Language has been and remains an effective means to marginalize minorities. Consider the persistent and incessant use of the n-word, America’s swastika to the African American. The term is a discreet, deceiving form of psychological, social, and spiritual abuse; the n-word desecrates the sacred memories of hard-fighting African-American ascendants. After almost 400 years of conditioning, a community of people have become immune to, or accepted, the adverse implications and negative effects the term, and all it encompasses, imposes on their mind state, and ultimately their life’s success.
The word n**ger was not embraced willingly by ascendants of African Americans, no quite the contrary, for more than 300 years they were terrorized, dehumanized, brutally assaulted, maimed, killed and wantonly raped. All because they were looked upon as 3/5 human, sub-human unfit to be treated as human beings, in other words they were a n**ger; the very word which African American descendants—today— embraces with tender loving care.
What kind of twisted minds would take such a diabolical word and embrace it? especially such a word that justified the dehumanization of their ancestors. The sacrifices, struggles and honor of our black ancestors we will not defend nor respect; but yet we will defend and respect those who desecrates and defiles their memories by embracing this word and making it a part of their everyday language. There is absolutely no rational excuse for such untoward behavior.
This month of October, Machiavellian Aaron McGruder, creator of the Boondocks plans to release myriads of videos laced with the n-word. Returning from a hiatus, Mr. McGruder—through a premeditated, diabolical scheme—plans to saturate America with heavy doses of the n-word. McGruder will prove to be a true emissary of the Prince of Darkness, becoming the most dangerous and greatest threat—psychologically—to the black community in all of America.
Several hip hop stars will be lending their voices to the program this season such as Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Ghostface Killah, Cee-lo, Lil Wayne, Aisha Tyler, Tichina Arnold, Mo’Nique, Tavis Smiley, Cedric the Entertainer, Xzibit, Charlie Murphy, and a few others. Ironically, the voices enshrining and glorifying the sacred memories of our ancestors are deafeningly silent, whereas the n-word is taken and praised to the high heavens.
At some point the African American community must learn to start holding one another accountable for the debilitating conduct and actions of those who think nothing of trampling on and dishonoring the memories of our black ancestry. African Americans have been conditioned to hold nothing sacred about themselves, this need to change. We must learn how to acknowledge the rich and rewarding heritage of our ancestors and it isn’t done by spitting on their graves, slapping them in the face with the very word that was used to dehumanized and crucify them.
The actions of Aaron McGruder and his band of disciples who are doing the voice-overs are a discredit to the millions of each and every black man, woman and child who for more than 300 plus years, had to endure the indignation of atrocious acts, such as brutal rapings, maiming, sodomizing with hot pokers, hangings, being boiled and burned alive. If these very same acts were being perpetrated upon your loved ones today, such as was the case in a recent isolated incident in West Virginia, all because this is what you do to n**gers I don’t think you would find any humor in it.
Not unless of course you find the following humorous: In l904 black sharecroppers Luther Holbert and his wife were chained to a tree and a audience of 600 white spectators enjoyed treats like deviled eggs, lemonade and whiskey in a festive atmosphere while Mr. and Mrs. Holbert had first their fingers chopped off one by one, followed by their ears, followed by a severe beating that left Mr. Holbert with one eye dangling from it's factured socket, followed by "spirals...of raw, quivering flesh" being extracted from both Holberts via corkscrew before the couple were finally burned alive. And as they were drawing their last breath the last words they would hear were the jeers of n**ger, n**ger, n**ger…a word that is today condoned, tolerated and embraced by descendants of people such as the likes of a Mr. & Mrs.Holbert.
There is however, a light at the end of the tunnel, slowly but surely, like a sleeping giant some of us are starting to wake up, two years ago Earl Graves probably would not have pulled the plug on Eddie Griffin, but today is a new day, more and more blacks are starting to awake from their deep slumber of almost 400 years of sleeping.
H. Lewis Smith is the author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair With the N-word and the Founder/CEO of United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc.
