Nubian > N***a

A poem advocating for the N word to get buried.

How could we ever reclaim something that was never ours to begin with? Some say the N word comes from Egypt but I won't perpetuate the trend of this. In Egypt N-GR was a term for God, separate word and very distinct, when they disparaged our people they weren't calling them Gods, they were denigrating them, with resent! Colonizers, the morally inferior, made US feel inferior. Constantly going to foreign lands and sparking chaos the moment they step on the interior. Told us we were monkeys, savages, and subhuman, and put it all in one word. My pineal gland is activated got a higher perspective so I won't follow the herd! I'm constantly hearing my peers say n***a like it's nothin, stop and think about that. I don't hear other ethnic groups address each other with slurs, now think about that. Through all that we been through it's a must we do all we can to support and uplift one another, we can start by burying the colonizers word and embracing something better like sisters and brothers. I'm a Nubian, I'm a Negus, I'm a Naga, a Pharaoh but never been a n***a. That's repugnant and distasteful out the wrong mouth that word stings like a BB Gun's trigger. I feel like the ancestors roll in their graves at the utter of the word, do you really want that? You gotta be blind and deaf and dumb to defend such ignorance, I don't wanna hear none that. Racist people laugh everytime you blurt that term, so I'm with Trevor Noah. All my fellow rappers out there take heed cuz we can do better, elevate and grow up. Nubian Brother, Nubian Sister, those are terms of endearment that reflect our greatness. I know one day many more of us will wake up, I'll just keep my patience.

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

The origin of the word stems from the Latin "niger," which means black or the Spanish word "negro," meaning the same. Those words are not derogatory and refer to the color black only. No matter what its origins, the derogatory form of it, which I won't even use, is highly offensive.

We got into a debate over this some years ago at work. Myself and another white co-worker were basically having an argument with a black male who was basically saying that white people couldn't use the word but that it was fine for black people to call one another by that name. I was literally gobsmacked. He had a four-year old daughter! I told him that the word was indecent and should never be used by anyone. He was relentless and would not back down from his position until our CFO, a black man, agreed with us and told him that it was inappropriate for anyone of any color to use it when referring to someone else. I also don't think it's acceptable to call women b*****s and hoes. I'm sure if someone called his daughter that he'd want to punch them in the nose. In short, I think it is meant to disparage and devalue anyone that it is used against, whether it be an individual or an entire race of people.

As a white woman, I hate the word. It's as offensive to me as the "C" word to a woman, which I think is one of the worst things you could ever call a woman.

I can only speak for myself and how I feel about it and could go into a lot of detail as to why, rooted in my childhood, but I will spare you. It just seems to me that the word endures because it is used over and over again, even by the people it insults. When rooted in such ugly history, I just don't see how using it is positive in any way. The same thing goes for degrading women and glamorizing violence.

Words have meaning; and if words hurt, people should be mindful and respectful enough not to use them. I would no sooner embrace the "C" word and refer to myself as one or call a friend one. That would never be cool - EVER!

I am really glad to hear your perspective on this and hope that others will embrace this as well. You cannot stab yourself with a sword someone else has used against you and expect it to feel good. In any hand, it's a weapon. Well penned.

P.S.: Welcome to the Café.

[King Za]

Thanks. I've gotten into debates with people about this too. When I was a kid/early teen I had this same mindset, that no one should use the word. But with me being around so many friends/peers who used it all day everyday, and then on top of that, constantly hearing rappers, comedians, etc use it non stop, then I started to think it was OK for us (Black people) to use it. But then as I got older (in my post high school years), I became more enlightened and I learned a lot more about history. And then I realized, I had the right mindset from the start. We're the only ethnic group in the world that tries to use a derogatory word as a term of endearment. And we can do better. By the way I screenshoted your last sentence, I like that.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you. It came to me naturally after reading and responding to your work. I hope that others will review this to affirm what you say. Hopefully maturity and wisdom will come to us all along the way. Be well.

[King Za]

Definitely. You too.