The Word Nigger Essays -- Definition History Nigga Nigger Black Essays

The Word Nigger My niggas. Some niggas that you dont wanna try.My niggas. Some niggas thats really do or die.My niggas. Aint no long-lasting living a lie.My niggas is stong. My niggas is real. Does this artist use the word nigger in the same way that racists have and still ar? The answer to this unbelief is a simple one- no. Todays urban fraternity have changed, not only the definition, but also the spelling of this word, which was one time utilize to belittle those of Afri git-American decent. Now, the definition as proved through and through todays urban youth h out of dates many denotations- positive and negative. entirely has the definition really changed? Or are todays urban inn just being ignorant and socially blinded by the hardships of our ancestors as they continue to use a word that held such long racial tension when apply in the 1800s? Two answers for this one- yes and no. Yes the definition has changed, but not totally to where its precedent has been forgotten. In fact, urban youth are so socially powerful that they can take a word and totally flip it and use it inwardly themselves but when one of another wash drawing uses it, they return it back to the old definition and the racial remarks commence.The definitions of the word nigger are as follows1.a total darkness 2.loosely or incorrectly applied to members of dark-skinned race 3.a vulgar offensive term of hostility and contempt as used by Negrophobes Nigger (etymology)1.Latin niger becomes Spanish and Portugese Negro used in France for minatory man especially in Africa adapted by the English2.latin niger, for black, occurs in such river names as the Rio Negro in South America and the Niger f Central West Africa. When used by a white person to describe a black or African American person, this can be the most hateful hurtful, offensive term in the language today. This word in American speech dates back to the late 16th century, although the modern spelling doesnt advance until two centuries later. The obsolete spelling niger dates to 1574. It derives from the Latin niger meaning black. It shares this common ensconce with negro. The first recorded use of the word nigger was in 1786 in a poem by Robert Burns yet variations on it including negar, neger, and niger are recorded two centuries before then. The offensiveness of the term has increased ov... ...ds in the air and scream.In this thesis, Ive actually learned a a few(prenominal) things. From looking up the word in etymology books, I concluded that the society has come to realize that we do use the word amongst ourselves but neer to the extent to which it has been used centuries ago towards our ancestors. One book quotes African Americans normally use the word in different ways among themelves 1. DMX, Interlude, (Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, 1998)2. Nigger. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary ed. 19733. DMX, Interlude, (Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, 1998)4. Nigger. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary ed. 19735. Nigger Websters triad New International Dictionry6. Nigger A Short Etymologica Dictionary of new-fangled English ORIGINS ed 19667. Nigga Dictionary for American Slang ed. 19958. Twain, quarry Hulckeberry Finn 9. Rice Jr., Earl The O.J.Simpson Trial San Diego, CALucent Books Inc, 199710. Peterson, Nina. Personal interview. 2 June 200011. Punisher, Big. limit Those (Yeaah Baby, 2000)12. Rush Hour (movie) 13. Scoop, Fat Man, Brooklyn Clan (Hot 97s mix tape)14. Nigger Encyclopedia of Word and Phase Origins ed 1997