The word *nigger*

[Synthetix]

How is the use of the word 'nigger' regarded on this site? I know of many sites that will edit it's use, but I think that's some bullshit censorship. Mods, do you allow non-triggering use of the word without censoring it and/or punishing it's use?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuLrBLxbLxw

 

[Fukyo]

We don't edit or censor anything the members say in their posts.


Actual racism would be dealt with in different ways, but I don't see the word as inherently offensive. It can also be used jokingly. It's def. context dependent.

 

[Jennywocky]

We don't edit or censor anything the members say in their posts. Actual racism would be dealt with in different ways, but I don't see the word as inherently offensive. It can also be used jokingly. It's def. context dependent.

fo shizzle, ma nizzle!

 

[eagor]

lahoongi

 

[BigApplePi]

How is the use of the word 'nigger' regarded on this site? I know of many sites that will edit it's use, but I think that's some bullshit censorship. Mods, do you allow non-triggering use of the word without censoring it and/or punishing it's use?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuLrBLxbLxw

I suppose the question is about saying something offensive and how offensive do you want to get? Joking about offensive as in the utube is not the same as not being sensitive to people's sensitivity. Some people WILL be offended and others it will roll off their backs. Perhaps it's a matter of social context. Depends on who is saying it to whom and how many. One sensitive person among hundreds may argue to disregard that one person. Yet what if the person were blind or had M.S. and someone made fun of that? There are painful situations in life ... plenty. Pointing to those situations with aid and sympathy is not the same as blame, contempt, disregard, hate, cruelty, deliberate hurtfulness. How can one tell? Perhaps by censorship when one is in doubt. If there is censorship (something I'm not fond of at all), then consider the hurtfulness and do a workaround.

In the case of the word, "nigger" what does that mean historically? It's a word for contempt for a people's who have been enslaved, handed an underprivileged social status that has been going on for a long time and is only now finding modest relief. It's far from over with. There is a clear racial line. So who is using the word? It is used among "brothers" as a recognition of someone in the same boat? It is used by someone having the race of the historical oppressor? It is used in an attempt to create a new context which hopes to erase the old context? Those are what comes to mind.

The word, "cunt" is very similar. The utube comedian tried to create a new context. The audience laughed, so apparently he succeeded. The problem is the context ... a comedy show. That is not when the word is a trouble point. Just as the N-word used by a non-oppressed white person is a reminder of oppression where countering is difficult without trouble, so is the C-word when used by a male as a reminder of female oppression or discrimination.

 

[Synthetix]

Yea, the history of both words is obvious, but I don't see why people take offense to it with such intensity. If you called me a spic or wetback, I'd just laugh.. But people get so up tight when you say nigger, even if you don't mean to use it to offend someones race.

 

[BigApplePi]

Yea, the history of both words is obvious, but I don't see why people take offense to it with such intensity. If you called me a spic or wetback, I'd just laugh.. But people get so up tight when you say nigger, even if you don't mean to use it to offend someones race.

Then why do you think they used it and what did they mean?

 

[ObliviousGenius]

I don't like it when people use it in a derogatory way. There's still plenty of racists out there and I've had to deal with that my whole life. That's not even counting the people that talk about me behind my back (I know they do because I've caught one before). It's disheartening to have to consider the fact that I wasn't hired for a job because of my race, however small a chance that might be. I don't care if you want to joke or something using that word or its synonyms, just don't use it as ammunition to degrade an African-American.

 

[Synthetix]

 

[BigApplePi]

I don't care if you want to joke or something using that word or its synonyms, just don't use it as ammunition to degrade an African-American.

OblGenious, speaking from a white point-of-view on the other end, that is exactly what the word is used for: ammunition to intimidate.

I met with my retirement group this PM. We met in the apartment (in Harlem) of the one of four who happens to be black. We have had extensive talks on race where he has talked quite a bit about his experiences as a black person. (His word). Although I find it interesting for my own reasons, it would seem his up-frontness about being black kind of puts the issues on the table and in so doing makes color disappear. Hard to explain.

It makes me wonder if you went into a place of employment and told whatever you want to say, but added, "I'll bet you are puzzled about having a black man seek employment here" or some such attention calling to the issue, if it would disarm the person. No matter what the response seems like you would quickly learn something about the employer's attitude. Just a thought.

Added: you said at the start, "I don't care if you want to joke or something using that word or its synonyms." Are you sure? Are you sure if this comes from a white person? Maybe times have changed since I was 20, but this would have to be extremely clear this was a joke ... I don't see it.

