4 posts tagged “nas”
One’s level of self-esteem—whether healthy or unhealthy—is a direct result of the environment and is deeply influenced by daily interactions with family, school, peer group, work place, and community.
Self-esteem is the foundation of self image, independent thought, and individuality. It can encourage us to leap bounds beyond the grandest measure, or it can discourage us from pursuing a goal before it even has the ability to ripen into a full thought. Self-esteem is the result of one’s own self-perception—the way one sees oneself in relation to their environment—and strongly reflects the level of self-value one attaches to self.
For years on end, the term “n**ger” has been used in the plight to keep black African-Americans oppressed and miles shy of achieving their God-given potential. Black African-Americans were taught to perceive themselves as something far less than human, and to devalue themselves—to be “n**gers”. As a result of the plight’s effectiveness, healthy self-esteem runs at a deficient level throughout the black African-American community.
Some black African-Americans have realized the ramifications of the term “n**ger”, understand the significance attached to a healthy self-esteem, and refuse to be referred to as a n**ger. This is because they realize the term is an antagonist to a healthy self-persona, and will not permit their own self-perception and self-value to degrade so low that they to refer to themselves as such.
On the contrary, some black African-Americans feel an affinity to the word n**ger—this is what they were taught, so this is their truth. The humility of descending to the level of the n-word is unfeigned submission of one’s mind having been overwhelmed with a weighty sense of their innate misery and self-contempt. Many black African-Americans, unfortunately, are proponents for the self-inflicted use of the n-word. Fortunes have been made by spreading a culture of gangster rap–with its glorification of crime, disrespect for women, saggin' pants, and the perpetuation of a dysfunctional vocabulary. Although this culture has contributed some positivity to the African American race in proving to youths that African Americans can attain success and own God-given creative writing abilities, this “culture” also ensures that countless young Black people will never be able to perform successfully and professionally at a job interview, or function as a civil member of society. Commentary has been made that gangsta rap is an avenue to vent one’s anger. No doubt that anger can spark passion, innovation, and ingenuity. However, the passion and innovation must be communicated in a positive manner to stimulate quality and civility, rather than the glamorization of violence and crime, dolling up drug addictions and the degradation of one’s self-perception. Some gangster rappers argue that they have no impact on the actions of their listeners; however, words are powerful. Whether the story lines are true or not, the avid listeners will perceive them to be such and be influenced by the words of their favorite rapper. Rap can be used as a positive medium to build up a generation of productive society members, or, it can continue to be used as a way to make a buck off of degrading and continually contributing to the demise of the black African-American community. …Perhaps, and almost apparently, these gangster rappers have a poor self-image. The latest exhibition of a rapper’s low self-esteem is Nas’ soon-to-be released video entitled “Be a Nigger Too.” In this video, Nas extends an invitation to the world to join him in reinforcing dehumanization, subjugation, and oppression in a supreme effort to keep this word alive. Unknowingly, due to Nas’ lack of perception and failure to realize the level of influence he exudes, he is sabotaging the sacred memories of his black ancestry in this preposterous attempt at keeping the n-word alive. There is a scene in Roots where Kunta Kinte is whipped mercilessly until he calls himself by the slave name, Toby—after which time the slave master says, “Alright, that’s a good n**ger.” This is a scene re-enacted in real life more times than can be counted. For centuries, the white world has impressed upon the minds of the black world that there is such a thing as a n**ger, and Blacks have bought it lock, stock and barrel. A healthy self-esteem provides one the courage to try new things and the power to believe in self. Self-esteem promotes self-respect, and when one respects him/herself, the rest of the world will know that individual demands to be respected by them. With a healthy self-esteem, one doesn’t look for excuses to endear themselves to a word that once was used to justify the dehumanizing, butchering and slaughtering of their ancestors. In fact, quite the contrary: They will, instead, find such a fiendish word as n**ger to be totally unacceptable. Granted the common or modern day definition of the n-word is nothing more than a racial slur, however, the historical meaning as it is applied to ascendants of African Americans is etched in stone in the annals of history and can never be rationalized away. As James Baldwin once so succinctly said: “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a n**ger.” Our ancestors did not fit the description of what was considered a