As the debate over the N-word rages on I decided that it was time for me to finally weigh in. First let me start off by admitting that I am a gross violator of this word. Isn't that how they say it works; you first have to admit you have a problem before you can actually get help for that problem. Well, I have a problem. I've been trying to stop, but I have to admit that it has been harder than I thought it would be (that whole going cold turkey thing just hasn't been working for me). So now I decided that maybe a little shock therapy is needed in order for me to get my act together. My therapy of choice has been that of pictures of lynchings. There is nothing that puts using the N-word in perspective more than looking at the faces of people who died while being called that name. Now don't get me wrong, I understand Nas' intentions when he says "I am taking power from that word..." in reference to naming his album the N-word. But I would say that it is impossible to take away the power or the hurting feeling that comes along with that word. You can never give the people who lost their lives back their life and for a lot of them you can't even give them back their names. The way I came to terms with this was by thinking about it like this. Have you ever spilled blood on something? Isn't it the hardest thing in the world to get out of something once it has made contact with that item. So instead of going through the strenuous task of trying to get it out you are more likely to just discard the item. Well, that is how I feel about the N-word. How can you clean up a word that is soaked in the blood of our ancestors? I think we should just discard the word and be done with it. So I am going to try my best to get it out of my lexicon. I know its not going to be easy, but I know the reward far outweighs the journey its going to take for me to get to that point. So here's to becoming a reformed N-word user. Wish me luck :-).
Def Poetry - Julian Curry - Niggers Niggas & Niggaz
Def Poetry - Julian Curry - Niggers Niggas & Niggaz
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