The "N" Word

tempo_n_groove

The word has become a movement and bigger than just a word.  

HughFreakingDillon

white people just can't use it. no matter the context. that's the line. period. (not necessarily my opinion, I'm saying what society has seemingly decided)

mickeyrat

brianlux said:

Patti Smith... would you call this "cancelled"?  Where does it end?  Does anyone really thing Patti is a racist.  Fucks sake...

https://americansongwriter.com/patti-smiths-song-rock-n-roll-nr-removed-from-streaming-platforms/

Patti Smith’s Song “Rock N Roll N****r” Removed from Streaming Platforms

Patti Smith’s song “Rock N Roll N****r” has been removed from streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music, as reported by Rolling Stone.

The song, which appears on the 1978 album from Smith, Easter, was co-written by Smith and guitarist Lenny Kaye. In the track, Smith uses the racial slur to talk about white artists, like herself, who are “outside of society.”

She sings: Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me / Outside of society, that’s where I want to be.

Now, though, the song is no longer on prominent streaming platforms because, well, of its tone-deaf delivery.

In the song, Smith uses the slur to describe musical heroes of different races, from Jimi Hendrix to Jackson Pollack to Jesus Christ. In the song’s liner notes, she wrote, “N****r no invented for color it was MADE FOR THE PLAGUE. The word (art) must be redefined—all mutants and the new babies born sans eyebrow and tonsil…any man who extends beyond the classic form is a n****r.”

The song was controversial the moment it was released. And in 1978, the year it came into the world, Smith tried to justify her use of the word in an interview with Rolling Stone, saying, “Suffering don’t make you a n****r. I mean, I grew up poor, too. … Ya think Black people are better than white people or sumpthin’? I was raised with black people. It’s like, I can walk down the street and say to a kid, ‘Hey n****r.’ I don’t have any kind of super-respect or fear of that kind of stuff.” 

She’s seemingly been defending the song since its release.

It was a regular on her live show song lists for years, though she hasn’t performed it since 2019. Other artists like Marilyn Manson and Courtney Love have covered it. In 1994, Trent Reznor remixed the song and included it on the soundtrack for Natural Born Killers.

According to Rolling Stone, “The reason for the song’s disappearance is unclear.”

Though, not really.

And who gets axed next.  Sly Stone?

Am curious how she feels now about the statement shown above to RS. 

tempo_n_groove

HughFreakingDillon said:

white people just can't use it. no matter the context. that's the line. period. (not necessarily my opinion, I'm saying what society has seemingly decided)

Exactly.  It's it's own movement now.

Malroth

Here in Indiana, there's still quite a few white people who think it's okay.

lastexitlondon

Nobody white would ever say it here in the u.k anywhere that  i know  of.

tempo_n_groove

Malroth said:

Here in Indiana, there's still quite a few white people who think it's okay.

They wear white at the bonfire so I get why they would.

brianlux

My pipe dream:  Racism and derogatory words become a thing of the past, words are just seen as words, people of all colors laugh about how in the past people were fools enough to judge someone based on the color of their skin and made up stupid verbal insults.

Well, I can at least dream, can't I?

cblock4life

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=At4A57ff3ho

Black folks are the funniest people on earth!  

There’s no lying, just the truth.   

And it’s best use of the N word I’ve ever heard! 

A white person could never pull this off.  It’s not just a word, it’s a verb or term of endearment.  It’s part of their culture.  People need to get over “why can they say it and I can’t”.

apologies if video already posted 

tempo_n_groove

Her name is Whitney Davis and she is hysterical!

Malroth

 L A P D by offspring

When cops are taking care of business I can understand
But the L.A. story's gone way out of hand
Their acts of aggression, they say they're justified
But it seems an obsession has started from the inside

They're shooting anyone who even tries to run
They're shooting little kids with toy guns
Take it to a jury but they don't give a damn
Because the one who tells the truth is always the policeman

Beat all the niggers
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

The city of L.A. feels like a prison
With helicopters overhead and bullets whizzing by
Martial law ain't no solution
Police brutality's just social pollution

Beat all the white trash
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

They say they're keeping the peace
But I'm not buying it because a billy club ain't much of a pacifier
"Protecting your freedom"
Now that's just a lie

It's an excuse for power that's more like an alibi
Law and order doesn't really matter
When you're the one getting bruised and battered
You take it to a jury, they'll throw it in your face
Because justice in L.A. comes in a can of mace

tempo_n_groove

Malroth said:

 L A P D by offspring

When cops are taking care of business I can understand
But the L.A. story's gone way out of hand
Their acts of aggression, they say they're justified
But it seems an obsession has started from the inside

They're shooting anyone who even tries to run
They're shooting little kids with toy guns
Take it to a jury but they don't give a damn
Because the one who tells the truth is always the policeman

Beat all the niggers
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

The city of L.A. feels like a prison
With helicopters overhead and bullets whizzing by
Martial law ain't no solution
Police brutality's just social pollution

Beat all the white trash
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

They say they're keeping the peace
But I'm not buying it because a billy club ain't much of a pacifier
"Protecting your freedom"
Now that's just a lie

It's an excuse for power that's more like an alibi
Law and order doesn't really matter
When you're the one getting bruised and battered
You take it to a jury, they'll throw it in your face
Because justice in L.A. comes in a can of mace

I'm surprised a Molecular Biologist would actually use that word.  This was early 90's when shit like this would fly.  I remember House of Pain saying it, GNR.  I'm sure there are others.

