| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 9:16:57 AM | NAACP wins on "" in dictionary
A Small Victory...A Giant Step (Thanks NAACP)
There has been a change in Webster's Dictionary. Kweisi Mfume,
President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP), recently gave a speech at Virginia Tech.
Everyone was informed that a landmark decision was made last week
with the people at Merriam-Webster Dictionary. They have recognized
the error of their ways.
So, beginning with the next edition, the word will no longer
be synonymous with African-Americans. It shall be duly noted that
it's a racial slur and not what African-American see themselves as.
Along with this, all racial and religious slurs will finally be
indicated for what they really are - cruel and evil slurs too often
used to degrade people.
What do you guys think? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 11:40:35 AM | | Can't really comment without knowing exactly what word/words are being talked about. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 11:59:49 AM | Really? You honestly don't know what word? It begins with N ends with R and has igge inbetween.
My thoughts, whatever, does that mean cracker should have the same social stigma then to? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 1:26:58 PM | ^^^^^ I don't know. What do YOU think? Should it? Has it had the same history and social stigma?
I think you know the answer to those last two questions. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 1:35:31 PM | | It doesn't matter how much history it has had used in that manner. It is meant as a derogatory, racial slur. I am not condoning the use of the N word but I do not see the difference between the two slurs. If you want to get technical, the N word would be more appropriate since it does refer to someone coming from a specific country. Whereas Cracker is just a made up definition meant to be hurtful. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 7:13:04 PM | Are they also going to take out "honky"
* whitey: (slang) offensive names for a White man
* Honky, Honkey or Honkie is a predominantly American derogatory racial slur for white people.
I mean if they're going to remove derogatory racial slurs ... let's get them all out ... eh? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 7:39:05 PM |
It shall be duly noted that
it's a racial slur and not what African-American see themselves as.
Along with this, all racial and religious slurs will finally be
indicated for what they really are - cruel and evil slurs too often
used to degrade people.
Um, doesn't this indicate that all the words you folks are bandying about would also get modified definitions? And Cotter, it's not being removed, just redefined.
Dave | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 8:27:14 PM | Only because this thread deserves it.
<div class="quote">Racist Word Association Interview
Written by: Paul Mooney
Interviewer.....Chevy Chase
Mr. Wilson.....Richard Pryor
Interviewer: Alright, Mr. Wilson, you've done just fine on the Rorshact.. your papers are in good order.. your file's fine.. no difficulties with your motor skills.. And I think you're probably ready for this job. We've got one more psychological test we always do here. It's just a Word Association. I'll throw you out a few words - anything that comes to your mind, just throw back at me, okay? It's kind of an arbitrary thing. Like, if I say "dog", you'd say..?
Mr. Wilson: "Tree".
Interviewer: "Tree". [ nods head, prepares the test papers ] "Dog".
Mr. Wilson: "Tree".
Interviewer: "Fast".
Mr. Wilson: "Slow".
Interviewer: "Rain".
Mr. Wilson: "Snow".
Interviewer: "White".
Mr. Wilson: "Black".
Interviewer: "Bean".
Mr. Wilson: "Pod".
Interviewer: [ casually ] "Negro".
Mr. Wilson: "Whitey".
Interviewer: "Tarbaby".
Mr. Wilson: [ silent, sure he didn't hear what he thinks he heard ] What'd you say?
Interviewer: [ repeating ] "Tarbaby".
Mr. Wilson: "Ofay".
Interviewer: "Colored".
Mr. Wilson: "Redneck".
Interviewer: "Junglebunny".
Mr. Wilson: [ starting to get angry ] "Peckerwood!"
Interviewer: "Burrhead".
Mr. Wilson: [ defensive ] "Cracker!"
Interviewer: [ aggressive ] "Spearchucker".
Mr. Wilson: "White trash!"
Interviewer: "Jungle Bunny!"
Mr. Wilson: [ upset ] "Honky!"
Interviewer: "Spade!
Mr. Wilson: [ really upset ] "Honky Honky!"
Interviewer: [ relentless ] "N*****!"
Mr. Wilson: [ immediate ] "Dead honky!" [ face starts to flinch ]
Interviewer: [ quickly wraps the interview up ] Okay, Mr. Wilson, I think you're qualified for this job. How about a starting salary of $5,000?
Mr. Wilson: Your momma!
