I'd like to know what the implications of the word/term '*****' are, and why it's insulting to use the term to

Question

describe African Americans. Is there any historical reason behind it? Why does it insult/hurt Africans? I haven't used the word, but I've nocticed/heard about how fights start because of the use of the word. Please explain thoroughly, thank you.

Answer 1

Are you from another country?

Read the book ROOTS by Alex Haley and you will understand.

Basically here's the breakdown:

The slaves were taken from Africa.
A country in Africa is NIGER./NIGERIA. So the slaves were called *******. The word ****** today symbolizes all of the horrors that the black race had to endure when they were slaves.

After the Emancipation of the slaves, it was determined that ***** would be the right word to use because ******=SLAVE.

At the end of the Equal Rights movement, when there was some progress to end racism, the word ***** was said to be too closely related to the word ******.

To a black person, the word ****** and ***** are almost the same.

Answer 2

From the 18th century to the mid-20th century, "*****" (later capitalized) was considered the correct and proper term for slaves and freed slaves. It fell out of favor by the 1970s in the United States. In current English language usage, "*****" generally is considered acceptable in a historical context or in the name of older organizations, as in the United ***** College Fund, and is used more commonly by those born before the post World War II baby boom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/*****#In_English
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/*****
African Americans usually have some European ancestors.
This guy says the only thing that is ever really black is blood from the heart of a dragon.
http://spikedhumor.com/articles/20775/Ask_A_Ninja_Question_1_Ninja_Mart_Store.html

My email did not go through because your email address has not been confirmed.
These are some links to answer your question about ninjas.

I think she got the idea from this t-shirt.
http://store.cottonfactory.com/tee-0283.html
This guy made me think it might be a bad idea.
http://spikedhumor.com/articles/20922/Ask_A_Ninja_Question_3_Ninja_Training.html
http://spikedhumor.com/Default.aspx?p=search&query=ninja

Answer 3

***** means black. It's a root word that is seen in several languages (Negre, Noir etc). Like many words and symbols from the past, it has come to represent something negative. For example, coolie means labourer. That's what they called the labourer Indians bought into South Africa. But now it has become a racial slur. The same can be said for other words like Oriental, or Red Indian, or the confederate flag. Their usage in past contexts have evolved to represent a prejudiced view and hence have a bigotted connotation.

Answer 4

It is not ***** (meaning black, as in Montenegro, black mountain} it is the slang term "ni...." which has always been repugnant to black people because it implies slavery. Ironically, the term "*********" was originally used for cheap thieving white people from Europe.An educated person uses the word to describe character not ethnic origin.

Answer 5

I guess they are not teaching very well in schools these days because I do not understand how anyone could ask this question unless you have been asleep for the past 200 years.

Answer 6

Everything you need to know about the word "*****" and then some.

http://www.answers.com/topic/*****

Answer 7

Thank you MG very well explained.