MDDM: Washington & Gershom

[Terrance]

Otto wrote:
> Name Game
> New book about racial epithet misses the point
> By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
> http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/01.24.02/hutchison-0204.html
> 
> That controversy lasts to this day, and has echoes in the contemporary feud
> between filmmakers Spike Lee and Quentin Tarrantino. Lee takes the position
> that growing up in Newark around black folk does not entitle Tarrantino to
> use the N-word. Tarrantino, stung, has sometimes replied that his father's
> girlfriend is black, so his use of the N-word was okay. He has become NBA [....]



Rule 1. the  term   cannot be used by white folk

  Rule 2. Blacks should not use the term in the public arena,
  and particularly not in the presence of whites. 

  The rules have to do with cultural code. One needs to know
  the rules of speaking the language in the social and
  cultural context that are an inextricable dimension of any
  language. 

  In other words, cultural and social competence are dependent
  upon or require the speaker to know who can say what to whom
  when or under what conditions or in what social/cultural
  setting. 

  The word has many meanings. Among Blacks, only one of these
  is negative. 



  Rule 2 has been relaxed and this has implications for rule
  1. 

  Rule 1 is is under heavy pressure and of course, like all
  language/cultural codes, there are many exceptions. 

  The considerable relaxing of its use,  is not only
  because of hip-hop, though hip-hop is an important
  contributing factor affecting rule 2 and rule 1. 

  Like other language/cultural rules this change cannot be
  attributed to a single event or 
  cause or cultural development and is quite complicated. The
  term is evolving. Latinos and other minorities, "cultural
  familiars" and "honorary Blacks," dudes that are "down"(who
  may be white), just as they have used "snaps" are using the
  term. And, all white groups, all latino, all asian,  and
  even mixed groups, in public and in private are using the
  term in its many positive meanings. This has been going on
  for at least twenty-five years as far as I know.  But rule 1 has been
relaxed
  and not eradicated. The breaking of rule 2 is bending rule 1
  to the breaking point. 

Peace out brothers, 

T