Interviewer: [ fumbling ] Uh.. $7,500 a year?
Mr. Wilson: Your grandmomma!
Interviewer: [ desperate ] $15,000, Mr. Wilson. You'll be the highest paid janitor in America. Just, don't.. don't hurt me, please..
Mr. Wilson: Okay.
Interviewer: [ relieved ] Okay.
Mr. Wilson: You want me to start now?
Interviewer: Oh, no, no.. that's alright. I'll clean all this up. Take a couple of weeks off, you look tired.
[ fade ] | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/28/2009 11:53:55 PM |
Um, doesn't this indicate that all the words you folks are bandying about would also get modified definitions? And Cotter, it's not being removed, just redefined.
Dave
That's exactly what it says. Thanks for pointing that out. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/29/2009 1:35:41 AM |
I mean if they're going to remove derogatory racial slurs ... let's get them all out ... eh?
Oh come on cotter. NACP didn't remove it Nigg*r, read the post! They had it changed to make it state that it was a racist slur, and so it was no longer considered a synonym, you know another word for the same thing?
Additionally? The definition of Honky in webster?
usually disparaging : a white person,
It HAS no synonym in webster. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/29/2009 8:05:15 AM |
What do you guys think? Why bother to ask? Puleeze ... who in their right mind would come in here and say something like ..."Oh no!!! I want that word to stay in there just as it always was."
I never used the word, never considered using the word and basically ignored it as I would any other racial slur.
OP ... would you have been the least bit interested in a topic like this if it were a similar word that slurred (for example) a Native American? A Mexican? A German? A French?
I get kind of tired of having people place sooooo much emphasis on anything regarding different races.
I thought it was great to have "Black History" month, but for me it's just as important to have "Native American History" month. You know, if the Native Americans hadn't done so much for the first people who arrived here, they probably would have perished. Likewise, I think it's just as important to have "German History" month. My German ancestor was a slave and was never freed as the black slaves were. I think it's just as important to have "Chinese History" month ... without their dedication ("slavery"), we wouldn't have ever been able to finish the railroad as we did from East to West.
I think we each have our own special interests, but see no reason to be broadcasting it always as some sort of "landmark" thing. I take that back. I think it would be a "landmark" thing to give the Native Americans back their land ... eh?
I don't see changing the wording in a dictionary as something that needs to be labeled "landmark". If the change makes people feel better about themself, then good, but "landmark"? That's like saying the change was "earth shattering". | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/29/2009 8:56:42 AM | Very well put cotter. Does this "landmark" decision really change anything? I mean do you suddenly think there won't be another single racist in the world? If you really think that it changes things, other than some print in a book I feel sorry for you.
Reality is, that racism no matter how hard we try will always be there. My honest opinion is that all the time and effort spent by the NAACP on this was wasted.
OP one more question. If this was such a "landmark" decision, why have we not seen more opinions from the African American community here? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/30/2009 9:59:37 AM |
OP one more question. If this was such a "landmark" decision, why have we not seen more opinions from the African American community here?
I'd say it's primarily a function that you don't see many African Americans on the forums period. I can think of maybe 4 who post regularly in the politics, and current events forums | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/31/2009 3:28:54 AM | | Sooooo...... I guess I've just never bothered to look that word up in the dictionary or something, but if it's now being changed to a racial slur, what in the world was it defined as before? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/31/2009 6:47:45 AM | I'm all for admitting that certain words have been used as a racial slur. I grew up with people who used those words, and clearly used them as a racial slur, so I'd say that it is entirely fair.
However, if any word is used ONLY as a racial slur, then why does it matter who uses it? If an African-American calls someone a N****R, why should it be any less of a racial slur than if a Caucasian uses it? If there is a difference, then the word cannot be a racial slur, only in the way that it is used, and then, a Caucasian should be able to use it, as long as he doesn't use it in an insulting way. Or, it should not matter who uses it, and everyone who uses it should be called a racist, and treated accordingly.
cleve rides again: My thoughts, whatever, does that mean cracker should have the same social stigma then to?
Ameerra: ^^^^^ I don't know. What do YOU think? Should it? Has it had the same history and social stigma? If you've never been called "cracker", and none of the people in the group you identify with have been called "cracker" either, you cannot really say, now, can you?
It may not have had quite the same length of time of usage that other words have. But if someone called me "cracker", my first inclination would be that they're a racist, and likely to be violent to me.
