This weeks column: N-to the fray
They say opposites attract. So maybe it shouldn't have been so surprising that comedian Dave Chappelle and poet Maya Angelou sat down together recently in Angelou's Winston-Salem home to express their mutual admiration.
Chappelle, who walked away from a highly successful Comedy Central series — and a paycheck so fat it wasn't funny — chose Angelou as the person he'd most like to break bread with in an installment of a clever cable TV show that pairs odd couples.
Chappelle could headline a miniseries all by himself. A tortured talent, he bailed out at the height of his popularity because he feared people were laughing at his jokes about race but not getting the point.
"I was doing sketches that were funny but socially irresponsible," he said.
As for Angelou, she's as deft with the spoken word as in writing. Her deep, soothing voice oozes so much charisma she could touch my heart while ordering takeout.
What a pair. Over a home-cooked meal of biscuits, fried chicken and fried apples, they spoke like old friends as the cameras rolled for the Sundance Channel series, "Iconoclasts."
The coupling couldn't have been any more perfect: Soul mates and soul food. Then they broached the n-word.
Chappelle saw it as a matter of context and intent. It's not the word itself, he said. It's the intent. Angelou countered, politely, that the word is hurtful and demeaning. Period.
Dave had better listen to Maya on this one. Retire the word. Put it out of our misery. Banish it to a linguistic graveyard never to dig it up again. But it just won't go away.
Apparently concerned that Michael Richards was still grabbing all the headlines, another has-been comic got N-to the act. Andy Dick (who actually may be a never-was) leapt onto the stage at a comedy club during somebody else's routine last week and said the n-word. And of course, he, too, apologized, and now awaits the inevitable talk show gigs to follow.
Meanwhile, some black comics and black leaders are declaring war on the use of the word by anyone. What took them so long? Frankly, I have as much a problem with black people using the word as whites.
Some obviously disagree. And not just rappers and teenagers. I've had to ask black people old enough to be my daddy not to say that word around me.
Other folks argue that one way to strip the word of its negative connotations is to demystify it by embracing it. Linguists cite the power of "inversion" — or turning a word intended as hurtful into a badge of pride, so that, suddenly, it loses its sting. For instance, a number of gay people now refer to themselves as "queer."
So maybe I should tack a Confederate license tag onto my car to defuse its hateful message?
Screenwriter John Ridley, who is African American, has taken another direction entirely. In an essay for Esquire magazine, Ridley ascribed the n-word to a particular class of black people, "always down. Always out. Always complaining that they can't catch a break. Notoriously poor about doing for themselves."
While I fully agree with Ridley's concern about personal responsibility, I don't see that as an excuse to call other African Americans "niggers" in a national publication.
As for Dave Chappelle and his Lunch with Maya, he of all people should recognize the danger of the mixed signals black folks' use of the word sends to everyone. After all, Chappelle says, he walked away from a $50 million contract because he worried about misinterpretations of his message.
What kind of misinterpretation does crass, gratuitous use of the n-word create?
As rap music grows in appeal across the world, inevitably other races and cultures are hearing the word and feeling inspired to use it. It won't be long before Iraqis, Europeans and, yes, Africans, will be feeling moved to call black people by that name, in every accent and in every time zone on the planet.
Kill the word. Now. This is one universal language none of us needs to speak.
Dave had better listen to Maya on this one. Retire the word. Put it out of our misery. Banish it to a linguistic graveyard never to dig it up again. But it just won't go away.
Apparently concerned that Michael Richards was still grabbing all the headlines, another has-been comic got N-to the act. Andy Dick (who actually may be a never-was) leapt onto the stage at a comedy club during somebody else's routine last week and said the n-word.
And of course, he, too, apologized, and now awaits the inevitable talk show gigs to follow.
Meanwhile, some black comics and black leaders are declaring war on the use of the word by anyone. What took them so long? Frankly, I have as much a problem with black people using the word as whites.
Some obviously disagree. And not just rappers and teenagers. I've had to ask black people old enough to be my daddy not to say that word around me.
Other folks argue that one way to strip the word of its negative connotations is to demystify it by embracing it. Linguists cite the power of "inversion" — or turning a word intended as hurtful into a badge of pride, so that, suddenly, it loses its sting. For instance, a number of gay people now refer to themselves as "queer."
So maybe I should tack a Confederate license tag onto my car to defuse its hateful message?
Screenwriter John Ridley, who is African American, has taken another direction entirely. In an essay for Esquire magazine, Ridley ascribed the n-word to a particular class of black people, "always down. Always out. Always complaining that they can't catch a break. Notoriously poor about doing for themselves."
While I fully agree with Ridley's concern about personal responsibility, I don't see that as an excuse to call other African Americans "niggers" in a national publication.
As for Dave Chappelle and his Lunch with Maya, he of all people should recognize the danger of the mixed signals black folks' use of the word sends to everyone. After all, Chappelle says, he walked away from a $50 million contract because he worried about misinterpretations of his message.
What kind of misinterpretation does crass, gratuitous use of the n-word create?
As rap music grows in appeal across the world, inevitably other races and cultures are hearing the word and feeling inspired to use it. It won't be long before Iraqis, Europeans and, yes, Africans, will be feeling moved to call black people by that name, in every accent and in every time zone on the planet.
Kill the word. Now. This is one universal language none of us needs to speak.
Comments (15)
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Off the subject but,,,,,
In todays' editorial, the N&R tells us all, the Importance of Racial Integration in our Schools.
Could someone from the N&R please comment on the fact that, Dudley High School is 99 % Black and in Danger of being closed.
