Of course I'm talking about the word nappy. I've heard it before but never identified it as being racist. I thought it was similar to the word "ugly" in that it's not a positive thing but can be used to describe just about anyone, regardless of color. I had a discussion with a co-worker about this (black female), and she said it's highly racist and dates back to the days of slavery. Please help educate an ignorant white guy on the history of this word. Leave link if you have one. Thanks.
2007-04-12 06:40:46 · 9 answers · asked by reesrob25 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Black people use the word nappy all the time. I heard the word growing up just about every day. I've talked with some of my white friends who've said they hate when their hair gets nappy. I told them to shut the hell up because they haven't seen nappy.
Bottom line: Get over it and go volunteer at the inner city soup kitchen if you really want to stand up for blacks. Funny thing is, most of the people who've voiced outrage haven't even done anything to forward the black cause anyway. They probably say nappy and n-word several times a week. I'm so over the hypocrisy.
2007-04-12 07:23:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it does go back to the days of slavery, etc. when blacks were seen as subhuman, though the actual word itself may be much older. They would be referred to as 'nappy headed little creatures' or 'savages'. It is 'just a word' which shouldn't be racist but it was used in a racist way for so long that it's not really acceptable anymore. It's just means woolly or kinky but it's more acceptable (I think) to use that word when referring to an animals fur rather than the hair of a human. These days, 'nappy' is said when referring to something 'bad' that's happening to someones hair because usually, that's not a style people are into these days. "You're hair is getting nappy, it's time to fix it" - is NOT a racist comment. "You are a nappy-headed ho" IS racist because is making a generalization. I'm sure a lot of those people who are referred to as being 'nappy-headed' don't even have a hairstyle that shows that!! In that case, their hair isn't even 'nappy' anymore so it's just a pointless and mean comment.
The reason everyone is all up in arms about the fact that Don Imus used the word is because he used it unnecessarily. Everyone knew he was talking about black girls, there was no reason to point out the natural texture of their hair so it came off as very racist. It would be just as offensive as if he called them 'woolly headed'. He also added on the word 'hos" which really didn't help.
2007-04-12 13:54:19 · answer #2 · answered by Pico 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your co-worker is right. I'm not sure if the word actually dates back to slavery, but it is VERY derogatory when used against black people. It's like insulting a Jewish person by saying they have a "Jew nose" It is not as bad as calling them the K word, but when the nose comment is used in a negative way or even joking, you will offend people. I am so glad you honestly asked this question, instead of just saying "What's the big deal?" It's just like other insults against minorities, if you are not black , Mexican, whatever, you just won't understand and most likely won't find it offensive because you don't know the history or full meaning of the insult or slur.
2007-04-12 13:48:40 · answer #3 · answered by !!! 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think all words are fine long as they are in context. Imus was out of context with most of his viewers. He was using references from movies that most of his viewers/listeners (Caucasian) have never seen. Thus, to those viewers/listeners he was just making unprovoked remarks.
When a figure makes insulting racist comments he helps fuel peoples racist instincts. It is in a way saying its okay to demean people if "you" think it is funny. The problem with what Imus said was... he was not being funny. It had no punch line or point, he was just insulting women who did nothing to him.
He has the right to free speech but his sponsors have the right to pull their support as well, and Al Sharpton shouldn't act like the voice of "all black people", he needs to tone it down.
Haha, to answer you original question (clearly)... Its the way he used the word nappy. It was a way to depict the women as "ghetto" or yes "ugly"... I mean what the hell does what they look like have to do with Basket Ball?
2007-04-12 13:45:45 · answer #4 · answered by Satanic Panic 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am just glad that something else came along and took the headlines and T.V. news off Anna Nicole.
As with everything else, people will beat this to death and then bring it back to life four or five times before it goes away.
Americans are a strange bunch of people.
2007-04-12 14:05:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nappy is used when referring to tangled, dried out, messy hair. If you can't get a comb through it without pulling out a chunk of hair--it's nappy.
2007-04-12 15:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wot r u tlking about? A nappy is a white disposable thing that you wrap round a babies bum and front so it doesnt shite all up the wall!! mebe ur thinking of Knickers [womens pants], i recently found out americans cant telll the difff between that and ****èrs, i never realised how close they were
2007-04-12 14:18:40 · answer #7 · answered by Nemo Credete 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nappy is what the British call diapers
2007-04-12 13:48:05 · answer #8 · answered by Help Meh 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I thought you were going to say '*******' which is a legitimate term.
2007-04-12 14:06:33 · answer #9 · answered by Aliester C 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