10 “N-Word” Scandals Of 2011

10 “N-Word” Scandals Of 2011

There are several theories about the origin of “n*gger” and its slang version, “n*gga.” Wikipedia traces the word to simply meaning “black” (as in skin color) in the romance languages; whereas, a blogger has found roots for the word in Niger and Nigeria, where it means “king” and “queen.” While the Kemetic word “Negger” actually means the “golden one,” Merriam-Webster notes that the word is “usually offensive.”

 

However it is translated, the latter connotation has such emotional fuel that the Editor-in-Chief of a Dutch magazine recently resigned, after publishing a fashion article that referred to Rihanna as “de ultieme niggabitch.” Unfortunately, that N-word scandal is just one of many. Check out NewsOne’s top 10 “N-word” scandals of the year.

1. IN RHYME & VERSE

Maya Angelou said she was “surprised and disappointed” by Common using “the N-word” in a song, where she contributed a poem for his new album, “The Dreamer, The Believer.” She later called into 106 & Park, where Common appeared for an interview, to say:

I don’t think the word ‘disappointment’ quite makes it.  I was ‘surprised.’  I know that Common is brilliant. [bet.com]

2. PRESIDENTIAL FACEBOOK SLUR

Jules Manson, a former candidate for city council in Carson, Calif., wrote, “Assassinate the f*cken n*gger and his monkey children,” in a Facebook post. Consequently, the Secret Service visited Manson’s home, combed through his computer, and declared the case an “open investigation.” [nydailynews.com]

3. SCHOOL GIRL DAZE

More than a dozen girls on Kenmore East High School’s basketball team were suspended for two days and one game, after teammate Tyra Batts, the only African-American player, claimed that the girls chanted, “One, two, three, n*gger,” before the opening game. The Buffalo News reported that the chant started as a joke five years ago between a White and Black player and became a ritual for the team. After the incident, Batts got into a fight with one of her teammates, who then reportedly called her a “Black piece of s*it.” [buffalonews.com]

4. GRAFFITI IN THE WINDOW

After her windows were stolen by thieves attempting to get scrap metal from the house she was fixing up for homeless people, a Flint, Mich., woman spray painted a message on a piece of plywood:

This house is a reflection of ignorant n*ggas.

When asked why she put up the controversial message she said:

Evidently I got my message across because you guys [the media] are here. Well done. I did what I was supposed to do … I know who I am. I know where I’m going so the word does not define me. Not at all. [newsone.com]

5. WHITE RAPPER

V-Nasty, a Caucasian and Vietnamese rapper who claims allegiance to the West Coast-based rhyme crew White Girl Mob, has been called to task for her use of “nigga” in her music, casual conversation and in an argument with a Black man, where she yelled, “N*gga, on my momma, n*gga,”  as she approached the man on the sidewalk. While rappers Mistah F.A.B. and Fat Joe are among those who have come to her defense on using the word, V-Nasty says:

I’m working on not using the N-word in my music and stuff, but on an everyday thing when I’m with my friends, I don’t feel like I should have to change anything. I just feel like I don’t wanna disrespect anybody, because I don’t know what other people have been through. It’s not like that in my city. I just feel like I’m gonna stop using it in my music, in a public eye. Other than that, I’m gonna continue to be myself. [xxl.com]

6. IT’S ALL LOVE, UNTIL THERE’S SAND

DJ Khaled, a Palestinian American born in New Orleans and raised in Florida, came under scrutiny for his use of “n*gga” in music and casual conversation. In a radio interview with DJ Green Lantern, he explains:

When I grew up, n*ggas used to call me sand n*gga. Now, that’s ignorant because there’s only one way to say it. You can’t say, ‘Yo, what up my sand nigga.’ That’s not the way we grew up in the streets.  I say it to Green Lantern [of Italian and Puerto Rican descent] all the time, ‘What up, my n*gga.’ That’s just love, that’s me greeting you with love.” [theybf.com]

7. FEMINIST’S COLORS

A photograph of Kelly Peterlinz, a White woman, holding up a sign that reads, “Woman is the N*gger of the world,” at the controversial feminist parade SlutWalkNYC circulated and ignited a Facebook debate. While Peterlinz wrote that she did not make the sign and apologized “for being photographed with it,” the woman who did make the sign, Erin Clark, wrote:

It’s a John Lennon song. It’s an incredibly moving feminist song that inspired me to act as a feminist. And since I love John Lennon more than anything in the world, and because I was attending a feminist protest, I was delighted by the connection I made with the two. I’m not trying to justify what I did necessarily, the fact is, I offended people and I’ve undermined the Slut Walk, and for that I apologize profusely. [racialicious.com]

8. HATE CRIME MENTALITY

White Mississippi teen Deryl Dedmon was charged with capital murder and a hate crime in the death of James Craig Anderson, after he and six others allegedly attacked Anderson in June. The teens, according to law enforcement officers, were partying and drinking and decided to “go f*ck with some n*ggers.” Anderson was beaten, run over with a Ford F-250 truck, and then left to die. Exclusive surveillance video of the killing was captured by a parking lot security camera. [cnn.com]

9. VENOM OF THE EXES

According to custody battle court documents filed at the end of last year, Halle Berry’s ex, Gabriel Aubry, called her a “ghetto n*gger” during an argument that left Berry “shaken and sobbing.” The year, the judge ruled to uphold a custody agreement that requires Aubry to be monitored while he is with his daughter. [clutchmagonline.com]

Apparently, Terrence Howard has also been reportedly abused by his spouse. The actor recently claimed that his estranged wife (who, he notes, is not Black) would get upset and scream:

“[I] never wanted to marry a n*gger in the first place,” and, “[I] definitely didn’t want to be the step-mother of some n*gger kids. [newsone.com]

10. THE VIEW AT THE CAMPSITE

Video of “The View” became viral when Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd, and Whoopi Goldberg discussed presidential candidate Rick Perry‘s lease of a campsite that had a rock at the entrance with the word “N*ggerhead” written on it. After hearing both Goldberg and Walters repeat the N-word while recounting the story, Shepherd said:

When I heard you [Goldberg] say it, it was fine … [but] I didn’t like the way you [Walters] said it … .“When White people say it, it brings up feelings in me. [huffingtonpost.com]

10 “N-Word” Scandals Of 2011
Sia Tiambi Barnes
Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:20:39 GMT