 

[Synthetix]

If I meant for serious conversation about this topic, I would've posted this thread in a different forum and left out the video. My impression of The Lounge was some sort of place for lulz and trolls. Have I made a wrongful speculation?

 

[Dapper Dan]

I'll sum up my views with a story:

Three of my buddies and I are playing spades in a McDonald's, cause that's how we roll. We are all white, and there's maybe a 50/50 split of white/black people in the restaurant.

Anyway, one of the guys on the other team reneges. Seeing my chance for a hilarious one-liner, I quite loudly and intentionally call him a reneger. They stare at me in disbelief. I stare back at them, bewildered that they didn't find it funny. We proceed to have an awkwardly heated discussion about the appropriateness of my comment, during which one of them implies that I'm lucky I wasn't assaulted.

Pop quiz: Who's the racist?

 

[BigApplePi]

If I meant for serious conversation about this topic, I would've posted this thread in a different forum and left out the video. My impression of The Lounge was some sort of place for lulz and trolls. Have I made a wrongful speculation?

Lounge true, but where does casual comedy get kept in a box? Carry on ...

 

[BigApplePi]

I'll sum up my views with a story:

Three of my buddies and I are playing spades in a McDonald's, cause that's how we roll. We are all white, and there's maybe a 50/50 split of white/black people in the restaurant.

Anyway, one of the guys on the other team reneges. Seeing my chance for a hilarious one-liner, I quite loudly and intentionally call him a reneger. They stare at me in disbelief. I stare back at them, bewildered that they didn't find it funny. We proceed to have an awkwardly heated discussion about the appropriateness of my comment, during which one of them implies that I'm lucky I wasn't assaulted.

Pop quiz: Who's the racist?

Answer: everyone is. You for thinking it hilarious, them for not getting the joke.

Added: this reminds me of what I once told my retirement group. The black guy kept saying President Obama was not only the first black President but was black. I told him Obama was white because since he was really half and half he should get equal time.

 

[Orja]

I think it depends in the situation. I am living in the southeast US right now where racial stratification and discrimination are still very real. I have spent my life in regions without significant racial issues. Now, I live in an area where it can be unsafe to be the only photo-negative in the vicinity. Here, the word is used to both arm and disarm people. Some people say it almost as a recognition of the history of discrimination, and it is accepted as such. For others, it is still obviously painful. Either way, it is still powerful.

On a side-note, Lewis CK makes a great point. I had seen it before, thought of it as I opened this thread, and was a bit shocked to see the clip in the OP. Saying "N-word" really is rather underhanded.

 

[Jennywocky]

I'll sum up my views with a story:

Three of my buddies and I are playing spades in a McDonald's, cause that's how we roll. We are all white, and there's maybe a 50/50 split of white/black people in the restaurant.

Anyway, one of the guys on the other team reneges. Seeing my chance for a hilarious one-liner, I quite loudly and intentionally call him a reneger. They stare at me in disbelief. I stare back at them, bewildered that they didn't find it funny. We proceed to have an awkwardly heated discussion about the appropriateness of my comment, during which one of them implies that I'm lucky I wasn't assaulted.

Pop quiz: Who's the racist?

This would probably be more amusing to me if I wasn't in from Baltimore, where last summer two black girls beat the shit out of a white transwoman in the local McDonald's just for using the bathroom... let alone any sort of the verbal dynamics you were indulging in. It was both a race and gender issue, and race violence is alive and well in this city.

Playing philosophical "who's the racist" games seems to take a back seat to dealing with the fear someone's gonna bust your cap just because they don't like your skin color or gender when you're out grabbing lunch.

 

[Nibbler]

We don't edit or censor anything the members say in their posts.


Actual racism would be dealt with in different ways, but I don't see the word as inherently offensive. It can also be used jokingly. It's def. context dependent.

Soooo... we're saying words as they singularly exist are not magic?

By the way, regarding "reneger".

1. Firefox didn't flag it for spell check.
2. In the Army, we all used that word. (for anyone who doesn't know, Spades is the soldier's game of choice).
3. You called him a reneger, not a re-nigger (whatever that would be). The interpretation (although obvious double-entendre) is all theirs. However, the same thing I'd say to a woman: It won't be right if you get raped just for walking down a dark alley. Having said that, you run the risk of being raped for walking down a dark alley.

I lived in the DC area for 10 years. I think Jennywocky's allusion to this being potentially dangerous in particular areas is correct. Remember, we as INTPs KNOW that most people are fucking stupid and would take it wrong.

