And please believe we don’t speak like that in our home!

What can be done now. Rap, I believe, really desensitized us (and the world) to the word. I worked in the industry for many years as a publicist and hear is used very loosely by ALL races. I made my exodus in 2003 but the damage has already been done.

Much to my disdain.

Saideh Browne
Platinum Speakers Bureau
NYC, NY

Thanks for spreading this message. I’m with you 1000 percent!

We MUST get rid of this damaging [and I mean spiritually and emotionally damaging] word.

Sister BB, I can’t tell you how many e-mails I’ve received from folks who cried when they saw it. I wish he hadn’t left the stage so quickly, so he could have soaked up the standing ovation and felt power of those he moved so deeply.

Sister Zaria, “totally disagree”? That is saying something. I will be true to my word, and try to convince you.

“We” haven’t given the word any power. Words have meaning and power. Words have inspired men and women to change the course of human history. It’s why writers, write. The greater your vocabulary, the greater your ability to express your thoughts and ideas.

Because I acknowledge what the word means, makes me neither differential nor impotent. In the fight for righteousness, justice and truth, I simply have the ability to recognize and label hate and evil. The idea that we need to add new meanings or allow for context, sounds like we need to allow people to take off their sheets and hats, extinguish their burning cross, put on a suit and tie, smile at us and say, “no, you can’t work here.”

You’re right about “Girlfriends”. They did frequently call each other derogatory names. That was the only reason I didn’t watch the show regularly. Adding more ways to verbally condescend, bludgeon and cut each other is like drowning me in the ocean instead of the bath tub.

In the end, a lively debate on a substantive issue, is always good. However, we need to have some basic understanding of garden variety truths. Public and private speech exists. Common courtesy in a civilized society isn’t a platitude. Most of us would argue that the public discourse has become so toxic, due to the erosion of simple manors, home training and pride. What are the standards by which we all should live? Why does it seem like too many of us look the other way while the bar sinks and are too afraid to fight to raise the bar to new heights?

Most of us have heard it before, the greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn’t exist…I’m not tricked.

Finally, I could quantify it, but trust me, I’m right, the most famous word in the English language is….LOVE!

We have given this word too much power and we need to stop. Once we stop giving it so much power, it won’t have it anymore.

On the TV show Girlfriends, they often referred to each other as b*tch, heffa, or other derogatory terms in an endearing manner or sometimes an insulting manner.

It wasn’t the word that defined it, it was the context. Used in proper context that word can not and does not have any power.

But when used in a hateful manner it becomes a monster and grows daily. Not just because it was used, but because we have to have debate after debate over this word.

The most famous word in the English language. The only word to ever have people daily advocating that no one can use it.

Lastly, the sheer thought of putting the N word in the closet, and only using it privately is ridiculous. It’s the same word. That’s like saying “I cuss, but not in front of my momma.”

Let’s stop looking at the word, and look at the context in which is was used. If it’s a hateful context, let’s stop it. If it’s an endearing context or a descriptive context, why do we even care?