Talk:Nigger

Political usage

I could cite at least one or two examples of people using the word "nigger" as something of a slur against racists - you use the word to project racist attitudes onto another person which you believe them to hold. I've heard it once or twice but I'd like to know if it's a notable and frequent enough usage to warrant comment. --Jammoe (talk) 18:01, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Portuguese word "negro"

"Negro" in Portuguese and Spanish is not a derogative term, as it is stated in the article. It is the word for the color black. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.180.226.77 (talk) 15:10, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Do NOT Undo Edits Because of You Feel They Don't Add Anything

Please do NOT undo edits because you feel they don't add anything. State a tangible reason. Opening description was edited to reword 'black' to African-American or African. The term 'nigga' is a subjective pop culture term that does NOT belong in the opening paragraph. It is something not widely used. Just because you, you friends, or two black folks you know use the term doesn't mean it deserves wikipedia.org callout. Furthermore, it is important to note the term has dual meaning instead of referring to 'nigga'. Why not refer to nizzle? All those items OR OTHER STUFF as you like to call it belong in the body of the article. The opening should just summarize and allude to further details to come as this new wording does. -Spencer,Leon 00:32, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

Errr. You do realise that your versions still has a link to nigga in the opening paragraph. Its also a well sourced and stable article. You might like to provide some reliable sources for "The strife between pop culture and politically correct culture has led to attempts to avoid words with similar pronunciation - e.g. Niger, niggardly, and negro. Some use derivations such as nig, nigga, niggaz, and nizzle to reflect kinship while avoiding a direct pronunciation of nigger." because it reads very much like your opinion, rather than an accurate reflection of the literature. Rockpocket 00:40, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

Someone needs to rewrite the usage in Australia section

Parts of the paragraph (if not all) are complete nonsense and needs to be rewritten.

This needs to change : "Australians, black or white, do not on the whole have the same sensitivity to the word as Americans, at least when it is used in a lighthearted, non-derogatory fashion among established groups of friends."

As well as this: "The relaxed attitude is mainly because there was no direct African slave trading."

The whole tone of the paragraph seems to suggest that in Australia we're more relaxed about the use of the word. That's completely false.

I would change it myself,but I can't because of the article is locked. 203.206.9.192 (talk) 10:11, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Do you have a source for the claim that it is "completely false"? JayKeaton (talk) 17:23, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Why are you asking me for a source? It's the writing in the article that needs one. For example: "The relaxed attitude is mainly because there was no direct African slave trading." and this: "Australians, black or white, do not on the whole have the same sensitivity to the word as Americans" 203.206.9.192 (talk) 02:20, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

Hey he's just saying you might want a reference, find a website or something that backs you up. You might think it's clear and obvious, but it needs some support. You can't just say it's BS if you think it is. I've personally no idea, but you have to argue and post supporting comments in order for your opinion to stand - pretty much wiki 101. The article is [was] written that way, and yes it may be biased, in that case you show why it is, you dont just ask for it's removal, give us some links, something to act on. :)

common useage not as a negative word

This article hints at common useage not as a negative word; but it should cover that more and say it clearly. I live in Newark, NJ and I hear every day blacks call each other that with affection. (calling each other "my dog" also) "That nigger [is] my dog!" is a high compliment around here. WAS 4.250 (talk) 17:15, 29 June 2008 (UTC)

Pulp Fiction Usage

How in the world does the small mention of the word "Nigger" by Zed get written about but the entire "Dead Nigger Storage" usage from the Bonnie Situation scene doesn't? It seems that if one of them is going to get addressed it would be the latter, not the former. Raoulduke25 (talk) 15:02, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

You can add this, see what format at WP:Profanity. 98.227.192.222 (talk) 10:16, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

Please Add, if it can be certified

In the United States section, America's top general in the First World War, John Pershing, was once given the nickname "Nigger Jack" because he had led entirely black units before that war and approved of them. His nickname was later changed to "Blackjack Pershing". 74.10.198.105 (talk) 23:45, 16 July 2008 (UTC)

It's mentioned at the end of the Names of places and things section. --Onorem♠Dil 00:35, 17 July 2008 (UTC)

AFRICAN USAGE, WILLIAM FAULKNER, "AFRICAN AMERICAN," and "DEROGATORY TERM"

For the African Section, someone needs to track down sources on Africans preferring the term "nigger." My wife and I spent three weeks in Tanzania, Africa, and our translator told us that "nigger" was a compliment to his people. I guess they think that "blacker" is better, so to speak. This is anecdotal and localized as to our personal experience; so, some research will need to be performed. This would be an important improvement in the "Africa" section.

In the section on Literary usage, someone might want to add citations from famed Mississippi author, William Faulkner, who put the word in the mouths of his characters in order to accurately reflect the time-setting of his characters. This would be an important addition to that section.

Also, there are a couple of places where the politically correct, but questionably accurate, term, "African-American," is used. It would probably be better to use the term, "black," since the article already acknowledges that "black" rarely ever causes offense. It is accurate, since "whites" are not referred to as "Anglo-American" or "European-American," and since many true native Africans who have become American citizens are actually white, and they have more right to wear the term, since they have actually lived in Africa. "Black" causes niether confusion nor offense. So, why don't we use it rather than trying to be politically correct?

Finally, the opening lines of the piece states that "nigger" is a "derogatory term" that is used to refer to dark or brown-skinned people. Now, the rest of the article goes on to show that the term has become derogatory in recent times and in certain usages, primarily in North America and English speaking parts of Europe. Let's face it, the term is not intrinsically derogatory. There is nothing "in and of itself" derogatory about the term. That statement does not mesh well with the rest of the article; it is not necessary; and it smacks of political correctness used as an attempt to keep someone from bursting a blood vessel upon reading the first line. Yes, people are hypersensitive. So, the first line could simply read: "Nigger is a term often used derogatorily to refer to...."