I don't really know where to start. I've read the alleged tweet from Gwyneth Paltrow that said "niggas in paris onstage for real", and the backlash that she has received from the black community. I say alleged only because The Dream claims that now it was him who sent the tweet from her phone, but we all know that was a cover up for a friend/associate. But the thing that probably sits on my mind more than Gwen sending that tweet is how "we" become so offended when we hear this word, how we feel as if the speaker has just slapped our mother and then spit in her face. I will say that I am guilty for using the word nigga. And for the record, nigga and nigger aren't really different. Sometimes I do try to justify it at times by saying that a "nigger" is an ignorant person and this can go for anyone, regardless of race, whereas a "nigga" is a term of endearment(yeah, I don't even believe the bullshit myself).
Let me start with this word in general. I hear this word being spoken probably hundreds of times everyday from my own people. But we get upset when we hear someone else say it? A word that we have now made mainstream and acceptable, but we supposedly are so hurt by it. We out here ready to whoop a "niggas" ass over pussy or money, ready to pop a "nigga" for being disrespected, but we expect another race to respect us enough not to say the word. NIGGA PLEASE!! The Dream made some very interesting statements in Ms. Paltrow's defense. One, we give the word too much power over us. It's a word. Like he said, racism is in actions, not words. True, words are very powerful, but only as powerful as you allow them to be. Like the old adage goes, "sticks and stones may break my bones.....". We can't stop anybody from speaking their mind. So stop trying. Another point being made was how niggas become the most righteous after they are called a nigga. So 30 minutes ago you was sitting around selling crack to your people, ready to shoot at your people, breaking into your people's house, but now that this white man has called you a nigga, you are ready to become the face of your people and defend them. NIGGA PLEASE!! If your homeboy calls you a nigga, treat him the same way that you would treat a white person. Now I understand the significance of the word. Definitely not downplaying that because I know what our people have been through. Key word is THROUGH. We have moved on from it, and with that being said, we should be moving on from the word too. Let's not forget it, but leave it in the Smithsonian Museum with all of the other slavery items. I read a comment where a young lady was saying "when you can call another race a derogatory term and get away with it, then that's when you can call me a nigga". But you don't hear Jews calling each other Kikes, you don't hear Mexicans calling each other Wetbacks. We going around calling each other words that we don't want others to call us. Niggas has never, nor will it ever, be owned by black people. And if you think you deserve to say it because of what your ancestors endured, then NIGGA PLEASE!!
Now for Ms. Paltrow, she states that she didn't know it would cause such an uproar. I don't believe she thought she could tweet it and nothing would happened. Who knows what she was thinking right before hitting the send button. But unfortunately, a lot of blacks are not that far removed from what happened. Some of us still have certains wounds that haven't healed based off of individual situations. But I can understand what she was saying. The song is called "Niggas In Paris". The self-proclaimed niggas(Jay & Ye) were literally in Paris, performing this song 11 times in a row. So niggas were in Paris, onstage, for real. She was speaking on the title of the song and stating that Jay & Ye are actually where they claimed to be, that this wasn't just a title but an actual fact.
When we out in public, calling each other nigga this and nigga that in front of other races, what gives us the right to say "hold up, you can't say this word. This is OUR word"?? That shit makes us niggERS! Just speaking my mind, that's all. Hope no one was offended by this post. "It's just my thoughts man, right or wrong. Just what I was feeling at the time". And if you are feeling salty about this post, I will offer these parting words: NIGGA PLEASE!!
