Big Man Blogging

What up!  It’s been a minute since my last blog, I don’t want to put an exact clock to it but since my last posting, A brother in a KFC commercial has discovered that Fried Chicken is delicious!  Colonel Sanders, next time just ask me.

Scientists have discovered Watermelon has Viagara-ish like side effects for men who dare gorge themselves on a cool slice of summer heaven.  So much for that Apple a day! Vivaaaaaa-Watermelon!

And the Great N-word debate is back! For those of you who are sensitive, stop reading now!  We’ve made it a big powerful word in America, so a big man must blog on it cause I can’t tell this story on TV.

For the word of which I speak is the word Nigger, aka Nigga (depending geographically where you are) Nga, (if you are texting) yep the old word that dresses and redresses itself with all the headturning flair of a fashion model.   Causing oohs and aahs on American Society’s catwalk we call LIFE.

This disclaimer, I’ve used the word, I have white friends who’ve used the word around me and of coursed lived to tell, it’s a WORD!  One word, unique to our American vocabulary.   

As with all words I believe the only thing that matter’s in it’s use is Context,  because despite it’s history, it’s various and ever-evolving meanings provide us the ability to decide individually how, when and where we use it.

For instance, the word ‘Player’ used to be solely defined as a person engaged in some sort of competition.  Today, call a man a ‘Player’ and you’ve defined him as a womanizer.  A woman can call her best Girlfriend a ‘Bitch’ and it’s a term of endearment, I really can’t think of a scenario (not xrated) where a man can do the same and ‘Bitch’ not be considered derogatory.

I was downtown recently, A black man walked up to me and said, “are you Randy Mcilwain?” I acknowledged him and introduced myself, shook his hand and he said, “you my Nigga man, I watch you every night, keep doin yo thang my Nigga.”  I said, alright, nice to meet you, peace.  The first time he used it, I think it was in place of a word like “favorite” the second time perhaps “brother or friend.”   Should I have lectured him on the word’s history?  He was paying me a compliment, rather excitedly…context.

Jesse Jackson used it recently referring to Barak Obama.  Jackson said: “that Nigga is talking down to black people.”  Jesse is an old school civil rights leader and I will blog on him soon but in this case I think he substituted the word to mean  that “young punk” is talking down to black people because let’s face it, as Obama’s voice and views grow, Jackson’s relevance declines.

So All the debate about who can say it?  Who can’t say it?  Should we ban it?  It’s ridiculous!  At this point, No Group of American People Black, White, Asian, Latino, Native American or Combination of these ethnic groups have have decided to drop the word from American English or it’s daily use.

In plain English that ’Nigga’ (southern version of the word) ain’t going nowhere!  

And that’s okay, I’m really not big on whitewashing our past.  I’d rather have it all out there for public consumption than to go around pretending it doesn’t exist and doesn’t have a history.  

Will you ever hear me use it?  Certainly not On-air.  Not in any speeches, Not around children, Probably not ever.  You’d have to be close to me to hear me say it, frankly it’s not a big part of my vocabularly, but language and the ability to communicate is my Profession.   So from the Ghetto to the Govenors Mansion, I’m always prepared to use words within context to carry conversations, to get my questions answered and to retell stories. 

Can you ever Call me a Nigger?  Yes, depending again on context, if you walk up to me, Call me a Nigger and suddenly lose consciousness, Sorry, you used it in the wrong context.  Remember when giving that statement to Police, you don’t know why Newy hit you!  

Having doubts about whether based on your race you can use it?  For all non-Black Americans in the Greater Dallas area, here’s a test, Loop 12 Southside…Sweet Georgia Brown’s Restaurant, any saturday, early afternoon to late evening, go strike up a conversation with the folks standing in line for some mouth-watering Soul Food.   Drop a little Casual N-bomb (remember context) and see what happens.  Maybe sneak it in and pretend you’re listening on the ipod and singing along to some Hip Hop.

For those fearing riot, I can tell you the line will be long and intimidating  but it’s doubtful anyone will sacrifice their place in ordering to get a punch in on you, Hell the Klan could march bye shouting it with a bullhorn and no one would flinch, THE FOOD IS THAT DAMN GOOD! 

it’s a big (think N-word here) man’s world, it’s a big (here too) man blogging! 

ps. if you’re offended, sorry, but I was always taught if you can’t talk about it, you can’t solve it.  Thanks Mom.