On August 5, 2007, a few residents of the small Louisiana town, Amite City, called the police. They complained that a man was cruising through the town with an indecent word prominently displayed on his car. The African-American man, Mr. Johnny Duncan, was stopped by authority figures, and ticketed for the obscenity. Mr. Duncan claims that he was simply advertising his book, You Might be a N**ger, and ticketing him is a violation of his First Amendment Rights.
In an interview with WAFB Channel 9 News anchors, Mr. Duncan revealed that he had been riding around town for two months with the promotional sign displayed on his car. He contends that the n-word, though offensive, is not a legal obscenity; therefore, the ticket is obsolete. Mr. Duncan believes he has the right to earn a living by advertising and promoting his product as does anyone else. Mr. Duncan plans to appeal the ticket on his Oct 3 court date, and challenge whether the n-word, displayed in a book or as part of a title, is lawfully obscene.
The interview, which can be viewed at http://wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6894396, further addresses Mr. Duncan’s feelings regarding the alleged violation, the basis for his argument, and the reasons why he performed this seemingly offensive and illogical act. Because of all the other recent controversy surrounding the use of derogatory terms in reference to African Americans, interviewers believe that an army of reporters from around the country will attend the proceeding to see, first hand, the outcome.
The outcome and ramifications of this situation are uncertain. H. Lewis Smith, Founder & CEO of the United Voices for a Common Cause, is concerned about the prospect of a black man seeking the legal use of a degrading racial slur rooted in negative connotations toward the African-American community. Mr. Smith believes that Mr. Duncan’s actions may very well support other races’ use of the term, and cause confusion within the African-American community, adversely affecting progression from the use of the mind-controlling idiom. As well, Mr. Duncan’s “freedom of speech” angle, if upheld in court, may validate or justify freely using the term—another step backward.
If Mr. Duncan’s argument prevails during the October 3 showdown, the “Kramer” Richards and Don Imus’ of the world will creep up from the woodworks in droves. They will openly use the derogatory terms in reference to African Americans, unhindered, and graciously thank Mr. Duncan—an African-American man—for unequivocally upholding his right to “freedom of speech,” just so he—and anyone else—can use the n-word.
H. Lewis Smith, along with being the founder and CEO of the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., is the author of Bury that Sucka!: A Scandalous Love Affair With the N-word. Mr. Smith’s goal is to expose the magnitude of negativity the use of the n-word has on the subconscious, one’s self-perception, and lifetime success; promote the benefits of education; increase mind power; and end the use of the n-word. He has been a guest on numerous radio shows, some of which include Dennis Snipes’ `FOCUS`; XM 169 The Power; and Da Breakfast Club, hosted by Tessa and Baby J.
The NACCP and non-affiliates have been performing mock funerals of the n-word around the country, burying the term, its negative connotations, and condescending use. The most recent funeral occurred , during the NAACP Detroit Convention weekend.
The purpose and importance of these mock funerals is being questioned by individuals from various backgrounds and circuits. Skeptics believe that these mock funerals are outright ridiculous. Advocates of killing off the n-word rebut with a meditating question: Denigrating African-American women, glamorizing violence, defining an intelligent group of people with a racial slur—a term heavily drenched in ignorance and degradation, and all its many associations…is this rationality, sensibility and intelligence?
Playing devil’s advocate, H. Lewis Smith, Founder/CEO of the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc., openly questions the importance of the funerals, and rhetorically posed that there are more pressing issues deserving of the group’s time and attention. Lewis’ point: In order for African Americans to rise above their current state of complacency and reach their promise, all community members, regardless of status and background, must consider the task at hand—burying the n-word—a serious issue, one of highest priority, and commit to exonerating the demeaning expression from all vocabulary banks.
One may ask how removing the n-word from African Americans’ vocabulary is the single most important issue plaguing the community today when other highly urgent and seemingly more prevalent matters exist and manifest within every pulse of the community. Such matters include high incarceration and poverty rates; increasing healthcare concerns; rampant drug addictions; predatory lending; strong resistance to restoring voting rights to felons; epidemic homelessness; and continued poor school performances and conduct among African-American students. The answer is simple: Treat the cause, not the symptoms.