Just think of Zimmerman who shot Treyvon Martin who was out just buying candy, chit-chatting to his girl on the phone. Innocent black teen in a hoodie outside.... dead. Stupid people.

 

[Dapper Dan]

This would probably be more amusing to me if I wasn't in from Baltimore, where last summer two black girls beat the shit out of a white transwoman in the local McDonald's just for using the bathroom... let alone any sort of the verbal dynamics you were indulging in. It was both a race and gender issue, and race violence is alive and well in this city.

Playing philosophical "who's the racist" games seems to take a back seat to dealing with the fear someone's gonna bust your cap just because they don't like your skin color or gender when you're out grabbing lunch.

Fair enough. I guess I should mention that this was in a city of a couple hundred-thousand people, with little to no gang activity. Honestly, the notion that I would be shot right there in the lobby is pretty laughable.

 

[EditorOne]

"If I meant for serious conversation about this topic, I would've posted this thread in a different forum and left out the video. My impression of The Lounge was some sort of place for lulz and trolls. Have I made a wrongful speculation?"

Never underestimate the ability of the collective mind of the INTP forum to take ANYTHING seriously.

Meanwhile: Remember a few years back a bunch of people got upset because a politician called someone "niggardly?"

Finally: I'm increasingly reluctant to grant anyone the right to indulge their emotions simply because they heard a word they don't like. I'm also reluctant to empower people who hate and lack the ability to do more than invoke "fighting words." A pox on everyone's house. A bit more eloquence when expressing disdain, contempt and loathing would give the world a little more tone.

 

[420MuNkEy]

Blaming the word for offending someone is like blaming a gun for shooting someone. Neither are sentient. That being said, being offended by someone isn't an infringement on your basic human rights in any way, while being shot is (arguably). In both cases, context and intent are very important. Shooting at targets is perfectly acceptable. Explaining that certain uses of the word "nigger" may possibly offend some people is also perfectly acceptable.

Communities tend to remove people who use things in inappropriate contexts when it affects other people or intend to affect them negatively.

 

[BigApplePi]

Typical use of word *nigger*?

A pox on everyone's house. A bit more eloquence when expressing disdain, contempt and loathing would give the world a little more tone.

You are so right E1. If only we could apply eloquence to the theme word of this thread. Here's a try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fFwnqBU_-U

 

[Jennywocky]

Fair enough. I guess I should mention that this was in a city of a couple hundred-thousand people, with little to no gang activity. Honestly, the notion that I would be shot right there in the lobby is pretty laughable.

Then contextually, your friends were <goobhead weenies>.
insert (in)appropriate labels here ^^^^

 

[snafupants]

I prefer not to use that word because of the racist/hurtful/inane connotations; also, I am not black. Admittedly words can have many connotations, which certainly alter over time and space, but there are prettier words to employ to deliver the same effect. You could argue that the word is less vitriolic because of the logical Spanish etymology or the fashionable status the word has achieved in rap videos and inner cities but I still feel it's mildly inappropriate to trot out in most cases. When a white person uses the term in anger/denigration I notice the miasma of ignorance rather than a clever put-down.

 

[RaBind]

4. nigger
a lazy black ignorant, arogant person who doesn't have a job and usually tries to fuck the system. usually speaks loud. most of them live in the hood and steal. there is a different between niggers and black people just like there is a difference between white people and white trash. black people are civilized wheras niggers act like animals
a nigger usually collects welfare, unemployment, and food stamps; steals the car they drive, and makes a lot of noise in public places

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nigger

I think the word should be used like the above definition. With nothing to do with race. Just a general term for someone who is uncooperative, lazy, advantage seeking all rounded asshole. That being said doesn't mean people are free to go around calling others niggers because there are still a lot of people sensitive to the use of this word.

 

[ObliviousGenius]

@Jenny, Yeah, I agree with you 100 percent. Here's the thing that you may or may not know. Some of us blacks are very well aware that Black people can be just as racists as whites. The difference is that white people are far less "confrontational" (as a nice word) and dismiss a lot of the BS that they get from black people. It really isn't fair to white people because they don't complain about some of the ignorant things black people do (and I've seen some pretty ignorant situations). Blacks really make a big deal about things most would consider petty. That's why when I see that stuff I really shake my head because it's always the white person that does the right thing.

