Brother richard pryor on the “******” word!

[ballscout1]

I though this relevant especially for some of the younger folks since Tim Allen tried to use Richard Pryor in his justification for white people being able to use ******





from Ebony Magazine,Feb. 2007,pages ll2-122

“In the l970″s and l980′s the late Richard Pryor tossed out “******” as often as his own name. According to Pryor, it was about owning the term, salving ourselves from any sting it might have had. However Pryor, whose albums included “That ******’s Crazy” and “Bicentennial ******”, said after a trip to Africa that he “didn’t see any ******s in Africa”. And he never used the word during a performance again.

“I was sitting by myself (in the Nairobi Hilton in Kenya) and I just looked around and it was like a voice said to me,”What do you see?” And I said,”People of all colors doing things together”.And another voice said “Do you see any ******s?” And I said,”No!”. And the voice said “Do you know why?”. And I said(whispering),”No”. And it said,”There aren’t any…”.

Brother Richard Pryor,l982 in an exclusive interview with Ebony Magazine,page l98,Feb. 2007

Black people should stop using the “****** word” publically. It may take a longer time for some of us to stop using it privately and among ourselves,referring to ourselves, but it is a self-destroying word,demeaning ourselves to the level of our slavemasters’ concept of us as inferior and like animals. We should no longer accept this negative,anti-BLACK image of ourselves that was forced on us by the former slavemaster!
Sister Yeye Akilimali Funua Olade,
April,2007

http://yeyeolade.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/black-is-beautiful/

 

[Ceenote]

Im never going to stop using it, but when im in front of other races I dnt use it at all. I keep saying as well as other say caucasoids cant stand being told no!! I always say as well they call each other redneck and pollock. But u better not or it will b a fight!!

 

[Upgrade Dave]

Im never going to stop using it, but when im in front of other races I dnt use it at all. I keep saying as well as other say caucasoids cant stand being told no!! I always say as well they call each other redneck and pollock. But u better not or it will b a fight!!

Agreed.

 

[ballscout1]

Im never going to stop using it, but when im in front of other races I dnt use it at all. I keep saying as well as other say caucasoids cant stand being told no!! I always say as well they call each other redneck and pollock. But u better not or it will b a fight!!

can i ask why ?

what makes it a word you will never stop using, is it irreplaceable?

habit...


I ask because I have been known to cuss when I speak...My wife says I cuss in sentences

 

[Mr.Bizkits]

It depends on what context they're using it in. But no I can't stand it when white people casually say nigga or ******. It's just annoying and uncomfortable.

 

[ballscout1]

It depends on what context they're using it in. But no I can't stand it when white people casually say nigga or ******. It's just annoying and uncomfortable.

just trying to understand what makes it worth saying since its creating was negative and there are many things and negarive views historically that black people were taught..


so what context makes it the appropriate word that other words without the historical stigma couldn't be used ?

 

[Lick]

I don't use it unless I'm trying to get a white guy to fight then I'll call him it!

 

[knightmelodic]

can't black people see running around calling each other n***** is opening the door for crackas and other people to feel they can use it anytime, in public, in reference to a black person and justify it by saying: "they say it to each other?"

then get mad when crackas or other people use it.

man, we need some education for people who think it's a term of endearment or we're gonna "own" the word.

ain't a damn thing positive about that word

 

[militantmidget]

can't black people see running around calling each other n***** is opening the door for crackas and other people to feel they can use it anytime, in public, in reference to a black person and justify it by saying: "they say it to each other?"

then get mad when crackas or other people use it.

man, we need some education for people who think it's a term of endearment or we're gonna "own" the word.

ain't a damn thing positive about that word

Lemme ask you tho, what do white people have to do with me saying it to another black man. Imma tell you an open secret amongst white people. They call us ****** behind closed doors. They build prisons for *******. They ship drugs and guns for ******* to use. They setup laws to discriminate against *******.

Now tell me again how us saying the word "nigga" is soooooooooooooo evil.

 

[ballscout1]

Lemme ask you tho, what do white people have to do with me saying it to another black man. Imma tell you an open secret amongst white people. They call us ****** behind closed doors. They build prisons for *******. They ship drugs and guns for ******* to use. They setup laws to discriminate against *******.

Now tell me again how us saying the word "nigga" is soooooooooooooo evil.

Why would you call another black person ****** though since it was created by crakkas and used by some blacks as a divide and conquer technique...Black cat thinks he is superior to anyther and calls that one ****** just like the crakka that taught him the word ?


its evil because you were taught to minimize your fellow black man by calling him a negative word taught to by crakkas..

why would you not call the other cats ......my brotha ..or my man...

why would you think ****** or any form of it is positive ?

that taking it and making it positive is trick knowledge

 

[kenbgco68]

Why would you call another black person ****** though since it was created by crakkas and used by some blacks as a divide and conquer technique...Black cat thinks he is superior to anyther and calls that one ****** just like the crakka that taught him the word ?

