rational, equable and compassionate way in the context of usage without using the word in question?

The simple answer is this: substitute the word 'nigger' with the term 'N-word'. But surely saying 'N-word' just drops the word into the mind of the person hearing it. In effect, it achieves the same end by artful, deceptive means. It's inveigling the word into a person's thoughts without having to say it.

Some may disagree with this suggestion, but let's look at it from another angle. If you're a person who never uses the word 'nigger' to describe a black person because you think it's offensive, would you consider substituting 'N-word' in that context? Do you think 'N-word' is acceptable in the presence of black people as a simple descriptive noun?

No, I didn't think so.

As I write this entry, I'm extremely conscious of using the word, how many times I'm writing it, the context in which it's being used, the shudder when typing and thinking it, whether I've used it gratuitously (my main issue with Schlessinger) and the fact I have put it in the TITLE...all this and more springs from a sense, not of political correctness, but of sensitivity.

I would be mortified if this blog offended, but feel strongly that this issue needs moderate and balanced discussion, without having to rely on needless self-censorship in order to achieve some semblance of parity. If the common goal is to achieve unity, while rejecting the language of those who wish to inflame, or incense, or incite people to hatred, bigotry and violence, then the best path is to be open and honest in the way we communicate. If that means a particular word needs a cold shove into the harsh, lonely spotlight...so be it. It needs saying. And, frankly, in 2010, people should be intelligent enough to know when a word, ANY word...is being used to convey hatred...or whether that word is being used to discuss the concept or the presence of hatred.

In the case of Dr. Laura, I admit, it's kinda hard to know...so let's just find some middle ground and call her a fucking idiot.

To illustrate my point more lucidly and hilariously than I ever can, I often turn to the ultimate tellers of truth, comedians...in this case two of the very finest: Larry David and Louis C.K. Bear in mind, Louis also says 'cunt' a lot in his clip, which I find to be a perfectly acceptable word.