 

[Jennywocky]

.... The difference is that white people are far less "confrontational" (as a nice word) and dismiss a lot of the BS that they get from black people. It really isn't fair to white people because they don't complain about some of the ignorant things black people do (and I've seen some pretty ignorant situations). Blacks really make a big deal about things most would consider petty. That's why when I see that stuff I really shake my head because it's always the white person that does the right thing.

Yeah, one of my "bestest" friends at work is black and grew up in a ghetto environment, so we've had a lot of fun comparing my rural farmland whitebred upbringing to her upbringing. Along with what you've said, there's a huge distinction between white and black women -- we (white) women are pretty mousy in comparison, quiet, non-confrontational, usually not with much oomph; our black female peers are much more passionate and in people's faces when there's an issue. Either approach can be appropriate in a particular situation, I think. But the cultural divide can be rather huge.

(To my credit, I've got enough spunk/sass to be accepted by the black gals, at least when I let myself cut loose.)

 

[Don't mind me]

All normative statements that meaningfully incorporate race are racist, yes?

Are all descriptive statements that do this racist too? Does it matter whether they're true or not? Their type (biological, cultural, psychological etc)? If they're perceived as true by the one making the statement? If they're true, but it's only about correlation with a different, established causation?

 

[snafupants]

@Jenny, Yeah, I agree with you 100 percent. Here's the thing that you may or may not know. Some of us blacks are very well aware that Black people can be just as racists as whites. The difference is that white people are far less "confrontational" (as a nice word) and dismiss a lot of the BS that they get from black people. It really isn't fair to white people because they don't complain about some of the ignorant things black people do (and I've seen some pretty ignorant situations). Blacks really make a big deal about things most would consider petty. That's why when I see that stuff I really shake my head because it's always the white person that does the right thing.

To be well-rounded, some media outlets have historically shown a distinct bias against the black community. Like when folks, both colors, were looting New Orleans' shops for food after the levees broke journalists described black people as stealing and looting while describing white people as salvaging for their survival. They were doing precisely the same thing. I won't even go into how the government responded to the disaster.

Well, I know there are black racists. Malcolm X, let alone The Black Panthers, detested white folk. There's this theory floating around that black people are entitled to handouts, such as affirmation action, because they were disenfranchised and economically subjugated for three hundred years, thus being cut out of the wealth gathering that white families were able to accrue. I somewhat buy this idea. On a less abstract level, I really feel blacks have to work harder to escape their situation. In many cases, they're expected to fail.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

You could argue that the word is less vitriolic because of the... fashionable status the word has achieved in rap videos and inner cities

Two different words with two different meanings.

Well, I know there are black racists. Malcolm X, let alone The Black Panthers, detested white folk.

Almost all racism coming from blacks and other African & Caribbean Americans is founded upon the oppressive history Europeans have had with African peoples and their descendants.

It's not really the same thing as racism founded upon outright ignorant disparagement in order to justify slavery and unequal treatment. The former is reactive and empowering, the latter is active subjugation.

EDIT: That doesn't sanctify it though. Regardless of abstract foundations, individuals are still arbitrarily racist and others still take offense to specific incidents of racism.

 

[Pizzabeak]

http://www.abercrombie-and-fitchoutlet.com/abercrombie-fitch-mpa11-nigger-brown-pants.html

 

[snafupants]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGdCeMayUjk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XURRzofbMc0&feature=related

 

[eagor]

@Jenny, Yeah, I agree with you 100 percent. Here's the thing that you may or may not know. Some of us blacks are very well aware that Black people can be just as racists as whites. The difference is that white people are far less "confrontational" (as a nice word) and dismiss a lot of the BS that they get from black people. It really isn't fair to white people because they don't complain about some of the ignorant things black people do (and I've seen some pretty ignorant situations). Blacks really make a big deal about things most would consider petty. That's why when I see that stuff I really shake my head because it's always the white person that does the right thing.

i remember one time i said i didn't agree with some of obama's policies and a black "13-16 grader" (what i call idiot collage students) said i was racist, so i asked him if he liked george bush, he said no and got a very confused/angry look on his face when i laughed at him.

point is yeah your right, although i did break a kids nose when he called me a nazi...

 

[snafupants]

i remember one time i said i didn't agree with some of obama's policies and a black "13-16 grader" (what i call idiot collage students) said i was racist, so i asked him if he liked george bush, he said no and got a very confused/angry look on his face when i laughed at him.

point is yeah your right, although i did break a kids nose when he called me a nazi...

Popping the kid's schnoz perhaps reinforced his opinion of you as a Nazi.