Far too many African Americans take this matter all too lightly. African Americans must stop smirking at and acting nonchalant toward this situation, and consider the seriousness of the call to action.
For decades, the African-American’s consciousness has been submerged in a toiling, never-ending sea of self-deprivation, and ultimately, self-destruction, at their discretion. The minds of its youths were (and still are) exposed to the poison and venomous lyrics of rap music and the Steppin Fetchit antics of black comedians. Their sole ambitions were to sell their souls and the souls of their community for fame and fortune. No one cried out in protest against these “innovations” in entertainment. Rather, they either turned their heads and chose to remain ignorant or separated from the exploitations, or they bobbed their heads rhythmically to the degrading tunes and snickered boisterously at satire-filled stand-ups.
The racist definition of a word infused in ignorance and degradation—the n-word—was being used without impunity, in an affectionate and endearing manner. Nothing was said. Self-respect, pride, dignity and honor—intrinsic assets ancestors and civil rights leaders fought so hard to secure—were being trampled on and tossed out the window. As long as African-Americans were disrespecting and holding one another down with the derogatory “friendly reminder,” not a word was murmured.
Now, with an effort in place to discard the diabolical n-word, and restore these invaluable, positive mindset ingredients, people are springing up from various places to protest the seriousness of the n-word and its adverse effects on the mindset. Side-line naysayers who convey skeptical and cynical attitudes toward the anti-n-word movement are simply demonstrating their “Can’t” mindset.
To affect change, one must first arouse the people’s consciousness. Mock funerals are stirring up thoughts among people of all backgrounds and creating dialogue about mind power, the negativity the n-word manifests, and the importance of getting on board with the movement to put this idiom to rest.
Although skeptics still exist, a large majority of African Americans, and people in general, are responding positively to the movement. Mock funerals are and will continue to wake people up to the fact that the non-use of this word is detrimental to a whole race’s welfare.
The anti-n-word movement is long overdue, but there is no better time than now to link arms and march for healthy mind power and intellectual freedom. No matter one’s thoughts or feelings regarding the NAACP, Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton, they have all elected to do the right thing by jumping aboard an already-moving train engineered by a grass-root movement.
Petty differences must be set aside. For once, the African-American community must band up in efforts to heighten African-American values and standards, take charge of their own destiny, and stop serving as a doormat for the rest of the world. The initial step is for African Americans to eradicate the habit of defining themselves—a beautiful, intelligent, self-actualizing people—with a racist definition that stands for everything contrary to the African-American ethnic group.
Community leaders all across America are now stepping up to the plate and challenging the insanity that’s been going on within the black community relative to the self-deprecation use of the n-word, and other profane words. Mogul Executive, Russell Simmons is to be commended with his initiative to confront the issues relative to the music industries complicity, by calling for corporate responsibility, even though he did stop short of holding rappers accountable for anything.
However, the real work now begins because there are multi-millions of blacks who see nothing wrong in embracing the n-word and the denigrating and mindless lyrics of some rap music. There are blacks and whites alike all around the country trying to sell the idea that the n-word is just another word and will try to trivialize and minimize the true meaning and purpose of this Power…for it is indeed that a Power a diabolical Power…unlike any other word in the English language.
The N-word holds all of America hostage. Contemporary black and white alike, are victims of a deep dark, sordid, and immoral past. There is more than just a disparaging meaning to this word. Derogatory terms such as wetbacks, kike, hymie, dago, faggots, etc. are just that…derogatory. Though there are those who try to reduce the full impact and purpose of the n-word as merely being nothing more than a derogatory slur…this can’t be allowed to happen. A gross miscarriage of justice was committed for more than a span of three centuries all in the name of the n-word. There were vicious, terrible and horrible misdeeds inflicted upon the ascendants of African Americans that many people today would like to have swept underneath a rug and forgotten about. And to a degree have been very successful in doing just that.
It wasn’t enough to just bring the ascendants of African Americans over to work the land… for whatever reason…there was another agenda. This agenda was to destroy the minds of a race of people, rob them of their identity and mold their way of thinking as to how America wanted them to think. This was successfully done in a most unconscionable, malicious, methodical and unimaginable way.
