Why is racism so strong today as it was 50 years ago?

Question

I've been pondering this all week, so I decide to ask since the Micheal Richards incident. As an African-American female, I feel the word N*gga(i believe generation X has its own definition of this word) and N*gger are two different words just the same root word. Like to day, the word B*tch has four different meaning- either good and bad. So when is the N-word being taking to far when its racially accepted or culturally accepted? When you get a chance, go to dictionary.com and check both meanings

Answer 1

I think racism and the N-word may be two different things or two different levels. I am nearly 50 years old and grew up in an all white town. I have a very solid idea what the N-word means to me and cannot think of it as anything but the pure bile hatred that it was used with. It doesn't matter how you spell it, to say that word, and only that word, would get you slapped into a wall by my mother. I can't hear it without flinching.

Also remember, 50 years ago, black people were regularly tortured to death and no one looked for the killers. What happened to Mr. Byrd (I hope I have the name right), when he was drug to death behind a car, made national headlines. 50 years ago, it would have not made the local paper.

That a strange man who entertains by acting over the edge, went too far over the edge, doesn't really get my notice. That so many young people seem to have forgotten how much blood price was paid so that their children do not have to listen to this word as it is used against them saddens me.

Answer 2

Micheal Richards was out of control, like He was on drugs on something, he was just so angry and aggressive, like a dog ripping apart a steak from the bone, He just wouldn't let it go.
He was wrong, and should be very ashamed of His actions. With that being said so many African-American Comedians use that term, and People laugh about it. I don't think that is right either. I have always thought that close Friends would say it to each other to kind of desensitize it's impact, and meaning. In doing so it makes Some feel that it is alright to do the same, but it doesn't receive the same response.

I am sure if there were People on here 65 years of age and older They would tell You that it is not the same. But it needs to be better.

God made each of us, and He doesn't make any mistakes. Just know that You are loved, and that You, like Everyone, are a beautiful creation.

God Bless

Answer 3

Are you nuts!! There is nothing good about calling someone a B*tch. I don't know what type of people you hang out with, but if you all think its okay to call each other a b*tch, then you all need help!!

As far as the N-word, lets get real here. People know when they should and shouldn't use it. Obviously, if a white person uses it then most black people would get offended. But if the white person saids the N-word to their close friends and their close friends don't mind, then I gets its okay if that particular white person uses it. I am an african american female and to be honest I use the N-word all the time, but I never use it to try and belittle someone or disrespect them, you make the call!!

Answer 4

Assuming you're speaking of the racism between blacks and whites in the United States, I don't think racism is as strong as it was 50 years ago. 50 years ago we were just being allowed to vote. However, I've noticed a trend in the United States: when times get hard, racism rises. Some people don't know how to productively and sanely deal with anger and frustration. Some don't know how to accept responsibility for their own personal failures. These people will find a scapegoat when times get rough. This happens on both ends of the black v. white conflict.

The whole n-word debate is a backlash. It's like when your parents tell you not to go out with that bad boy at school and the more they forbid you, the more you are wont to disobey them. There are a lot of white people that want to just go up to a black person and say the n-word, just so that they can break a taboo.

What difference does it make what blacks call each other? We can decide on what we accept as proper for us whenever we so choose to. Everyone calls their mother, Mom, but do I call everyone's mothers Mom? No, because I only have one mother. This is analogous to the use of nicknames. Not everyone can call Richard, Dick, but his buddies can.

The more whites push the n-word debate, the more they prove that they should NOT use it. If they view it as a breach of free speech, tough noogies. I don't use racial epithets towards anyone, not because I'm afraid of going to jail or being sued, but out of respect and because I'm too damned high and mighty to lower myself to that sort of behavior.

There is also an assumption that if the dudes on hiphop songs use it, then all blacks use it. That is just plain ole BS. We got ****** in the mouth in my house if we used the n-word in any way, shape, or form.

Answer 5

just because someone drops the N bomb does it mean they are being racist? For instance black people call each other the N word a lot they don't have a problem with it until it is aid by a white person then all hell breaks lose.....What about the word cracker? under most circumstances its just a food till a black person says it then it has just as bad a meaning as the N bomb....But you turn on the TV to the comedy channel and you have people like Chris Rock using it like is going out of style.....Its funny I see racism only on the TV and the computer, out in public I never see it I wonder why that is!

Answer 6

I firmly do not believe that it is as bad as it was 50 years ago- my parents where the generation that would be racists- my father was a racist- and that meant he was prejudiced against anyone who wasnt a carbon copy of himself!!- This is a quote from him- "dont marry that Italian, he's the closest thing to a ngr you can get". Yes, he was Archie Bunker, but he was born in 1909 and he didn't slight one ethnicity over another, meaning, he was an equal opportunity for all races racist. His racism made me more aware of how wrong he was, and I think I speak for my generation, we are NOT racists because we grew up with parents/or parent that were!. As far as the N word, I do not think it is acceptable for Blacks to use it in ANY CONTEXT and especially on TV- "The Wire" for example, and not expect for others to use it--any racially biased name calling is offensive- no matter what color you are that is using those words.

Answer 7

I believe that Richards is a Freemason and believes he is one of the elite and getting talked down to by a so called n*gger really got to him. People in general are not as racist as they were. If everyone cares for and respects eachother we will all get along just fine. The best thing that can be done is to elect a whole new government in the US.

Answer 8

It exists on the grounds which you in basic terms helped proceed it. You introduced the situation up. I hadn't thought approximately race all nighttime, then you definately in basic terms jogged my memory. particular, perhaps there is not any such difficulty as race genetically as you say, yet cultures are diverse. confident, i believe individuals are ignorant to the certainty that they suspect one yet another to be racist, while, working example, as quickly as I lived in San Francisco, no one claimed to hate chinese language human beings, yet they have been aggravated with the aid of their lifestyle. Or greater advantageous yet, right here is something which you would be able to think of roughly: perhaps this is not any racism in any respect which you're seeing. perhaps what's somewhat occurring is financial status. of path, no one desires to believe that financial classification is diverse. We used to argue this each and all the time: what disgusts you greater, an exceptionally trashy black individual or an exceptionally trashy white individual. particularly everyone continuously spoke back the somewhat trashy white individual (and we are caucasian.) Or this scenerio: an precise dressed black guy who's smart and knowledgeable walks in for a job interview. He has his interview and the subsequent guy who walks in a greasy haired white trailer trash donning a tank appropriate. Who have been given the interest? particularly everyone could think of roughly this and continuously pronounced the black guy. So is it somewhat racism or is it financial classification?

Answer 9

Too many people are offended at the drop of hat, and therefore turn everything into a racial issue. You can call me just about anything you want and I don't care. I just consider the source and move on. If everybody looked at it this way, we'd have a lot fewer problems along these lines.

Answer 10

People wouldn't be as racist if race was just left alone but apparently people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson won't shut the hell up about something that happened 150 years ago. To get respect, you have to earn it and you don't do it by parading around the streets and yelling "Black power!" like a buffoon.

If you kept your black pride or whatever pride to yourself, there'd be less racism.