I mean, that's pretty much how a Nazi would deal with dissent.

You're is the proper way of expressing you are, by the way. That's what is called a contraction.

And there is no a in college. Well, there is no A in college for you anyway.

 

[eagor]

Popping the kid's schnoz perhaps reinforced his opinion of you as a Nazi.

I mean, that's pretty much how a Nazi would deal with dissent.

You're is the proper way of expressing you are, by the way. That's what is called a contraction.

And there is no a in college. Well, there is no A in college for you anyway.

1. sorry for the spelling/grammar, i wasn't paying attention
2. punched a different kid in the nose
3. the point about the nose breaking was to point out even white people can over react,just not by shooting people

 

[Fukyo]

impression of The Lounge was some sort of place for lulz and trolls. Have I made a wrongful speculation?

That's what The Arena is for.

 

[Wizardry]

I personally find the word funny in the Louis Ck sort of way. I affectionately call my cat Niggerman for no particular reason other than it amused me at the time and there was some book where the guy had named his cat Niggerman. I also like the usual wtf look though it seems the easiest way to disarm a word people find offensive would be to use the word more commonplace in nonoffensive ways. That takes the power out of the word as words are ever morphing symbolism via the times. I am mindful of people with sensitivities though because I'm not hateful.

I live in a place that is 70%(ish) identified as "black/ African ancestry" and the rest mixed bag of "white of some sort". Trash comes in all colors, its true, but there are weird examples you find around and there is no way to discuss it plainly without it getting stupid.

To be well-rounded, some media outlets have historically shown a distinct bias against the black community. Like when folks, both colors, were looting New Orleans' shops for food after the levees broke journalists described black people as stealing and looting while describing white people as salvaging for their survival. They were doing precisely the same thing. I won't even go into how the government responded to the disaster.

This was largely true though the journalism might have been slanted, depends on the exact source. The law shut down and there were black gangs and such looting merchandise where the "mostly not black" people were going for water, food, and batteries. There are also a lot of backwoods survivalists or "preppers" and thats largely foreign to a lot of the black community (in the southern area). New Orleans has a well documented criminal problem and it is largely the "black" populace and the occasional "Eminems" because thats the bulk of the population and the youth buy into that "gang" crap. The gov response was crap and there was a further stink after the guns were removed.

 

[SpaceYeti]

I was officially given the right to use "nigger" by a real, live black guy. Only one person has been offended so far. It's hilarious how white people stop doing things and wait to see if a fight is about to happen. It never does.

On a related note, my cat got out the other day, and my wife said "Sam, you can't be outside, you're too black!" Within context, it was going to be dark soon, and my cat is black. Obviously, she was concerned about seeing him. The sentence was hilarious, though.

People getting hung up on things like racial or sexual slurs just means they're still concerned about race and sex. We need to move past such superficial bullshit.

 

[BigApplePi]

This may be off-topic I don't know. I want to know if I'm being racist here: How many of you would like to own your very own slave? If your answer is, "Yes", would you call hir:

1. Slave?
2. Come here slave?
3. Take out the garbage slave?
4. Get ready to service me as soon as I wash up slave?
4b. I'm not washing up just do what I ask?
5. Negus?
6. Nigger?
7. All of the above?
8. None of the above because you don't like slavery?

 

[crippli]

non of them. I would have individual pet names for them, to make them feel spesial. Not some general label, lacks style, i'm sure they would perform less. Even soldiers, dogs and cats have individual names.

 

[BigApplePi]

So you would admit to enjoying slaves so long as they had names since they would feel special?

 

[crippli]

The names would be decency. If I owned slaves, it would be my responsibility to take care of them and see to that their needs where met. Proper names would be one requirement.

Not sure if I would enjoy it or not. Would be a lot of responsibility and potential hazard. Think prison management. Those are slaves, lost their rights.

But more towards the topic, as having slaves would be very hypothetical for me. I would think that using general slurs on an individual who have had challenges with equal rights is going to be annoyed if someone don't recognizance them even at a such superficial level. Try whistle at a waiter. I have seen someone do that. The waiter went mental, and yelled "Do you think I am a dog?, f****** a******."

 

[Nibbler]

Try whistle at a waiter. I have seen someone do that. The waiter went mental, and yelled "Do you think I am a dog?, f****** a******."

Service people deal with this a lot. First in college, I worked at Home Depot. Lots of people think it's acceptable to shout and whistle for an associate's attention from down the aisle.