n**ger, nor did they deserve to be categorized in such a manner. Once one truly understands what the description of a n**ger was—and still is, a sane person would come to realize that there is no such thing as a n**ger—at least not pertaining to them! One of the greatest powers in the world is the power to define reality and make others accept it, even when it's to their disadvantage. This is the devious strategy the white world deployed into the minds of the black race with the word n**ger. Blacks can be and are complicit in maintaining white supremacy by giving into nihilism (the n-word) and immorality in the face of the endless struggle to surmount inequality, rather than proceeding through life on their own autonomy. The n-word is a phenomenon crippling the black community and the civic will to fight it. Let go of the past. Stop breathing life into the n-word, which is killing off the black community’s self-esteem and opportunities at ultimate success. Bury that sucka. Finally claim and live in full freedom. Blacks are NOT n**gers—there is no such thing! This anti n-word movement has nothing to do with the white man’s use of the word, this is about the black race’s pathetic acceptance of the word. This acceptance must be derailed. A healthy self-esteem epitomizes personal responsibilities and holds one accountable for their actions. It entails the meeting of life’s challenges through which a healthy state of mind enables one to break free from the restraints of an oppressed mental state. A healthy self-esteem provides the encouragement, refuge, and drive one requires to successfully persevere life’s obstacles. Most people admire and respect strong individuals who have won great success by manifesting will power and self-discipline. People in all walks of life with sheer will power, self-discipline and ambition have learned new skills and improved their lives. Myriads of examples exist where African Americans have achieved ambitious goals without the need of referring to themselves—or audience members—as the n-word.
The Nas Legionnaires—a herd of misguided, pea-brain sycophants melodically influenced when Nas strums his flute of musical ignorance—are absolutely ecstatic about the new rapper’s single, “Be A Nigger Too.”
“Be A N**ger Too” is co-produced by Salaam Remi and Big Jack. The song explores the media’s impact on peoples’ perception of the n-word; pardons Eminem for using the idiom in his rhymes; and sustains and invites listeners to “be a n**ga too”—despite the historic plight of black people and the satirizing nature the term reflects upon the African-American community. The song prefaces Nas’ CD—with an expected July 1, 2008, release date, “Nigger.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In line with the great Reverend’s ideology, the idea that blacks can use the n-word and non-blacks cannot is nothing more than an unjustified double standard—as is any other double standard—that must be immediately discarded. For an African American to utilize the term says that they do not respect themselves or the constant struggles of their ancestors; for a non-black to use the idiom expresses their disrespect for the African-American culture, and keeps alive the inferior mindsets that have oppressed the black community for centuries. No benefit comes from the use of this term. If it is not good for one group, it is not good for anyone.
However, Nas and supporters seem to disregard the “double standard” and its true effects. With the leaked preview of his new song, Nas is “officially” extending an invitation to the world—black or non-black—to use the word and continue contributing to the demise of the African-American community. This is the epitome of imprudence.
African-American ascendants were robbed of heart, mind, body, soul and manhood. Violent mental abuse was perpetuated upon them, and—although they were the complete counter of the ideologies thrust upon them—they were forced to accept a self-image of being lazy, sex fiends, thieves, drunks, irresponsible, moral degenerates, stealthy and cunning, mindless, heartless and inferior scum—something to be despised and considered worthless.
The ascendant male was further coerced into having lack of love and 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. For the black male was viewed as the most intimidating and greatest challenge to the white male. The white male knew that if he could manipulate and erode the black man’s self-image, the black man would not view himself as a superior or equal, but as an inferior. The white male bruised the black male’s self pride and dignity by constantly referring to him, his wife, and child as nothing more than low-down, useless, filthy “n**gers”, and treating them as such.
Under the jeers of “n**ger, n**ger, n**ger,” African-American victims were mutilated, castrated, skinned, roasted, burned, hanged and shot. Under the laws of the land at the time, this conduct was acceptable since the victims were considered to be nothing more than n**gers.
This is truly the intent of the n-word: It is a self-destructive mind control that simply and continuously beats up one’s perspective of him/herself. Its use maintains the image and meaning that was browbeaten and physically beaten into the hearts, minds and souls of African Americans for more than 300 years.