This. You're just perpetuating shit some CACs put in place when you use that word. I don't say it to please some CACs. I refuse to say it for respect for my own people.

 

[ballscout1]

I didn't intend this post to make judgement or bash those who use the word .

I really wanted it to be about the dialogue of differing opinions and why do you think the word should be used

or why you use it and won't stop.

Just trying to understand a differing opinion

 

[bigirl]

I have never said the word and never will. I just CAN'T and it crawls my blood everytime I hear it ESPECIALLY from a Black person

 

[Costanza]

I'll check out the OP in a minute. But @ "the '******' word"

 

[Hellfish]

The word was born from hatred. I don't see how anyone can put a positive spin on it. As far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter if it ends in "ER" or "A". If I was to use it, I am doing so to be insulting.

Side note: Is it me or are HipHop artist dropping the N bomb more than usual these days. Its gotten so bad that I'm downloading clean version of albums now.

 

[RESPECT]

NO DIS TO THE OP OR ANYONE...

IT BUGS ME OUT HOW MANY DEBATES, FORUMS AND TOPICS THERE ARE ON BLACK FOLKS USING THE WORD NIGGA AND TRYING TO JUSTIFY WHY IT'S OK HERE, NOT OK THERE, I ONLY SAY IT HERE BUT NOT THERE, AROUND MY PEEPS BUT NOT AROUND THOSE FOLKS AND OH OH THEY BETTER NOT SAY IT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE STAND YOUR GROUND FOR A WORD,
THAT HAS WRECKED SO MANY OF OUR FOREFATHER AND MOTHERS LIVES. THIS SHIT IS GETTING TIRING ALREADY. IF IT'S NOT A WORD YOU CAN GO HOME AND CALL YOUR MAMA...

/THREAD

 

[Ceenote]

can i ask why ?

what makes it a word you will never stop using, is it irreplaceable?

habit...


I ask because I have been known to cuss when I speak...My wife says I cuss in sentences

Yep habit..sometimes sum of the guys I kmow dat dnt like it I go out of my way to make sure I dnt really use it. I replace it with brotha!! Same to me n such a sense but the only difference I can say brotha n front of the white man n not gi e it a second thought! ! But these pale faces love to call each other outta there name, but I never hear not one person ask them why do they do that... I do MEAN NEVER!! But here as a black man I have to see a thread every now and again on why I should not use the word!! Imma say what imma say n dats it.. if other feel they dnt wanna im cool with that too!

 

[ballscout1]

Yep habit..sometimes sum of the guys I kmow dat dnt like it I go out of my way to make sure I dnt really use it. I replace it with brotha!! Same to me n such a sense but the only difference I can say brotha n front of the white man n not gi e it a second thought! ! But these pale faces love to call each other outta there name, but I never hear not one person ask them why do they do that... I do MEAN NEVER!! But here as a black man I have to see a thread every now and again on why I should not use the word!! Imma say what imma say n dats it.. if other feel they dnt wanna im cool with that too!

As I said I didn't make the post to make judgement I was just curious if there was any significance to you using it..

Your answer is habit..

 

[militantmidget]

Why would you call another black person ****** though since it was created by crakkas and used by some blacks as a divide and conquer technique...Black cat thinks he is superior to anyther and calls that one ****** just like the crakka that taught him the word ?


its evil because you were taught to minimize your fellow black man by calling him a negative word taught to by crakkas..

why would you not call the other cats ......my brotha ..or my man...

why would you think ****** or any form of it is positive ?

that taking it and making it positive is trick knowledge

Yall cats are the ones who are brainwashed. White man says its unfair that we can say it and yall just parroting the same rhetoric. Why is it white ppl will speak on something as simple as a word, but nothing on real issues in the blk community? I'll tell u why. Its because they only give a damn about their own interests. They really just want things to be how they used to be years ago. The fact that blk ppl keep finding ways of art through all the suffering and pain makes them mad as hell.

 

[Ceenote]

As I said I didn't make the post to make judgement I was just curious if there was any significance to you using it..

Your answer is habit..

Nah.. I aint going in on u.. I dnt want to think that..its all good..