The name that a people call themselves provides them with an understanding of their history by connecting them to a land mass, a language, a culture, a religion, a philosophy, etc. And in this vein you know who you are and your potential as a people. Today…we have no idea who we are…nor our potential. Some want to think of ourselves only as Blacks, others, African Americans and there are those who once again wish to be referred to as Negro—confusion reigns. Our distant ancestors of the Moorish Civilization who were conquerors of the free world as it existed at the time, builders of magnificent palaces, universities, thriving civilizations and who helped to free Europe from the Dark Ages, would look down upon us today with complete disdain and utter contempt.
Contemporary Americans know little about the most darkest and ugliest moments of n-word’s history…the torturing…physically, mentally and emotionally of black Americans breaking them down to accept their newly imposed image, the image of a n**ger which is a metaphor for a sub-human (below the human race in development).
Being so-called up-right Christians… America needed something to justify their actions of insensitive, cruel, mutilating, torturous and inhumane treatment towards another man. Thus by destroying minds, and re-creating another image of what was labeled as a n**ger, this was all the justification needed to commit atrocities on a race of people in any way that they so deemed, seeing as how a n**ger wasn’t considered a human being but indeed sub-human. This was supposed to make all committed acts of dehumanization justifiable.
Robbed of heart, mind, body, soul and manhood an image was created of laziness, savages, thievery, drunkardness, irresponsible, moral degenerates, slick, mindless, heartless, senseless, inferior, scum, something to be despised and considered worthless…lack of love and self respect for self, and to show no love or respect towards his woman or child. Even though the black woman was included in this vindictive conspiracy she was allowed to have a little more self-esteem than her counter-part black male, eroding the black man’s image of himself even further. This is the N-word…it is mind-control…an image. An image that has been browbeaten and physically beaten, into the hearts, minds and soul of the African American for more than 300 years.
Present day attitude seems to be so what—who cares?—after-all they were sub-humans not fit to be respected and revered. What happened to them has nothing to do with me. Any Black person who is gullible enough to go for that crock of you know what…needs their you know what’s kicked from here (California) all the way to New York City and back to California again. It’s a darn shame that we have allowed ourselves to be bamboozled into thinking its okay to relate to a word that made it okay to crucify, castrate, torture, murder, maim and rape our ancestors and we are okay with this. There are those actually selling their souls for thirty pieces of silver to further undermine their own people. How preposterous is that? Where is the racial pride? Oh! I almost forgot that’s something we were robbed of as well. Our Moorish ancestors must be fuming at such displays of imbecility.
The n-word is clearly a defined racist term steeped in ignorance, degradation and immorality and yet there are those who see nothing wrong in blacks continuing to identify with such a mind controlling self-deprecation of a word. Of course, the killings, lynching and murders are common knowledge…but far more than that…happened. Happenings…that no one cares to discuss or talk about.
e.g. In l904 black sharecroppers Luther Holbert and his wife were chained to a tree and a audience
of 600 white spectators enjoyed treats like deviled eggs, lemonade and whiskey in a festive atmosphere while Mr. and Mrs. Holbert had first their fingers chopped off one by one, followed by their ears, followed by a severe beating that left Mr. Holbert with one eye dangling from it's factured socket, followed by "spirals...of raw, quivering flesh" being extracted from both Holberts via corkscrew before the couple were finally burned alive. And as they were drawing their last breath the last words they would hear were the jeers of n**ger, n**ger, n**ger…a word that is
today condoned and embraced by descendants of people such as the likes of a Mr. & Mrs.
Holbert.
It’s not just enough to no longer want to embrace this word, but we need to, and must understand—WHY?—we shouldn’t be embracing it, for its meaning and PURPOSE far exceeds that of a racial slur.
At the NAACP's Northeastern Regional Conference the youth/college division of the NAACP held a mock funeral for the word n**ger. It's nothing but a ceremonial display but it makes an excellent point. Read the story by clicking the link below:
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-nword0421.artapr21,0,3863223.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
The book Bury That Sucka! A Scandalous Love Affair With The N-word, is written in a manner that all can understand. The points are well taken and the wording is easy to follow. There are quotes from great people in our history including Martin Luther King, Jr., Albert Einstein, Mark Twain and many, many others. There is a mixture of history with honesty, love with life, and education with effects. This is a great book for educators, parents, managers, professionals, newsmen, and anyone else wanting an in-depth look at the N-word, the effects and the solutions.