Merkin Baller

tempo_n_groove said:

Malroth said:

 L A P D by offspring

When cops are taking care of business I can understand
But the L.A. story's gone way out of hand
Their acts of aggression, they say they're justified
But it seems an obsession has started from the inside

They're shooting anyone who even tries to run
They're shooting little kids with toy guns
Take it to a jury but they don't give a damn
Because the one who tells the truth is always the policeman

Beat all the niggers
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

The city of L.A. feels like a prison
With helicopters overhead and bullets whizzing by
Martial law ain't no solution
Police brutality's just social pollution

Beat all the white trash
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

They say they're keeping the peace
But I'm not buying it because a billy club ain't much of a pacifier
"Protecting your freedom"
Now that's just a lie

It's an excuse for power that's more like an alibi
Law and order doesn't really matter
When you're the one getting bruised and battered
You take it to a jury, they'll throw it in your face
Because justice in L.A. comes in a can of mace

I'm surprised a Molecular Biologist would actually use that word.  This was early 90's when shit like this would fly.  I remember House of Pain saying it, GNR.  I'm sure there are others.

EDIT - NSFW 

Yeah... the late '80s & early '90s were wild. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVs9AN76euQ 

tempo_n_groove

Merkin Baller said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Malroth said:

 L A P D by offspring

When cops are taking care of business I can understand
But the L.A. story's gone way out of hand
Their acts of aggression, they say they're justified
But it seems an obsession has started from the inside

They're shooting anyone who even tries to run
They're shooting little kids with toy guns
Take it to a jury but they don't give a damn
Because the one who tells the truth is always the policeman

Beat all the niggers
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

The city of L.A. feels like a prison
With helicopters overhead and bullets whizzing by
Martial law ain't no solution
Police brutality's just social pollution

Beat all the white trash
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

They say they're keeping the peace
But I'm not buying it because a billy club ain't much of a pacifier
"Protecting your freedom"
Now that's just a lie

It's an excuse for power that's more like an alibi
Law and order doesn't really matter
When you're the one getting bruised and battered
You take it to a jury, they'll throw it in your face
Because justice in L.A. comes in a can of mace

I'm surprised a Molecular Biologist would actually use that word.  This was early 90's when shit like this would fly.  I remember House of Pain saying it, GNR.  I'm sure there are others.

EDIT - NSFW 

Yeah... the late '80s & early '90s were wild. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVs9AN76euQ 

Oh man I forgot about this!  

This was a time when Ice-T was the shit.  He was owning the word.  Hell the song "straight up nigga" was a damn masterpiece.  That song holds weight today.  The things he said back then still ring today.

I appreciate Ice-T and what he did for music. That guitarist for Ice-T, Ernie Cunningham is a damn monster on the 6 too. Look him up.

lindamarie73

tempo_n_groove said:

Merkin Baller said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Malroth said:

 L A P D by offspring

When cops are taking care of business I can understand
But the L.A. story's gone way out of hand
Their acts of aggression, they say they're justified
But it seems an obsession has started from the inside

They're shooting anyone who even tries to run
They're shooting little kids with toy guns
Take it to a jury but they don't give a damn
Because the one who tells the truth is always the policeman

Beat all the niggers
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

The city of L.A. feels like a prison
With helicopters overhead and bullets whizzing by
Martial law ain't no solution
Police brutality's just social pollution

Beat all the white trash
Beat whoever you see
Don't need a reason
(We're) L.A.P.D.

They say they're keeping the peace
But I'm not buying it because a billy club ain't much of a pacifier
"Protecting your freedom"
Now that's just a lie

It's an excuse for power that's more like an alibi
Law and order doesn't really matter
When you're the one getting bruised and battered
You take it to a jury, they'll throw it in your face
Because justice in L.A. comes in a can of mace

I'm surprised a Molecular Biologist would actually use that word.  This was early 90's when shit like this would fly.  I remember House of Pain saying it, GNR.  I'm sure there are others.

EDIT - NSFW 

Yeah... the late '80s & early '90s were wild. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVs9AN76euQ 

Oh man I forgot about this!  

This was a time when Ice-T was the shit.  He was owning the word.  Hell the song "straight up nigga" was a damn masterpiece.  That song holds weight today.  The things he said back then still ring today.

I appreciate Ice-T and what he did for music. That guitarist for Ice-T, Ernie Cunningham is a damn monster on the 6 too. Look him up.

Oh Perry…Hottest man in my Rock N Roll world.  Saw this Performance between Perry and Ice T at the first Lolla, Brilliant stuff!! ….so sad nothin as shocking as this could ever be performed live again.  

curmudgeoness

HughFreakingDillon said:

I don't mind it being used if you are quoting what someone said. you are simply stating what another person said. 

in movies and in art, it's fine, as long as it's not gratuitous. it has to have proper context and be telling a story, not just using it to use it. 

I homeschooled my kids, and part of our routine until they got to high school age was that I would read to them every day at lunch -- something related to what we were studying, perhaps one of Shakespeare's plays that we were going to see, or a work of literature from a period we were studying.

At one point, I decided to read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" to them. I, uh, had never read the book, myself. Yikes.

After skimming through it, I decided to read it to them anyway; they were old enough to understand the book, so they were old enough to have a conversation about the language. I prefaced things with a talk about the n-word and how it was *not* okay to use it. And then I read the whole novel aloud, cringing as I went. It's a brilliant book and a key work of American literature. And for what it's worth, the book and its language were controversial upon publication, not just today.

I grew up in an environment where ethnic slurs were tossed about freely (seriously, "n---" jokes were the highlight of family Christmas gatherings, and I can't and won't try to explain or justify that), yet, even though I'm *ahem* not young, I learned from a very early age not to use the n-word, ever. I also don't use the other words that I saw floating around in this thread. (I curse like a sailor, fwiw) The 80s might have been a long time ago, but decent people knew better than to use that language back then, too. And even though my kids tested my patience in countless ways, they never questioned the idea that that language just isn't used.