 

[Osca Lee]

Yall cats are the ones who are brainwashed. White man says its unfair that we can say it and yall just parroting the same rhetoric. Why is it white ppl will speak on something as simple as a word, but nothing on real issues in the blk community? I'll tell u why. Its because they only give a damn about their own interests. They really just want things to be how they used to be years ago. The fact that blk ppl keep finding ways of art through all the suffering and pain makes them mad as hell.

this

 

[ballscout1]

Yall cats are the ones who are brainwashed. White man says its unfair that we can say it and yall just parroting the same rhetoric. Why is it white ppl will speak on something as simple as a word, but nothing on real issues in the blk community? I'll tell u why. Its because they only give a damn about their own interests. They really just want things to be how they used to be years ago. The fact that blk ppl keep finding ways of art through all the suffering and pain makes them mad as hell.

kill that brainwashed bullshit please.

my question has nothing to do with what a white man says....



Im brainwashed but you think you took ownership of the word.

well if its just a word then you have no issue with somebody walking up to your mother and calling her a bitch.

what about nigga bitch.....say you a pretty mofokrn nigga bitch....i meant it with love and endearment..


the real issue is you have no respect for yourself so respecting another black man woman or baby is out of the question...

and the lack of self respect has nothing to do with what the white man said..

inviting mofokrs to your ass by sagging some jailhouse shit but thats different because its style...

accept all the negative shit thats been thrown and its aiight because you own it now.

from kings and queens to niggas........yeah alright

 

[militantmidget]

Matter fact it aint even about the word itself. The word ain't evil. The shit this system did to us (kidnapping, rape, murder, torture, inhumane conditions) is evil. But naw, we concerned about the word they called us, but not the treatment that our ppl still get to this day GLOBALLY! Yes, our ppl suffer across this globe in 2013 and yall falling for the okey doke over a word that we use in a positive context.

I guess yall next gonna say soul food shouldn't be considered black because white ppl fed us that during slavery.

 

[ballscout1]

Yall cats are the ones who are brainwashed. White man says its unfair that we can say it and yall just parroting the same rhetoric. Why is it white ppl will speak on something as simple as a word, but nothing on real issues in the blk community? I'll tell u why. Its because they only give a damn about their own interests. They really just want things to be how they used to be years ago. The fact that blk ppl keep finding ways of art through all the suffering and pain makes them mad as hell.

and for the record ..


there was a question posed and in all that bullshit hyperbole you typed you didn't answer the question.

is it because you can't ?

so you type all that who ha to distract ?

and because you probably don't know any better.....this has been an ongoing debate for me since at last the 70's

 

[ballscout1]

Matter fact it aint even about the word itself. The word ain't evil. The shit this system did to us (kidnapping, rape, murder, torture, inhumane conditions) is evil. But naw, we concerned about the word they called us, but not the treatment that our ppl still get to this day GLOBALLY! Yes, our ppl suffer across this globe in 2013 and yall falling for the okey doke over a word that we use in a positive context.

I guess yall next gonna say soul food shouldn't be considered black because white ppl fed us that during slavery.

when standing in a hole it's usually best to stop digging..

white people didn't feed us anything during slavery.....to white people those things were scraps and garbage....we fed ourselves slick

 

[militantmidget]

kill that brainwashed bullshit please.

my question has nothing to do with what a white man says....



Im brainwashed but you think you took ownership of the word.

well if its just a word then you have no issue with somebody walking up to your mother and calling her a bitch.

what about nigga bitch.....say you a pretty mofokrn nigga bitch....i meant it with love and endearment..


the real issue is you have no respect for yourself so respecting another black man woman or baby is out of the question...

and the lack of self respect has nothing to do with what the white man said..

inviting mofokrs to your ass by sagging some jailhouse shit but thats different because its style...

accept all the negative shit thats been thrown and its aiight because you own it now.

from kings and queens to niggas........yeah alright

Ok so we stop using the word as a term of endearment. Does the word itself stop being used?

 

[ballscout1]

still haven't answered the question.....so let this slip to page 59 or some shit

 

[militantmidget]

still haven't answered the question.....so let this slip to page 59 or some shit

I use it as a form of expression. Could I use another word? Yes and I do sometimes. But to say that I shouldn't use it because whites got their panties in a bunch is ridiculous. If they care so much about what we say then let them come invest in our communities and move next door.

 

[mike123]

the meanings of words change over time
words are tools, not magic entities with powers that bad people exploit
the meanings of words arent written in the stars, immutable for a eternity

besides that the context in which a word is used matters just as much as the agreed upon meaning of the word

almost none of the slang from 50 years ago means anything now
and ny slang from right now dont mean shit in some countries

but if u choose to act like certain words have power then eventually somebodies gonna use that against u

 

[Upgrade Dave]

I'm never going to stop saying it because I don't want to. I used it as a term of endearment and as an insult. I know the history but last I checked, we live in a country with a similar history but I don't see many of us letting go of that.
If I'm around someone who's uncomfortable with it, I curtail it out of respect for them but otherwise, I'll letting it loose.