Book is available online, Barnes&Noble.com, Amazon.com and all of the major bookstores nationwide, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks, etc. If your local bookstore doesn’t have it in stock simply request that they order it for you, but you will need to supply them with the ISBN # 1-4137-9269-3. To learn more about the author and book please visit: http://www.burythatsucka.com or call 301-695-1707 (publisher).
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
“Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on ‘til victory is won”
The above quote is a line from the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing.
First in l863 the signing of the Proclamation of Emancipation then the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill…freedom triumphantly prevails? Yet, the end of one journey signifies the beginning of another…the responsibilities and obligations of assimilating this freedom…the rising sun of new challenges.
Presently, there are some pressing issues enveloping the Black community, i.e. economic deprivation, black on black crime, homelessness, drugs, gangs and the list goes on. What happened? And how do we resolve these issues? Has the Black community, since l965, been retrogressing?
Facts indicate that tremendous strides have indeed been made. The doors of opportunity have opened up in many directions. Corporate , television, the political world, and statesmanship, etc.; consequently, most of white America looks at black America and say…My goodness! Equal opportunity is working you should have nothing to complain about. Of course, when you look at one side of this coin the picture is very encouraging, but there is another side that commands attention.
Figures from Human Rights Watch show that while Blacks comprise 13% of the nation’s population they constitute 30% of those arrested, 49% of those imprisoned and that Black men were incarcerated 9.6 times the rate of White men. Simultaneously there are now more young Black males in prison than college. The typical white family has 14 times as much wealth as the typical black family who generally earns approximately 56 cents for every dollar earned by white families.
This disparity, is it solely the result of a racist institutionalized system? Suppose we go back to the 60s and take another look at all that has transpired from then up to present day. During the 60s civil rights struggle, religious leaders, civil rights leaders, our black newspapers were all there to help fight the fight against oppression and segregation. Now we are faced with an enigma, a new found freedom, and what to do with it. What was once group survival now is evolving into individual survival and to an even greater extent class survival with the middle class being the sole beneficiary of social and economical gain. Abruptly void of leadership a community was left to flounder and fin for itself. Many of the goals of the Civil Rights Movement were essentially goals for easier assimilation for middle class people, and the working class and impoverished people didn’t get too much out of it. In the past, black communities had integrated middle class and lower class working people all in the same area. Now, the middle class was no longer residing in the same area where disadvantaged people lived. So the models and the leadership that was available on a community local level were no longer available. And therefore, the leadership that developed out of the civil rights struggle, which essentially reflected middle class values and middle class concerns, didn’t deal with the problems of the impoverished. The stigma of a leadership vacuum opened up the door for the hip hop movement replenished with lyrics of rap music. Rappers take center stage and become pied pipers for a leaderless generation promoting misogyny, violence, gangsta way of life anything and everything that construed a debased way of living. As a result the hearts and minds of a generation of children were affected in a negative way many of whom who learned to see no value in work ethics, learning and morality. In the mid 80s a rap group called N.W.A. synonym for N***az With Attitude popularized gangsta rap espousing hardcore lyrics. Lyrics that glorified and promoted gunfights, crack trade, denigration of women and blatant usage of the N-word. What actions did the Black community take with this display of irreverence towards their community? Absolutely NONE! Our religious leaders were as quiet as a church mouse and our Black newspapers were as mute as their typewriters were silent. Instead of our civil rights leaders leading us on the path of enlightenment, moral and mental development it was the rappers taking control of the minds of our youth leading them down the pathway of self-debasement. During the mid 90s Michael Jackson attempted to use the words kike and hymie in a song which the Jewish community found to be very offensive. Consequently, Michael removed the words and issued an apology. As wicked as the music industry