Talk:Nigger

Greater prominence for 'nigga' topic?

First I'd like to say I'm quite pleased with how effectively this topic is addressed, both here and in the 'nigga' article. While I agree with the consensus against merging the two (above), I wonder whether anyone would agree that the link to the 'nigga' page demands a greater place of prominence here, possibly in the introduction? The 'nigga' term is obviously, a now-popular derivative of 'nigger', and I would argue that it has at least as much significance in modern society, due if nothing else to it's pervasive use in rap music and the significant position that genre occupies. Though I don't off-hand know of any surveys of the term's ubiquity in modern popular music, I would imagine documentation of that fact could be provided, even if through links to lyrics of many of the top-charting songs of the past couple decades — though I suspect such an approach might be considered original research? Any thoughts on this? Walkersam (talk) 11:38, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

N-word

I'm old enough to know the term "N-word" way predates the OJ Simpson trial. There's no citation in the article. 216.232.242.7 (talk) 00:03, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Seriously?

"Contemporaneously black Americans use the word nigger, often spelled in eye dialect as nigga and niggah, without irony, to either neutral effect or as a sign of solidarity.[11]"

I'm sorry but I certainly agree with a previous entry that this entire thing is quite obviously written by white Americans with an agenda to frame this word in a way that is convenient. It's sad unfortunately that some people actually come to Wikipedia looking for truly objective information and this article is not even close. Do you seriously think as a Caucasian you can state that black Americans use the word nigger as nigga or niggah? Who told you this? How many African Americans did you interview in preparation for that statement? This is sickening and disgusting how you seek to legitimize this racism in the manner which you have decided to employ.

I Motion that the title of this article be changed to "The Word Nigger As Understood And Expressed By Caucasians"

I agree. Those white people are all the same. Fucking honkeys!

This is disgusting 76.110.24.103(talk)

Ok genius, read this link, FROM THE ARTICLE, written by , yes, a black man. http://www.arthurkspears.com/papers/n-word.pdf

Asher196 (talk) 17:45, 13 February 2011 (UTC)

oh well that solves it! Especially since it's written by a black man. I wish someone had explained that to me and my family and friends long ago. Maybe, had we known this, we'd have acted and spoken accordingly. The point is Mr. Brain, it's a generalization and had it been written to implicate as such, it would be taken as such, but I assure you that the use of the word "nigger", "nigga", or "niggah", is not used and has never been used in many African American circles. I could go, but then what would be the point? 03:51, 14 February 2011 User:76.110.24.103

The point is, you were going off on a rant about how this article is written by white people who don't know what they are talking about, when in fact you really have NO IDEA who is contributing to this article. I actually agree with what you are saying, but if you disagree with the sourced content in the article, then add sourced content to the article that backs up what you are saying. I'm not saying your are right or wrong, just that we can't add whatever we want here. Content has to be backed up by WP:RS. Other than that, there is nothing stopping YOU from contributing to, or changing this article.Asher196 (talk) 14:46, 14 February 2011 (UTC)

This is not a fourm for you to vent about the article and make unfounded/irrelevant accusations. If you have a problem with the article please present it constructively. Making accusations that this was written only by caucasians will get you no where. This specific reference is cited. You have not presented anything that is cited. If you are going to contradict something back it up. 98.127.120.45 (talk) 22:39, 30 March 2011 (UTC)

intent?

I find this passage odd:

British English, nigger is now a derogatory and racist word. However, earlier, together with the original form of negro, the word was used without derogatory intent. For example, Victorian writer Rudyard Kipling used it in 'How the Leopard Got His Spots' and 'A Counting-Out Song' to illustrate the usage of the day. Likewise, P. G. Wodehouse used the phrase “Nigger minstrels” in Thank You, Jeeves (1934), the first Jeeves–Bertie novel, in admiration of their artistry and musical tradition. As recently as the 1950s, it was acceptable British usage to say niggers when referring to black people, notable in mainstream usages such as Nigger Boy–brand

First, the exampls provided do not illustrate intent, they only illustrate that the usage was common. Common usage implies nothing about intent. In fact, I am not so sure that intent is the issue. What makes the word offensive was the fact that Whites could address Blacks using this word, directly, when Blacks could not use equivalent words to directly address Whites. This is a perfect illustration of a racist situation. The person using the word does not have to personally intend to insult another individual. Racism is about collective inequalities, not personal insults. I understand the words can b used with conscious intent as a personal insult. I am just saying that what makes this so different from other personal insults is the way the term operated in the context of major inequalities between blacks and whites. Slrubenstein | Talk 18:14, 13 February 2011 (UTC)

It is not for us to interpret how Kipling used language. If anyone wants to suggest that in his work "nigger" did not at the time index racial superiority and oppression, fine - just so long as you can provide a reliable secondary source to support the claim. Slrubenstein | Talk 14:46, 20 February 2011 (UTC)

suggestion

could someone please add this example:

• Italian: nero or di colore (coloured) is neutral, negro is mainly considered as racist.

to the list in the article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 151.51.20.166 (talk) 16:34, 15 March 2011 (UTC)

and Korean maybe too?: "흑인" ("black person") is neutral, "검둥이" ("blackie") is perjorative. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.123.96.202 (talk) 16:04, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

Edit request from Lauradalrymple, 30 June 2011

The road referred was not known as "Nigger Grade" but was known as "Nigger Nate Grade". Your cite 64 references the correct name of the road, but the article does not. The road goes up Palomar Mountain to the observatory, ande went past his cabin.

"Nigger Grade", near Temecula, California, named for Nate Harrison, an ex-slave and settler, was renamed "Nate Harrison Grade" in 1955, at the request of the NAACP.[64]

Lauradalrymple (talk) 19:16, 30 June 2011 (UTC)

 Done --Funandtrvl (talk) 20:22, 1 July 2011 (UTC)

Add this? (Sweden)

In Sweden the word svart (black) is neutral, neger (negro) is often seen as moderately racist to some but not to all, nigger (nigger) is never used and is seen as EXTREMELY harsh.

Sources? Artem Karimov (talk) 20:14, 2 August 2011 (UTC)

Additions to definition

I think someone needs to add Potato Nigger to this article. It refers to people of Irish descent. 94.8.76.2 (talk) 12:54, 16 August 2011 (UTC)

Inclusion of nignog

I believe that nignog needs to be included in this article for informational purposes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.17.148.197 (talk) 23:38, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Well than you must be a very stupid person. 24.60.214.65 (talk) 19:49, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

The article is about an offensive word. If "nignog" is a word of similar derivation and similar meaning, perhaps it should be mentioned in passing. I don't see why suggesting so is a priori evidence of racism. (I've never heard of the word before today, so I have very little opinion about whether it is notable or relevant enough to mention.) Phiwum (talk) 02:52, 31 August 2011 (UTC)