"Fat Nick" Minucci--racist or scapegoat?

Question

I've had many debates with people regarding this case and it intrigues me how the first thing out of people's mouths is the fact that "he's from Howard Beach" or "remember Yusef Hawkins?" By know means do I intend to give the impression that there was no crime committed here. But a hate crime? Although it is very possible that Minucci does harbor some sentiments of disdain for people of color, I don't know that to be fact. ****** or *****--that is the question. It's unfortunate, but hip-hop culture has taken the sting out of the word and made it acceptable to utter ***** without a second thought, whether referrin' to man, woman, black, white, latino, it doesn't matter. Minnucci, unfortunately, is a vicitm of that culture. From the jewlery to the truck right down to the clothes and the music, accept it or not, he is hip hop and as a result, ***** is just another way to address someone. If he was white and grew up in Harlem, would it be a hate crime?

Answer 1

Scapegoat.

Answer 2

Don't care when or where somebody uses that word to address someone else, it's bad. For Black people, it takes us backwards in time. It does not help us move forward. The Black people out there using it to address each other just don't understand the implications. I have to excuse the kids because they don't know any better, yet. If you think I'm crazy, I wonder what you think Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and some of the other Black folk who died trying to get that word behind us would think. They would probably think their deaths were in vain.

Answer 3

I don't like the word ... I think it would be considered highly inflammatory if I were to say that to a black person (I'm white), and I'm every uncomfortable with any racial slur, regardless of how it happens to emmesh itself into our culture. I'm old enough to remember when that word was never acceptable.

Hate crime? Probably not. Scapegoat? Maybe ... but only because of ignorant people with too much anger built up inside themselves.

Answer 4

I would say scapegoat since his girlfriend is a latina so obviously isnt a total racist

Answer 5

my question is why is it allowable for african americans ( or blacks if you prefer ) to call each other this word but if a white person says this to them they are charged with discrimination?
either way it is a horrible and UN-ACCEPTABLE word in my vocabulary.

Answer 6

seems like he has a problem with black people who try to rob him; unfortunately got the wrong guy...