The video starts as Mike is answering a question from an old head who asked “why do we still say nigger in 2010?” Mike answered the question, but the elder interrupted him and said “much respect, but I was addressing Dr. West.” Mike kept going though, haha…and answered the question well enough for Dr. West to pretty much agree wholeheartedly.
Video footage via Maurice Garland, who also explains how Mike became a part of the panel.
Interesting. I think a lot of people use it maliciously though. Some people say it because it sounds cool. If there’s no negativity behind it it shouldn’t be a problem. Right? Personally I don’t say it because of the history behind it. But that’s just me.
marlymarrr said this on January 18th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
is it off limit to white peeps though? what if white peeps are down with black peeps and want to call one of their black friends nigga? its not malicious but most people wouldnt be down with it cause its tainted historically
word said this on January 18th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
oh and im agreeing with you marley, just responding to what killer mike and cornel west were saying
word said this on January 18th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
marlymarrr@there shouldnt be a problem…but there is..becasue when nigger was used it was used negatively initially. so that will always be the origins of nigger..opression. but people are taking a new meaning to it. the less power the word has the better. But i understand people not liking the usage of the word. How do u set right something so ugly?…i think only as time goes by..and people forget…and when the pain is no longer as strong.
London said this on January 18th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Its a word we use in our club. If U not in the club U cant use it..fuck off.
chronwell said this on January 18th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Man people keep bullshittin with it. The history is simple. They took a word and made it negative. The slaves and the people it was meant for used it because thats who they thought they were and it was almost a reminder to who they were. But because they spoke in broken language ever word they used with an “er” at the end ended up “a” instead because of their ascent.
Simple as that. And ever since then the word has been handed handed down from generation to generation.
Now if it really isnt as harmful as the people who use it say, then it should be alright for someone of another race including white people to call everybody a “Nigga.” Problem is that some white people are raised to use their “E’s” and “R’s” So it will come out as “Nigger.” but they wont mean it as the way the person who hears it may think. And even if they did use the “a” or “Nigga” it still wouldnt be ok.
Thats the truth in a nutshell. Its Bullshit. And anybody who tells you there is a difference between “Nigger” and “Nigga” is a fucking idiot.
I dont use it because the only way we can come as one in America is to leave that word and anything else that reminds us of our race or racial past.
And yes everyone says it because its cool. They dont say it because they feel the love thats bullshit. They say it because they think its cool. Deep down thats the real reason because everyone who says that word is not conscious of their past, present, and possible future.
Teddy said this on January 18th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
love this video even though i, as a black man, choose not to use the word at all.
i agree with Dr. West’s idea “what’s in a name?”. and Mike’s “love” theory is understandable. but like the guy above me, as much as people say it with love, they also say it with hatred.
and the “how you say it argument” is bunk. white people feel that they may be showing love by saying it but many black people have a problem with that. unless all people can see into every person’s heart and understand their meaning behind the word, it’s best to stay away from it.
Sir Nigel said this on January 18th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
yea man, that whole how you say it, term of endearment, turning a negative into a positive is bullshit, that’s just an easy cop out for reasons of saying the word. I understand what killer mike is saying to a certain degree, especially if you been around it your whole life, but everybody has a choice. I got into an argument over the word (with a white cat mind you) who thought it was ok to say it because he meant it different. I’m from the bay area, and i challenged him to go into any barbershop in oakland, or place with an older black crowd where some sort of knowledeable exchange takes place, and ask “hey my nigga you got the time”, i’m pretty sure time wouldn’t be the only thing he got. We feel as though other races can’t say it but nobody should be sayin the shit, other derogatory names for other races arn’t used so loosely and comfortably in everyday interactions so why this one? especially with it having associations with some of the worst atrocities in history. As a former user of the word, i made it a point to not say the shit no more, i feel embarrassed that i used to say it, and when i hear it now it’s heard for me to listen to a muafucka talk whose using it and sometimes have to stop cats who say it too much. The word dumbed me down so much i now realize. Cold part about it is that the word is used in some of our favorite music today, and imo that’s what enables muafuckas to use the shit so comfortably so it is what it is
KoJ_the_YDC said this on January 18th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Mike is that dude, always.
My personal opinion:
If a white person is willing to use that word to Black people they don’t know, I’ve got no right to tell them what they can and can’t say. But do NOT use it in front of me (a white) if you wouldn’t say it in front of Killer Mike.
Trackstar the DJ said this on January 18th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
i feel what killer mike said. the “love theory” actually makes a lot of sense. i’ve never thought of it before and i know a lot of other havent fleshed it out like that in their heads, so im gonna bring this to the table on a few conversations and see what ppl say.
but at the same time
@KoJ_the_YDC
i completely agree with what youre saying. i feel as if a lot of ppl (or everyone) use the word and have no idea of it’s origin and just want to be in the fad. and our people needa learn that it is a very powerful word and, used with the wrong intent or in the wrong context it will only slowly destroy a person. what do you think will happen to you after years of being called and calling others nigga?
bets r you’ll be the dictionary term of a nigger
moc5 said this on January 18th, 2010 at 9:56 pm