By the way, are they going to re-write the definitions of "Zionist" as well? Or are they just going to let some people continue to refer to patriots of their country as racists? Or are they going to call American patriots racists instead? I'd accept that. At least there would be no double standard. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 5/31/2009 4:22:35 PM | The odd thing is, the most I've heard the word used in the last ten or fifteen years is black people calling each other (the word), so they don't see themselves as but they see one another as?
So what's the new definition? A greeting used between members of the same street gang?
The word is in what? One out of three rap songs written in the last ten years? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/1/2009 11:27:44 AM |
So what's the new definition? A greeting used between members of the same street gang?
The word is in what? One out of three rap songs written in the last ten years? Now that I think about it, when I worked at the Tampa jail, I heard blacks calling each other the "N" word all the time.
I wondered at the time why it's bad if a white person calls a black person that name and yet the blacks get by with it ... it's okay if they call each other that name, but not if a white person does it? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/1/2009 4:46:54 PM | That's actually a pretty good point. I never thought that about either. It certainly seems much more common to hear a black person say it than a white person these days. So what's the more accurate definition now?
I suppose you could put "nigga" in the dictionary as a different word altogether. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/1/2009 8:05:17 PM | I wondered at the time why it's bad if a white person calls a black person that name and yet the blacks get by with it ... it's okay if they call each other that name, but not if a white person does it?
It's a good point made out of ignorance. Black people who call each other the "N" word do so in the same way that a child of an alcoholic goes on to become an alchoholic.
Historically, African-American's picked up the bad habit of referring to themselves by the derogatory term N***a from their slave masters and never stopped.
To and from each otherthe word does not hold the same meaning as it does when it is coming from the lips of a racist.
What has been acknowledged is that the word was created to demean and debase a race of people. As often as people use the dictionary in forum debates to substantiate and/or clarify meaning, I can't imagine that anyone would minimize the important of a clear and concise statement in the dictionary, defining the N word as the racial slur that is was always meant to be. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/1/2009 9:20:50 PM |
I wondered at the time why it's bad if a white person calls a black person that name and yet the blacks get by with it ... it's okay if they call each other that name, but not if a white person does it? It's a good point made out of ignorance.
Black people who call each other the "N" word do so in the same way that a child of an alcoholic goes on to become an alchoholic. So it's "learned"? I doubt that.
But let's just say you're right. If it's "learned", then you're saying that little black children grow up calling each other the "N" word at home and that's okay, but if "Whitey"/"Honky" says it at school, that's a racial slur? Huh?
BTW ... some children become alcoholics because it's genetic. Calling people by racial slurs is not genetic ... eh?
To and from each otherthe word does not hold the same meaning as it does when it is coming from the lips of a racist. Sounds like a double standard to me.
What you're saying here is that it's a double standard. Black Americans are only insulted at being called that name if a "Whitey"/"Honky" calls the name?
Aren't there "Whitey" rap stars using it? If the "black" rap stars are using it, that's sanctioned, but if a "Whitey" uses it, that's a racial slur? Huh? Say what?
Listen, sister, you can't have it both ways.
And also, the change, is not "Landmark". It's not going to change those who use the word.
I have never used it and don't intend to start. I did not teach my "Whitey"/"Honky" children to use it either and have never ... EVER ... heard them utter the word. (One of my three ... blond/blue-eyed ... daughters married a black man. ) I have worked with black people who use it with each other and think nothing of uttering the word.
I think the emphasis right now on this is nothing more than just what it is ... someone is changing the dictionary.
So what? | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/1/2009 9:39:51 PM |
Sounds like a double standard to me.What you're saying here is that it's a double standard. Black Americans are only insulted at being called that name if a "Honky" or "Whitey" calls the name?
It depends on whether or not they know each other. I've heard black, asian and white kids here refer to each other as 'my ni...r'. It gets on my nerves, but they use it as a term of endearment.
I've also seen white posters in the forums use derogatory terms when referring to other whites, and no one bats an eye. So I guess the double standard works both ways.
I did not know about this OP, so thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Brandie | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/1/2009 11:27:55 PM |
I wondered at the time why it's bad if a white person calls a black person that name and yet the blacks get by with it ... it's okay if they call each other that name, but not if a white person does it?
Same reason gays call each other faggot, or if your boyfriend calls you honey it's fine, but some greasy stranger calls you honey it's not ok.