IF IT'S NOT A WORD YOU CAN GO HOME AND CALL YOUR MAMA

I don't call my mother "Sexy" either so I should stop calling my wife that?
I'm always amazed at how quickly people throw out ill-thought out clichés.

 

[ballscout1]

I use it as a form of expression. Could I use another word? Yes and I do sometimes. But to say that I shouldn't use it because whites got their panties in a bunch is ridiculous. If they care so much about what we say then let them come invest in our communities and move next door.

who ever said that ?

you just make shit up to fit in how you want it to ?

who is talking about white people other than you ?

seriously ?


how the fuck did you get to where you are ?


who said anything about how what white people feel in regards to what we say ?

who said they care so much ?


i guess words can mean whatever the fuck you want them too cause um er you just made up your whole thread

 

[ballscout1]

I'm never going to stop saying it because I don't want to. I used it as a term of endearment and as an insult. I know the history but last I checked, we live in a country with a similar history but I don't see many of us letting go of that. If I'm around someone who's uncomfortable with it, I curtail it out of respect for them but otherwise, I'll letting it loose.






I don't call my mother "Sexy" either so I should stop calling my wife that?
I'm always amazed at how quickly people throw out ill-thought out clichés.

This sentence confused me..

How can it be both a term of endearment and an insult ?

You could call your mother sexy.....and it wouldn't be demeaning, devaluing,dehumanizing ect ect..

Sexy was not created to be offensive it was always a compliment.


and once again I guess i don't type clearly..

from the beginning of this thread I asked a question and qualified by saying this isn't an indictment or judgement or intended to change any minds.

it was intended to clarify for me why our people use this word..

it was intended to be more a Q and A but quicjly like everything else on BGOL spiraled into some hybrid..

I also don't see that happening when the answer is because i want to and im grown and yadda yadda yadda...

so once again...let this drift into BGOL pergatory

 

[militantmidget]

who ever said that ?

you just make shit up to fit in how you want it to ?

who is talking about white people other than you ?

seriously ?


how the fuck did you get to where you are ?


who said anything about how what white people feel in regards to what we say ?

who said they care so much ?


i guess words can mean whatever the fuck you want them too cause um er you just made up your whole thread

I'm not saying u feel that way but alotta blk folk are upset only cuz whites are upset. Many blk ppl feel if we just appease white ppl, all will be ok. But unfortunately that's not gonna happen.

And as for mentioning white folks, I was mentioning them regarding you mentioning tim allen and the word in your first post. Its all good tho man. If you feel that the word shouldn't be said more power to u. I just realize that the issue isnt the word itself but the context and how whites really feel about us behind closed doors.

 

[ballscout1]

I'm not saying u feel that way but alotta blk folk are upset only cuz whites are upset. Many blk ppl feel if we just appease white ppl, all will be ok. But unfortunately that's not gonna happen.

And as for mentioning white folks, I was mentioning them regarding you mentioning tim allen and the word in your first post. Its all good tho man. If you feel that the word shouldn't be said more power to u. I just realize that the issue isnt the word itself but the context and how whites really feel about us behind closed doors.

I was discrediting Tim Allen for trying to use Pryor as an excuse...

My question was to us for us as I could give less than a fuck what white people think..

My issue with the word is historical and where we got it from....And the acceptance of what it means..regardless on what some say it means..

And that shit about it being a term of endearment was an excuse that is 20 or 30 years old and was in response to criticism of people using it....

Thats where the nah man we taking ownership of the word to take the power/sting out of it..We changing the meaning ..Its a term of endearment


Like nigga ima fuck you up.. That nigga stupid..Nigga better give me my money ect ect ect..

But as I said initially i was looking for a discussion on why a person uses that as i said instead of

my man

what's up black man

whats up cousin

whats up fam or family or famo

whats up brotha bro bro-ham


I realize that for many it is a habit and for many it has no meaning and that's what i wanted to hear...

I grew up during black pride era and that formed my view....


I asked the question because two brothas said they would never stop using it and I wanted to hear why....

Thought it could be a conversation without slander and insults and responses from small minds that use them as responses because they don't have the intellect to agree to disagree..( not directed at you or anybody in particular just BGOL in general because that is what usually happens).

instead i started hearing about what white people think...

and if you were worried about them they would also hate to hear you great some cat with how r u black man...

but i also broke my self from saying bitch just to be saying it....

 

[samh32]

Lemme ask you tho, what do white people have to do with me saying it to another black man. Imma tell you an open secret amongst white people. They call us ****** behind closed doors. They build prisons for *******. They ship drugs and guns for ******* to use. They setup laws to discriminate against *******.

Now tell me again how us saying the word "nigga" is soooooooooooooo evil.

Yeah he's just using it as a term of endearment I guess.​