I do remember articles about the problems at Dudley,,,but at NO time have I ever read anything concerning their lack of DIVERSITY.
If I remember correctly there was alot of Chaos concerning the High Point area schools, and the Importance of Racial Engineering to better Educate our students.
Based on the N&Rs' Philosophy from todays editorial,,,I will assume that the "Power of the Press" will now begin to put Pressure on the School Administration to begin an Emergency Integration Process at Dudley High School.
In todays society,,,this seems to be only solution for saving our schools.
Posted on December 10, 2006 12:12 PM
If you study Neurolinguistic programming, you will find that words do have an energetic, and do create a reaction in people.
The N-word does have an energy and does create. It is inherently negative. The word should never be used, it is only harmful. I agree with Maya Angelou.
Posted on December 10, 2006 9:28 PM
Off the Subject again but,,,
After reading todays N&Rs' Editorial about the Graduation Rate at Dudley High School, I noticed that people are awakening to the fact that the "NUMBERS" that GCS puts out to the Public are ussually "DOCTORED" to look a little better than they really are.
With all the Problems at Dudley that have been ignored or Covered up by our Down Town Administrators,,,, why would Amos Quick have Voted to Extend Dr. Griers' Contract????????
Posted on December 11, 2006 9:38 AM
To Give the People What They Want:
For the 2,534th time, we have mentioned Dudley, as well as Northwest Guilford High School, and others, repeatedly in editorials about resegregated schools.
As for the Supreme Court and "racial engineering," the irony about Louisville is that the plan, which the district voluntarily has enacted, appears to be working. And the vast majority of parents there like it.
Even in such a case, the high court appears poised to rule, you can't do such a thing even if your community supports it.
Posted on December 12, 2006 6:51 AM
Allen,
What are you telling me,, that the Dudley community wants to break up its'Segregated school,but can't due to an upcoming Ruling by the Supreme Court??????
Give me a Break.
Why did GCS not handle Dudleys' problems in the same manner that they saw fit to do at Andrews High??????
Greensboro,,,being the "Civil Rights Capitol of the World",,,,has Leadership that is to afraid to stand up and demand Diversity at Dudley...
When,and Only When Skip Alston and his inner Circle gives the OK will Dudley ever experience the Forced Social Engineering and Integration that other schools have experienced..
Right now the Dudley Community is Happy being 99% Black, therefore ,,that is the way it will stay.
Posted on December 12, 2006 12:20 PM
I notice you point out only Dudley. What about the other largely segregated schools in the district?
Posted on December 12, 2006 12:23 PM
Allen,
Which school would you like to Discuss?????
Northwest High?????
Maybe you should discuss that school with Terrina,,maybe she could rationalize the fact that it is OK to have an "ALL WHITE" school in a county that believes that DIVERSITY is the #1 priority for a Successful Learning Environment.
I personally believe in Neighborhood schools,,,Strict Discipline and Accountability from Students, Parents, Teachers and especially School Administrators, including the Superintendent.
I live in an area where diversity has occurred naturally, not forced.
People from all walks of life HAPPILY go to school together,,Play Ball together,,,go to Church together,,,Etc,,,
I also believe that schools can be successful no matter what the Racial or Economic make-up is, as long as Strict Discipline and Accountibility is enforced in these schools.
Since a big Priority of Dr. Griers' is to Reduce the Suspensions of Black Male Students(at the urging of Deena Hayes),,,,many students are left in the school, who probably need to be in SCALE or on Long term suspension,,,,,but we all Know that Dr. Grier will Win Awards at the expense of Safe Schools that are conducive to Learning.
All-White Schools can Succeed.
All-Black Schools can Succeed.
All Schools can Succeed if a School Administration is in Place that has the GUTS to Put EDUCATION back at the top of the priority list and quit worrying about Personal Achievements that are Quickly destroying our Public school System.
Posted on December 12, 2006 5:33 PM
Allen,
why didnt you send your child to Page or Grimsley or Western?
I dont understand you. You preach but you didn't practice.
Posted on December 12, 2006 10:45 PM
I agree that the word is loathsome. Many millions of us agree about that, and we never use it. But words cannot be killed. In fact, trying to kill a word gives it more power, because to utter it becomes not just an act of hatred, but also of defiance. If a word is powerful, if it can incite, some will continue to make use of it. And the harder we try to kill or exorcise it, the greater the definance of those who use it, and the more powerful the word becomes.
Posted on December 13, 2006 8:02 AM
I don't disagree, Steve. That's why I think the most effective solution is not to declare war on the word, but simply not to use it.
Posted on December 13, 2006 10:22 AM
Allen, you don't answer me but here is where I am coming from.
Anyone who sends their children to Northwest has no right to come out and preach diversity for all and support plans that force other children to be bussed 11 miles across town.
If you and your neighbors of the Northwest region are not prepared to do it then you have to shut it!
People in High Point are just like you. They want to buy a house and send their children to the local school.
The support of the News and Record to the changes in High Point has resulted in more segregated schools than ever. Almost 400 white children have left the three High Point High schools since 2005.
These children have left in high percentages from all of the schools not just Southwest. High Point Central had been a school where white enrollment had been increasing steadily until 2004. It has since bombed.
Congratulations Allen. You have helped make the High Point schools MORE segregated than they were before 2005.
I know its sad but in the end people are just like you Allen. If you can afford it you by a nice house by your neighborhood school. It happens the whole world over.
The question is now are you prepared to do anything to stop this. Discipline is bad at Southwest. They have not been given the resources at the schools to help the disadvantaged kids. The staff are stressed, parents are stressed and planning escape routes.
How is the News and record going to help now?
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