Since I prefer to actually walk my ass over to someone I'd like to talk do, I expect nothing less of others. So one night late into evening (could be no mistaking the whistle was for me), I simply ignored it coming from a lazy asshole who wanted to stick to the bisecting center aisle that crosses the store sideways.

*whislte* Heey! Excuse me! *whistle*

(ignore, keep working, it's not like I am in danger of walking away on the other side of the aisle, I'm right fucking here in a stationary area working)

*whistle* (voice coming closer) Hey!

(ignore, he's now walking up to me)

Hi! Excuse me. Hi, I was whistling, did you notice?

Oh, was that you?

(His face changed. He got it).

 

[Trebuchet]

There are contexts where it is appropriate. For example:

1. Pointing out that it would be wrong to use an offensive term to describe another person.

2. Quoting poetry or songs (e.g. Ginsberg's "Wichita Vortex Sutra" or several songs from "Hair"). Neither of those is racist. Both contain upsetting language for good reason.

3. Describing stuff that actually happened. It is used all over the book Gang Leader for a Day, by Sudhir Venkatesh, who is a sociologist going for accuracy.

4. Discussions like this one.

If you just make a word taboo, you get extra harm out of it. I like Fukyo's point that the problem is actual racism. But, you may have noticed I didn't type it here. Hmmm, I'll have to think about that.

E1, I do remember the "niggardly" incident. The words are not etymologically related, but I do think it is better to pick a different word.

 

[Nibbler]

E1, I do remember the "niggardly" incident. The words are not etymologically related, but I do think it is better to pick a different word.

Reminds me of Obama's "lipstick on a pig" quote about the McCain/Palin campaign slogan. People wildly over-reacted because Palin is a woman. Had he used the comment any other race it would have gone by unnoticed.

 

[Trebuchet]

A few hours after I saw this thread, I was talking about scat singing with my seven-year-old daughter. She likes Ella Fitzgerald, and I brought up Scatman Cruthers (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, etc.), and then looked for something on YouTube so she could hear how he sang. He did one of the voices in the old Disney movie The Aristocats, so I put on his song "Everybody Wants to be a Cat."

I had forgotten how much racism used to be allowed. The Siamese cat is truly offensive now, and would not be in a modern movie. I let her watch the whole song, and then told her briefly about racial stereotypes. Better she learn it from me, I guess.

 

[eagor]

A few hours after I saw this thread, I was talking about scat singing with my seven-year-old daughter. She likes Ella Fitzgerald, and I brought up Scatman Cruthers (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, etc.), and then looked for something on YouTube so she could hear how he sang. He did one of the voices in the old Disney movie The Aristocats, so I put on his song "Everybody Wants to be a Cat."

I had forgotten how much racism used to be allowed. The Siamese cat is truly offensive now, and would not be in a modern movie. I let her watch the whole song, and then told her briefly about racial stereotypes. Better she learn it from me, I guess.

don't forget about the crows from dumbo

 

[Nibbler]

^ and Uncle Remus singing Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. My oh my what a wonderful song. Too bad about the context. I remember as a really little kid going to Sambo's* diner in the deep south in the 70's getting Little Black Sambo place-mats and memorabilia.

* I always thought it was Shoney's. But a quick research says otherwise.

 

[Trebuchet]

Yep, there are a lot of racist things in older Disney movies. But since I don't watch a lot of Disney movies, the scene earlier today took me by surprise. I've seen Dumbo, but not Song of the South.

My daughter hasn't seen a lot of Disney movies, either, except for Pixar. I guess she saw "Bolt" and "The Princess and the Frog" at a friend's house, but I haven't seen those myself. I expect they are not filled with racism and stereotypes.

 

[Nibbler]

It's as if now we can use Disney as a road marker for the evolution of racism in the country. Whereas before it was ignorantly blatant, but now it's claimed to be intertwined deep in subtleties.

Maybe in 20 or 30 years, the current pervasive use of urban patterns and vocalization will be considered racist? Who knows? This was considered racist by many at the time 5 or 6 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpeQJ1iO79U

 

[Jaffa]

Here in the UK the word is considered very rude and offensive. Just saying the word can have you in court to face charges of 'inciting racial hatred'. However, that is a one way street. White people being called 'Honkey' or any other derogotory term goes unpunished.

Having quite a few black friends; it seems that the UK government likes to take offence for the ethnic/racial minorities when really there is no need. All of the black people i know can take the word 'nigger' exactly the way it was intended, if it is used in a light hearted joke then that is the way that it is taken.