Today while bored at work, I came across an article on CNN.com discussing Nas' new controversial album. Leaders of the African-American community, like the Rev. Al Sharpton, pressured Nas to change the name of his new album which was initially titled the n-word- resulting in Nas refusing to include an album title.
Here are some highlights from the article:
"With a host of racial issues -- the Jena Six, Don Imus, nooses -- fresh on America's mind, naming an album "Nigger" seems ill-advised. Nas, however, said his goal wasn't to upset; it was to upend a society that focuses more on pejoratives than the racial plights that spawn them."
"There's still so much wrong in the whole world with people -- poor people, people of color -- I just felt like a nice watch couldn't take that away, make me forget about that. A nice day on a yacht with rich friends couldn't make me forget about reality, what's going on," he said. "That's why I named the album that -- not just that the word is horrible, but the history behind the word, and how it relates to me, how it's affected me, offended me."
After reading this article, I wondered if I could even be able to discuss this issue in a constructive manner without sounding paternalistic or ignorant. I can't relate to the n-word and its effect on my identity or my community.
I was wondering if anyone else shared my sentiment? While this article was in the Entertainment section of CNN.com, it evidently is a complicated issue.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/16/music.nas/index.html
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4 comments:
watson this is an important thing to talk about. i think what is most striking is the quote about "racial issues being on the minds of people" and then going on to quote a slew of so called, racial "events". Race is only discussed in this country with regard to events. Whether it's jena six, nas, or obama (one thing about the "obama event" is that if he wins, we get four years of it...which might act to transcend the idea of the racial event and open up a dialogue, though i shutter to put that all on obama). Nas's cd seems to perpetuate the idea of racial event...i'll rephrase...the coverage of nas's cd will perpetuate the idea of racial event, as most certainly the content of the album will not be discussed on cnn, but only it's title. We discussed the cd title in my class Black Music last semester--and though we didn't come to a formal conclusion about use of the word--it was helpful to merely discuss it's personal ramifications. I would echo your sentiment of not being personally affected by the word to the extent that black americans are. many whites in the class used the word, while many blacks did not. i don't know what i think about Nas's use of it as an album title...but i worry it will perpetuate overt racism by people thinking it is ok to use the word as many of my white classmates felt it was durring a discussion (and it made many feel incredibly uncomfortable. Who is a non-black to claim the word must be used in discussion if it makes others feel uncomfortable?)
Long story short, while it is a provocative attempt to ignite discussion, i fear it will add to the isolation of rap as a discourse in mainstream aka white society. It will add to the so-called "violence and filth" of tupac and biggie. Read todays article by Adam Nagourney of the New York Times--he outlines how divided our country is over perceptions of race. Though his article seems to indicate we have reached a stalemate. Sadly, perhaps only the racial event can ignite discussion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/us/politics/16poll.html
I do not understand how white people feel its okay to use the n word in any circumstance. Many white students at Vassar claim the n word is okay to use in an academic context. Many students feel so passionate about their right to use the n word that they get more upset about not being able to say the word than the fact that the word exists in the first place. Many students lose any kind of historical context and focus only on the present which is very problematic and a classic conservative ay of thinking. I think the foundation for white students getting angry when they are confronted for using the n word is white priviledge. The vocal tone of these students defending themselves is incredibly winey. "I should be able to say whatever I want." This argument in many ways gives the word more power because it shifts the focus from the atrocities of the word to an unecessary conversation pertaining to what First Amendment rights and freedom of speech mean to these priviledged individuals. The n word is used so frequently in everyday vocabulary (be it in an academic context or the playground ) that people forget how hateful the word is. The discussion is either altered from the most prominent issue at hand (what the n word actually means both presently and historically) or concealed due to the ubiquity of the word. I think it is absolutely imperative that the word is acknowledged and that we discuss the events and sentiments of what is beind the word. But to hear people argue about their right to use the word is both selfish and unconstructive.
hey.
in discussing the n-word i think it's important to realize that the n-word is really a substitute for hundreds of years of oppression and racism. in postmodern literature words are not simply letters assembled to help us communicate; they are symbols. with white people, the n-word does not resonate as offensive as it may with black people because our history privileges us enough to distance ourselves from that symbol. "I wasn't there, don't blame me"- you get the picture. in attempting to use the word as his album title, Nas is saying, this is NOT a symbol of the past but also one of the present and future. we can't use the excuse that it's all the unfortunate history of our country if we are reminded that not much has changed.
another point i'd like to bring up is that even when the n-word isn't used directly, other words or simply emotions and actions take its place. that's why whenever someone refers to someone or something as "ghetto" or "gangsta" i try to ask what they mean by that. usually they can't really say. do you think it's because we've just found other ways to bring the hate and injustice into the present, without using the one word that's supposed to encapsulate it all? in that regard i think Nas is also saying that most people already subconsciously think of the n-word, they know exactly what it means and the weight that it carries, and they actively apply it to all underprivileged people- even if all they're doing is living their lives. as long as whites (and mostly white males) hold the most political and financial power in this country, the n-word infiltrates everything we do. we don't even need to say it, or think it directly for it to be communicated. you feel me?
think about these lines from "y'all my n---as":
"so fuck that, no apologies on the issue
if it offends you
it's meant to
it's that simple
tryin to erase me from y'all memory
too late, i'm engraved in history
speak my name and breath life in me
make sure y'all never forget me"
oh he is good. thoughts?
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