Post by It's Colton Cumbie, Friends! on Jan 19, 2013 20:00:03 GMT -5
To begin my argument, I would like to draw your attention to the wording of the question. Bear in mind, we are being asked here, “Are white people allowed to use the N-word?” , and not “Should white people be allowed to use the N-word?” We, the Kimba tribe, are making no attempt to say that the word ought to be used; we're attempting to demonstrate that it is not the case that white people should be categorically barred from using the term.
To determine whether white people are allowed to use the N-word, one must first determine the definition of “allowed.” When you remove the moral and ethical implications implied by a “should” question, the answer is actually reasonably simple. In the United States of America, where the Constitution specifically grants the right of free speech to each and every citizen as an unalienable right, I would argue that every single person, regardless of color, race, religion, monetary status, gender, sexual preference, or class, has the government-mandated right to say whatever they want. This point is indisputable. Certain words may be grounds for a discrimination lawsuit, but such issues result from blatant misuse of words, with intent to harm.
Addressing another aspect of the argument, have white people earned the right to use that word colloquially? As an insult, or in any derogatory fashion... no. Absolutely not. However, with permission of the intended recipient of the term, the N-word is certainly permissible. After all, calling a woman your girlfriend is not appropriate if you are not dating her; if you are dating her, and she agrees that she is your girlfriend, then it is appropriate. By the same token, several different people groups may refer to others as “bitches” or “hoes” as a term of endearment. If a white person wants to casually refer to an acquaintance of any color as a “nigger,” with absolutely no malice intended, and the acquaintance has absolutely no qualms about it, is there a good reason to say that that white person should be denied the right of free speech? No. People have the right to express themselves however they choose.
Moreover, if the people of the world honestly want to seek mutual equality, then saying "we are allowed to use this term, and you are not," is a step backwards. Such a declaration creates an "us against them" mentality, and encourages black and white communities to remain separate. If we truly want a world in which black and white are viewed as equals, we should say that either no person should say the N-word, or that every person should. Saying "we can, you cannot" only highlights racial differences.
So, in conclusion, are white people allowed to say the N-word? Absolutely. Our constitution and our very way of life depend upon free speech. But just because someone can say a word, that in no way implies that they should. There is no law restricting the use of the word “bitch,” but choosing to say it to a court judge will inevitably result in you getting arrested. If a white person chooses to use the N-word, they have the right to do so, but if they choose to use it in the presence of certain people, there may be a social fallout from that decision. White people are certainly allowed to use the N-word; but at the same time, it is the responsibility of every person, regardless of color, to use their words in a way that promotes equality and goodwill.
To determine whether white people are allowed to use the N-word, one must first determine the definition of “allowed.” When you remove the moral and ethical implications implied by a “should” question, the answer is actually reasonably simple. In the United States of America, where the Constitution specifically grants the right of free speech to each and every citizen as an unalienable right, I would argue that every single person, regardless of color, race, religion, monetary status, gender, sexual preference, or class, has the government-mandated right to say whatever they want. This point is indisputable. Certain words may be grounds for a discrimination lawsuit, but such issues result from blatant misuse of words, with intent to harm.
Addressing another aspect of the argument, have white people earned the right to use that word colloquially? As an insult, or in any derogatory fashion... no. Absolutely not. However, with permission of the intended recipient of the term, the N-word is certainly permissible. After all, calling a woman your girlfriend is not appropriate if you are not dating her; if you are dating her, and she agrees that she is your girlfriend, then it is appropriate. By the same token, several different people groups may refer to others as “bitches” or “hoes” as a term of endearment. If a white person wants to casually refer to an acquaintance of any color as a “nigger,” with absolutely no malice intended, and the acquaintance has absolutely no qualms about it, is there a good reason to say that that white person should be denied the right of free speech? No. People have the right to express themselves however they choose.
Moreover, if the people of the world honestly want to seek mutual equality, then saying "we are allowed to use this term, and you are not," is a step backwards. Such a declaration creates an "us against them" mentality, and encourages black and white communities to remain separate. If we truly want a world in which black and white are viewed as equals, we should say that either no person should say the N-word, or that every person should. Saying "we can, you cannot" only highlights racial differences.
So, in conclusion, are white people allowed to say the N-word? Absolutely. Our constitution and our very way of life depend upon free speech. But just because someone can say a word, that in no way implies that they should. There is no law restricting the use of the word “bitch,” but choosing to say it to a court judge will inevitably result in you getting arrested. If a white person chooses to use the N-word, they have the right to do so, but if they choose to use it in the presence of certain people, there may be a social fallout from that decision. White people are certainly allowed to use the N-word; but at the same time, it is the responsibility of every person, regardless of color, to use their words in a way that promotes equality and goodwill.