Context matters. | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/2/2009 6:17:28 AM |
So it's "learned"? I doubt that.
Just because you doubt something doesn't make it not true. You're not black, so you don't know.
Sounds like a double standard to me.
What you're saying here is that it's a double standard. Black Americans are only insulted at being called that name if a "Whitey"/"Honky" calls the name?
Yep. And it would not be the first double standard to exist in this world and it will not be the last.
Aren't there "Whitey" rap stars using it?
Nope. Can you name one? I listen to rap and I've never heard a white rapper, of which there are a few, use the N word. He knows it won't be rec'd well, so he doesn't go there. Avoids the controversy.
If the "black" rap stars are using it, that's sanctioned, but if a "Whitey" uses it, that's a racial slur? Huh? Say what?
You're getting caught up in right and wrong and I'm just talking about what is. Yes, it a black person calls their friend, My N***a, it won't be a big deal between them, and nine times out of ten if another black person calls him that, s/he won't have a problem with it.
But if a White person uses the same term the assumption is going to be that he means something derogatory by it. It is what it is and unless you go back and change the racial history of this country you're not going to change that. Well, maybe this is a start.
Listen, sister, you can't have it both ways.
Um, yeah, whatever -- it's not about me. And it is what it is.
And also, the change, is not "Landmark". It's not going to change those who use the word.
Maybe it will; maybe it won't. You can't predict the future and neither can I.
I have never used it and don't intend to start. I did not teach my "Whitey"/"Honky" children to use it either and have never ... EVER ... heard them utter the word. (One of my three ... blond/blue-eyed ... daughters married a black man. ) I have worked with black people who use it with each other and think nothing of uttering the word.
Wow, this is such an interesting statement. I can't imagine why you referred to your own children as "whitey/honky"; I don't understand why you felt the need to tell us that your "blond/blue-eyed" daughter is married to a black man -- soooo?
And why did you mention that you work with black people who use it with each other and think nothing of it -- I've already told you that.
I think the emphasis right now on this is nothing more than just what it is ... someone is changing the dictionary.
So what?
If it's no big deal TO YOU -- why are you making such a big deal of it?
Me thinks thouest protest too much. I just posted some information and polled the audience for their thoughts. A simple "I don't care" would have sufficed.  | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/2/2009 6:27:45 AM | Regardless of who's using it for what reason ... changing it in a book is not "landmark" or "earth shattering".
It's nothing more than changing the wording in a book. So what?
For those of us who do not use racial slurs ... it's not "landmark" or "earth shattering" news.
PS ... I was using the words "Whitey"/"Honky" because apparently blacks think that's okay to use on Caucasians, (which is in my opinion a racial slur) but it's not okay for Caucasians to us the "N" word on them. What's that all about?
So, it's okay if blacks use racial slurs to describe anyone who is not black, but the reverse is never okay ... right?
It really doesn't matter to me one way or the other because I never go around shouting out or blurting out racial slurs to people.
And just BTW ... I have seen/heard plenty of Caucasian rappers emulating black rappers ... heard Caucasians playing that rapper crap driving around in their BA-BOOM BA-BOOM pimped out cars. So, yes, whites do appear to use it with no consequence whatsoever.
If blacks don't want whites using the word, they probably need to stop putting in the lyrics of the so-called rapper crap. (As a musician, I can't bring myself to call that crap "music".)
 | |
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| NAACP Wins Dictionary Battle
Posted: 6/2/2009 8:58:43 AM | The point is that words have meaning. To complicate matters, words have meaning that evolves over time. The dictionary is sometimes slow to acknowledge this evolution in meaning. So, it is noteworthy sometimes to announce when the dictionary has finally caught up, as in this racially charged example.
So, it's okay if blacks use racial slurs to describe anyone who is not black, but the reverse is never okay ... right?
Considering the imbalance between the races that has existed in history, this very slight imbalance tipping the other way is a very minor issue, IMO. For the record, I haven't heard the word "honky" except on TV. Double standards abound in society, though, and some are much more accepted than others-- women can wear men's jeans just fine, but have you seen a man wear women's jeans? I sure haven't.
And "rapper crap"? It is too bad that you do not choose to express yourself without getting condescending cultural digs in. If not music, perhaps you could call it "rhythmic poetry" instead of "crap." | |
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