Jesse Jackson's Operation N-word Freedom - hypocrisy and silliness or a useful, valid cause?

Question

http://www.spin.com/features/news/2006/11/061128_nword/

Answer 1

You know, Jesse's a trip. Sometimes he seems a complete wacko and other times he makes very good sense. I think he's right on target with this one though. I agree with many people in the black community - Oprah, and my stepmom for example - that feel the use of that word, even the altered use among blacks, is never anything but degrading and just causes the word to be used carelessly by those who are ignorant. We all know white people who love to try and "act" black, talking ghetto and using the "n" word because they want to fit in with that culture. They are laughed at and deserve the derision they receive for doing so. So even though many black people feel their use of the word negates the negativity of it for them in their culture, it still serves to propel the word forward as fodder for those who just aren't too bright. I can't even count the times I have chastised someone for using that word and have them reply back to me "well black people say it why can't i?" At that point I realize they are too much of a moron to even continue with the conversation.

Answer 2

I've always though that the context of a word had much more to do with the offensiveness of something rather than the word it self. For instance, an African American can use the N word and it is fine...however if you put a certain spin or tone to the words "African American " it can be just as offensive.

What needs to be eradicated is the myth that there is something different, be it superior, inferior, violent, (whatever the stigma of choice may be) with respect to blacks versus any other race. If this idea can be dispelled, then truthfully, the N word could be a compliment and not a derrogatory term.

As long as there are rasicts there will be racists terms.
(Yes..perfect world...I know)

Answer 3

Jesse Jackson is a silly hypocrite who is only doing this for the attention. NOBODY should be using the N-word, especially black people. HOWEVER, there are other issues that black people should be focusing their time, energy and attention on, such as crime, poverty, gang violence, drugs, and education. But no, Jesse is once again playing for media attention instead of working within the black community to actually tackle some real issues.

Answer 4

For the first time I have ever witnessed, he is addressing this as a problem ALL people need to address. Every other issue I've seen Jesse get on, he's always blamed the whites for.

While I do not believe he will succeed, I'm glad to see he isn't practicing his usual hypocrisy of treating this as a "white" problem.

Answer 5

I say we just call black people black

it started out as n'ers, then colored, then *****, then black, then afro, and now african american. What is next?

EDIT: But as I read the article, it is one thing he is doing good, he is not pushing for only whites not being able to say the word, but everybody.

Would there be a controversy, if that comedian was black and said everything that he did? I think not

Answer 6

Does that include the word ******? Some black academics said that saying that was aok, as long as you were black. But should never be used by whites. Frankly, the word would have died out if it weren't for blacks using it.

Answer 7

Jesse Jackson is an embarrassment and has lost all sense of shame.

Answer 8

Jessie is the most oppressive "leader" there is for the black community. He convinces them that whites hate them, its whites fault for all of their troubles and generally give blacks the tools to let them fail.

Black America needs to stop listening to him, Al Sharpton and the rest of the like who do nothing than suck money out of them and tell them they will fail. If black America was to succeed across the board, Jessie and Al would not have a "job". You don't think they are going to let that happen, do you?

There needs to be a movement to find quality roll models.

How about Colin Powell or Condi Rice? They are quality people! How come black America wont embrace them?

Answer 9

It would be great if no one used the word, but that's not going to happen. As soon as you "ban" something, it makes it that much more attractive. Though it's offensive, it's just a word and it can't REALLY hurt anyone. People give it too much power, and banning it would make it even more powerful.

Answer 10

Jesse Jackass does more harm to blacks in one month than Michael Richards could do on a stage spewing slurs.