Is There An Equivalent Word?
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on May 22, 2008
This week two things happened concerning the N-word; one didn't involve me, one did.
The rapper Nas, who had wanted to give his latest CD that negative appellation, was turned down by his record producers, and now it will just be named after him. It seems the publishers would actually like to sell some records to what they're hoping will be the masses, and they knew that most stores wouldn't carry the CD if it had that name on it. That money ended up being the reason to give this guy a figurative slap in the face seems somewhat appropriate under the circumstances.
The second did involve me, when someone I was talking to suddenly uttered the word, and then instantly apologized. I know the person didn't mean it, and this person didn't call me that name, but it shocked me hearing it come from her, especially as she's not black. I'm close to being over it by now.
However, I've been wondering over the last couple of days whether there's really an equivalent word that upsets all white people in the same fashion. I know there are specific words for specific groups, or subsets, of folks based on religion, region, financial status, etc, but what about one generic word that is only reserved for white people in America; we'll stick with that one for a minute.
I recalled a very edgy skit the first year of Saturday Night Live between Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor, one that I absolutely loved at the time, and still laugh at when I see it now, but know it would never have a chance to make it on TV in today's world, even though there are some other things that do happen or are shown that shock a lot of people. I remember all the words Richard Pryor called Chevy Chase in response to the insults Chevy was hurling at Richard, and even back then I was struck with this notion that none of the words Richard Pryor was uttering was particularly earth shaking. In the 70's those words literally had no meaning other than they were used from time to timee, and I don't even know if any of those words are around today. I think it's been at least 20 years since I've last heard any of those words used, not counting old TV shows.
And it's this thought that brings me back to this thought about whether there's the possibility of equal racism from one race to the other. When someone who's not black utters the N-word, it has such strong negative connotations that it can make a person depressed or angry, and make the person who used it shudder in shame and bask in apologies. There's a long history with the word, and it can be traced back to a period of time in America that many are wishing we'd all just forget about and move on; nope, not ready to.
Yet, I can't think of a single specific word that goes in the other direction that, if I said it to every white person, would affect them in any fashion whatsoever. Not that I would want to, but just the fact that I can't think of one either means there isn't one, or it's just not a part of my life, something that no one wants to share with me.
Just a thought I'm carrying around with me these days; I'm sure it'll pass soon also.
Mitch I did find this site http://www.racialslurs.com/search?q=meaning&sort=represents
but it’s like you said there isn’t really one word that would be a real slur against whites in general. Doesn’t seem fair
Well I can’t think of any one word that can be used with the same venom as the N-word. As for me I don’t like it when anyone uses it. It started out with such a negative ugly connotation and somehow has morphed into this familial term among my people. I never taught my children to use it and told them how I felt about it. It could never be used in my household either. Of course now that they are grown I’m sure they probably do use it from time to time but not in my presence. But the nonsensical argument that it is worse when someone of non-African American heritage uses it over when we use it is just that nonsense. No one should be using it.
I didn’t want to put this in my post, but here’s a link to the Richard Pryor clip on SNL, if some folks (after all, some are too young to have known about this) haven’t seen it: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5310462012728001551
I agree Linda, though I can’t claim total innocence of its use. However, I think we would both acknowledge that, in general, it’s taken less offensively when folks use certain terms amongst themselves than when others use them. But it would be nice to eliminate them altogether.
Well I don’t remember this episode but I am shocked that Chevy Chase actually used the word in this skit. I was taken aback somewhat that they actually went there. As far as your statement about taking things less offensive when used amonst ourselves I can agree that some people see it that way but I don’t. I’m truly offended by the N-word no matter who uses it and I cringe and usually will say something to the person about it. Lately though I find myself not saying anythng anymore because it has become a waste of my time. It doesn’t stop them from using it so I just watch myself. I’ve never used the word and don’t plan on starting either.
I haven’t watched the skit, but agree with everyone…there is no ‘one’ word to insult whites. “Honkey” seems silly, while “cracker” is old fashioned, and I doubt a lot of younger people would know what it meant. Now, if you want to know gay insults, I could list page after page (I’ve heard ’em all, and still do, on occasion).
Hi Xero. Thing is, if it’s broken out into individual groups there are a lot of insults that one can come up with. I thought it would be an interesting topic and challenge, and of course I had a point to make. 🙂
I’ve seen that skit before! Hilarious!
But the n-word really isn’t funny…I think the fact that comedians like Richard Pryor helped to infuse our colloquial use of the term within Black ghettoes into mainstream urban culture was foolish at best.
The contradictions that we all possess with regard to our opinion and use of this word suggest that race relations in this country are still complex and even volatile.
And so we continue to segregate ourselves…when it is the fusing of cultures, living spaces, and experiences that would begin to solve these problems.
Thanks for the comment, Ivo. However, the post really wasn’t a diatribe against black people and our use of the word against ourselves. It’s more of an exploration of how that one word can hurt us so much, yet there’s no equivalent going back the other direction. It poses the question as to whether there should be a way to defuse the word itself so that its use means nothing, or people just won’t say it anymore, or whether there should be a banning of the word, which some communities across the country have instituted, to see if that works (I don’t think so, but just for argument’s sake). One thing is for sure; I’m starting to notice lately that it doesn’t seem like there can be a real discussion of race where one side or the other doesn’t either get mad or upset in some fashion.