The use of the n-word is a 400-year-old practice that is still charging full-steam ahead, and must come to a screeching halt. For more than 300 years, “n**ger” was a metaphor for a race of people considered to be sub-human and three-fifths of a person. The slur owns an abominable history that, for all intent and purpose, is etched in stone—regardless of its present day metamorphosis into a term of endearment, or representation as a by-product of “the struggle.” Whatever the new-age justification, the n-word’s very use is inappropriate and counterproductive to human relations; the term devours any level of respect—given or received, cultural pride and dignity, and dehumanizes whomever the term is used toward.
In 1986, a rap group called NWA (N**gaz With An Attitude) formed. From that point up to present day, the imprint of the self-destructive nature of the n-word has become most apparent. Rap lyrics debased women—characterizing black women as nappy headed ho’s, b*tches and tricks; humiliated the black race; and glamorized violence, reinforcing the historical intent of the image of a “n**ger.” Rap music, pop-culture celebrities, and most often poverty-stricken fans combined to create an alluring "cool-pose culture” of self-destructive behaviors.
"N**ger" cannot be sanitized in any form to make it an acceptable term because of its malevolent history—not unless it is possible to undo all of the violent and wanton atrocities perpetrated upon the subjugated, all of which is embedded in and communicated through this term. Since returning to the past is not likely, the possibility of undoing the term’s intent is impossible. "N**ger" is a symbol certifying that brainwashing has worked, that if an ideology is continuously stamped into the psyche of a people, they will voluntarily apply it to themselves.
Nas certainly has the freedom and right to name his album whatever he wants; however, back in the mid-l990’s when Michael Jackson attempted to use the word “kike” in one of his songs, he quickly discovered the difference between the Jewish community and Black community: respect and self-respect is imperative in the Jewish Community. Michael quickly removed the word from his song and issued an apology.
Because the Jewish and Black communities have faced a great deal of discrimination alike, the two communities basically face the same issues of fighting hard to gain back their cultural respect. Thus, one can’t help but to pose the question: Is it likely that a Jewish person would come out with a CD entitled “Kike”? Possibly! However, with the uniting and sternness of the Jewish community in demanding cultural respect, one could unequivocally answer this question with a firm “NO”! This is because the Jewish community would never be moronic enough to support the sells of such an album. As well, record companies would never be naïve enough to publish something of this nature because they know that the Jewish community would fight them every step of the way, sending them through hellish litigation.
Artists along with the record companies are making ungodly sums of revenue from these types of albums. Bear in mind these very same recording companies are making mega millions off the n-word but would never consider doing the same with the k-word or other more pressing issues: Back in the early 90s Ice-T came out with a song entitled Cop Killer making police brutality the center of attention. So much pressure was placed on Warner Bros. that Ice-T had to remove the song from his album Body Count.
So why do Black people such as Nas and some others think lesser of themselves and their race? Why are they selling their souls? Why do some in the Black community support such conduct? The debasement of blacks has always been an acceptable commodity that sold; whereas, disparaging remarks about any other ethnic group and/or government institution is held to a different standard. Like it or not, the actions of the black participants in this machination reinforces the psychological true intent of the n-word—mental enslavement.
It must be recognized that Nas and all the others who contribute to the
debasement of the black race serves as evidence to a last link in the chain of a subjugated past. This link will never be broken until association with the n-word is obliterated.
It’s most unfortunate that some African Americans have allowed themselves to be bamboozled into thinking it’s okay to relate to a word which served as a metaphor to crucify, castrate, torture, murder, maim and rape their ancestors. They have elected to sell their souls for thirty pieces of silver, never realizing they are “the inside man” carrying out the 400-year-old plight to undermine the African-American race—their own people.
The ancestors of African Americans have never been able to rest in peace. Instead of continually spitting on their graves and canonized memories, it is time to let go of the very word that kept them gripped in terror and fear. Time has come to show them some respect, dignity, honor and pride. In doing so, we extend the same to ourselves, helping to eliminate the ever-present self-hatred. It is time to break that last link to an ominous, dark and dastardly past by eliminating the use of “n**ger.”