may be it wasn’t about to degrade their loved ones, anything considered to be detrimental to Jews, regardless of its context was and is unacceptable. As much as the music industry loves money it would not allow disrespect of the power base for any reason. Black America what was your position? Where were the boycotts and the outcries while the rappers were poisoning the minds of your youth and for the most part still are? There is an unwritten law or sentiment within the black community thou shall not speak ill of another Black. Do not air out your dirty laundry in public which makes sense and understandable only IF you are taking care of business otherwise. However, if issues detrimental to the over-all well being of the community are not being addressed then the only other alternative is to make it a public issue not allowing things to perpetually go unabated. Forty-three years removed from 1964 and the state of affairs throughout the Black community is on a life support. Black on black crime, gangs, drugs, high volume of incarcerations, probations, parole, problems in schools such as suspensions, expulsions and poor performances are not just externally caused conditions but internal as well. Internal conditions as related to the Black community. African Americans have very good individual survival instincts but are totally lacking in group survival instincts. Generally, those of you who do make it have no inclination to reach back and help others. You have not been indoctrinated to help one another but have been propagandize to demean and degrade one another with the n-word. A racist definition that’s drenched in ignorance and degradation. You will not fight to help each other but will fight to defend your rights to call one another n**ger. It doesn’t matter if one has a PhD or never made it through elementary school the inducement to use this word reigns supreme. In year 2006 it is estimated that as a community Blacks spent more than $600 billion dollars making other groups of people rich and yet can’t resolve the problems of their own community. Since l965 and onward, you seem to have lost sight of an inalienable fact, there is a price to pay for freedom. You must be willing and prepared to hold yourself accountable for your own actions. You know how to manipulate oppressors and how to survive draconian conditions but freedom, so far, has proven to be somewhat of the Black community’s Waterloo. Complete FREEDOM still eludes you. There is one final Bastille to overcome and then you can at last claim total and complete victory; freedom from a sinister word that psychologically links you to a very deep, dark, ugly and diabolical past, which has an unsuspecting affect on your present day live. It can’t be sanitized, cleansed, inverted or redeemed as a culturally liberating word. It is more than a word, it is a Power—a Power—which virtually has a community of people mesmerized and mentally enslaved…it is the N-word…the Trojan horse of the African American community courtesy of a subjugated past. To despise and be ashamed of your ancestors is self assimilated. To bring honor and recognition to your forefathers of their sacrifices and struggles brings a synergy of freedom that is yet to be manifested. It is an abomination to take a word that was used to dehumanize and justify all acts of atrocities upon ascendants of African Americans and embrace it affectionately and endearingly with tender loving care. The ancestors of African Americans have never been laid to rest in peace. It is time to let go of the very word that kept them gripped in terror and fear. It is time to show them some self-respect, dignity, honor and pride and by doing so we extend the same to ourselves. It is time to break that last link to an ominous, dark and dastardly past…the N-word. Yes, let’s make our forefathers proud of us…as we too should be proud of their bravery, fortitude, stalwartness and courage; then and only then will the synergy of freedom finally manifest itself…and then our ancestors can finally rest in peace. H. Lewis Smith is the author of Bury that Sucka and Founder/CEO of the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. http://www.theunitedvoices.org
March 19, 2007, on the Larry King Live show Chris Rocks makes it very clear through his very best Steppin Fetchit imitation that Blacks are to be ridiculed and laughed at and not to be taking seriously. He made it very clear that he has every intention to continue to disrespect the memories of his ancestors by making a mockery of their bravery, stalwartness, courage and fortitude by taking the very word (the n-word) that was used to dehumanize them and embrace it shamelessly and immorally.
Unlike the past, it can no longer be acceptable for Blacks the like of a Chris Rock to carry out the will of racist groups such as the KKK, Skinheads, etc. by casting aspersions upon the African American community by continually implicating the community to a racist definition saturated with carnage, ignorance and degradation.
