DVD REVIEW: THE N WORD
- Andre J Durall
- Andre J Durall
Nigger or Nigga? To use or not to use? This has been the question for many years between Blacks and Whites. There are different perspectives on the word nigger and writer and director Todd Larkins brings these very complex issues to the table in the controversial documentary entitled The N Word. The documentary consists of actors, professors and every day people just like you and me, who express their vivificated opinions on how this word should be used. Right off the bat, Quincy Jones mentions that, nigger is designed to be derogatory and it is an expression of hate. He continued with a significant tone, it has the ability inside the family (I think) to be the most affectionate and loving (term) or the most hostile (term). All you got to do is change the az or the ga to er and we are right back where we started. Watching School Daze, word play is essential, in many ways, Spike Lee hits viewers with word association; substituting words like nigga, nigger, Negro or niggaz with wannabes and jig-a-boos. When he could have easily used those choice words. Spike highlights reflective scenes that poke division within one racial make-up of African Americans. But instead of hitting homeruns with N word material, Spike plays it low-key referencing word like wannabes and jig-a-boos. Blacks and Whites have traditionally used the word nigger differently. For many blacks it is an acceptable expression to use this word amongst other blacks, “That's my nigga.” Actor Michael Rapaport elaborates on this in the documentary; (Nigger) has become a term of affection. “This is my man, this is my homie, this is my homeboy, this is my dog, (and) this is my nigga.” When used in these tenses we feel perfectly comfortable of this words meaning. However, from Whites to Blacks, the word nigger can start a riot. Although the usage of this word by Whites is normally shunned upon (by Blacks), many are getting a pass when they commonly express this word among their Black friends. African American (Harvard Law School Professor) Randall Kennedy, author of Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word reveals a very surprising opinion on Whites using this word. In an episode of the television show Boston Public (which feature Kennedy's book), Marla Hendricks, a Black teacher, wants Danny Hanson (Michael Rapaport), who is White, to be fired for discussing the word nigger in his classroom (as a tool of sensitivity). She says the following, "That word has always stood for hatred coming out of a White mouth." No teacher in any school is good enough to erase that in a sensitivity class. Do you agree with her? Would it make a difference if Danny Hanson were black? Kennedy, cuts down plenty of blacks for their expressions and highly colorful practice of their use of the word nigger, no one gets a pass, not even comedic greats Richard Pryor or Chris Rock. Kennedy redirects the usage back on Blacks to except responsibility for how this word has taken on so many different formats. Which leads to my personal opinion, the word nigger brings so much hatred and racism to the human race. Therefore, it is not fair to continue calling your homeboy or home-girl the derogatory word that was derived from slavery. Essentially, the word nigger is seen different in each person's eyes. Some may agree that its usage is justifiable while others do not. So the next time you are having that talk and the flavor of your tongue is running away with nigga this and nigga that maybe you should analyze where this language has derived from and where it is going. How can we have self-respect if we are not willing to extinct a word from our own English language? We can kill off an American Black bear existence, yet our own people keep this word very much alive alone. What's the best thing to do? Watch your mouth? You tell me. I would love to hear back from some of our readers after they watch this highly volatile DVD, The N Word.
