The N-word a “Mantle of Honor”?
Monday, March 12, 2007, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in New York, Patti Smith sang the song Rock and Roll N*gger. In the song reference is made to Ghandi and Jesus as being n*ggers and thus Patti’s explanation for singing the song was “the song was written as an attempt to elevate the n-word to a mantle of honor by applying it to the world's great outsiders.”
This is just simply unacceptable. Can you imagine someone advancing the idea that the phrase or slogan “Heil Hitler” being raised to a mantle of honor? We all know how insulting that phrase is and therefore no American will use it. For something like 15 years that name terrorized much of the world.
In retrospect the n-word terrorized the hearts and minds of a race of people for more than 250 years. During this era the n-word was justification for death and destruction that was unleashed upon the African American, unlike anything ever witnessed by humankind on the face of this earth, before or since. Hitler’s escapades in comparison would be like child’s play. To take this very same word and embrace it with tender loving care and want to raise it to a mantle of honor is moronic and borders on the line of imbecility. And just because there are those African Americans who are asleep at the wheel doesn’t mean that we all are.
United Voices for a Common Cause, says enough is enough. . No longer is it acceptable to dishonor and desecrate the memories of our ancestors and spit upon their graves with the very word that was used to dehumanize them…the n-word. No longer are we going to overlook their struggles and sacrifices by embracing the very word that was used to terrorize and traumatize their hearts, minds and bodies. In other words no longer are we going to allow the memories of our ancestors to be trampled upon and disrespected. No longer is it acceptable for contemporary African Americans to disrespect themselves…and no LONGER is UVCC going to allow non-blacks to insult our intelligence by trying to minimize and trivialize the TRUE meaning of the n-word.
All good things must eventually come to an end and the practice of using the minds of African Americans as a wasteland where you can feel free to dump any ole thing upon it is about to come to an end. All races and nationalities have their pride...it's time the African American crashes the party and get some racial pride of their own and there is nothing prideful about referring to each other as the n-word...absolutely nothing. To learn more about the United Voices for a Common Cause please go to http://www.theunitedvoices.org
Comments
the song was written as an attempt to elevate the n-word to a mantle of honor by applying it to the world's great outsiders
I'm a fan of her music, but what a nitwit she is to say that. It can't be elevated -- especially by a white woman!! -- anymore than some of the nasty words used to describe women.
That racial slur is the filthiest word I can think of. It's a word that encompasses the most hateful thoughts we can hold for another human being. I am guilty of using it in my mind, and I hate that I was ever exposed to the damn word. I wish there was a way you really could bury it.
Keep fighting that good fight.