Defiant use of the incorrigible n-word is now looked up as an abomination to the canonized memories of those who were dehumanized and subjects of genocidal conditions. It must not…and will no longer be taking lightly…the sacrifices, ordeals and struggles of the ascendants of African Americans who were looked upon as being inhuman and thus were labeled the n-word. Chris Rock whose allegiance to a word that serves as a mockery and a slap in the face to ascendants of African American, a word that is synonymous to spitting on the graves of African American ancestors is considered to be a sell out to his ancestors and the African American community and is hereby placed on the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. Benedict Arnold Hall of Shame list. To learn more about the Benedict Arnold list please go to http://www.theunitedvoices.org.
On Monday, February 26th, 2007, New York City Councilman Comrie conducted a hearing requesting a Resolution to symbolically ban use of the n-word. The reaction has been fast and furious. Chris Rock’s reaction as reported by the news media was as follows:
"What, is there a fine? Am I going to get a ticket?" Rock mocked when asked about the City Council move. "Do judges say, '10 years, n**ger!"'
"Enough real bad things happen in this city to worry about how I am going to use the word."
This sentiment and attitude offered by Chris Rock is reflective of many other African Americans and non-blacks as well. Which is...the use of the n-word is irrelevant and inconsequential. It is often times said that it is just a word, there are more important things to do why are we wasting all this time on something as trivial as this? On Wednesday, February 27th the New York City Council unanimously passed the Resolution.
Now the sky is suppose to be falling, the First Amendment is being challenged, big brother is taking over. Don’t they (the council) have better things to do with their time? First of all the First Amendment is not being threatened nor challenged this is a SYMBOLIC Resolution and second the NYC council needs to be commended for stepping up and taking a stand. Why is that important?
First and foremost for the past 400 years the desires and wants of African Americans have been insignificant and irrelevant. There is a mind set in this country both black and white that African Americans have a place to stay in and that is the place of being someone’s n***er. And when there is an attempt to leave this place there is an uproar from those whites who are not accustomed to Blacks being independent of thought, and to have the incentive to take control of their fate and destiny and re-define themselves without permission is blasphemous. Then you have those Blacks who are in an uproar over it all because like crabs in a barrel they don’t have the will, intestinal fortitude and desire to re-define themselves, refuse to leave this comfort zone and will come up with all kinds of pseudo-intellectual reasons as to why it’s okay to be defined as a racist definition prevaded in ignorance and degradation.
The n-word is more than just a word...it is an image. You either use your mind power and create your own image or someone else will create an image for you. Almost 400 years ago an image was created for the ascendants of African Americans and was labeled n***er. This is an image that was forced and beaten into the minds of a race people up until as recently as the 1960’s. Blacks have ingenuously since, voluntarily taken over from there. The n-word is the final link in the chain to true mental freedom. It must and will be broken. And this is why, though symbolic in nature , what the New York City council took upon themselves to do is so significant. It’s a step in the right direction to break that final link in the chain. It’s imperative that we distance ourselves from the lingering effects of an unjust system which is what the n-word is connected to.
A People without a voice can not be heard and the fact that the NYC council lent it’s voice to the elimination of the n-word movement has discombobulated a lot of people. The n-word is part of American history, same as the Boston Tea Party, Civil War, etc. and therefore its historical immutable meaning will never disappear, its etched in history. Reality dictates that technically you will never ban or abolish the word itself, but you certainly can refrain from disrespecting one another with it. A word that is a metaphor for all that’s evil. You can not eradicate history and the true meaning of this word will exist forever in infamy.
You may still have questions such as why are our communities in decline -- ravaged by crime, unemployment and despair? How is it that our "spending power" exceeds many nations, but is not directed at solving our problems? How is it that we have failed to realize the visions of Douglass, Garvey, Malcolm, and King?
If so then I have a question for you, are you assuming that the n-word with its psychological and traumatic intent to destroy, maim or cripple the minds of a race of people is in no way connected to any of this? To under-estimate the power of this word (a word that has brought about death and destruction) can prove to be a gross error and it is the fate and destiny of a race of people that’s hanging in the balance. This is a gamble you should not be taking...bury that sucka, stop using that word towards one another.
You must stop ridiculing and laughing at yourselves. You can not and must not allow the opinions of others to dampen your enthusiasm, restrain your joy, and stifle your creativity in the pursuit of re-defining yourself.
