Newspaper Page Text
March 5, 1992
Clark Atlanta University Panther
Page 5
A Thought...
Derogatory Slang in the African American Language
By Chandra R. Thomas
Lifestyle Page Editor
Derogatory terminology in the African American community is gaining
too much popularity.
When I hear the word N my head does not turn. Yours shouldn't
either. As I walk around campus, look at television, listen to music, or do
anything amongst my African-American brothers and sisters, I hear “that
word.” Phrases like “What’s up my N ?” and ‘That's my N ” are
most prevalent.
When I’m among whites, I rarely hear the term. A student told me that
it was a “friendly term” for African-Americans to greet each other. However,
the same student also stated that he would fight any White person who even
whispered the words.
As shocking as it may sound, I have personally never been referred to
as a N to my face by any other race but my own African-American. I
find that quite disturbing. I’ve never heard any Whites say to each other
“What’s up Red ,” How are you C PorThat’smyH .” For some
reason I don’t feel that it would be a welcomed greeting.
Excuse me, do I need to repeat Spike Lee’s advice “wake up?” Didn’t your
forefathers fight hard and shed blood to evade this demeaning, degrading,
derogatory and stereotypical appellation.
As African-Americans we should respect the sacrifices that our forefa
thers and respect ourselves more. Realize that the word N says
nothing about who you are or where you are going. The title N should
only serve as a mere reminder of our brutal past. It should evoke memories
of what Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, and
Malcolm X have worked hard to overcome. It should remind you of the
hatred of its origin. N should be symbolic of the struggle that continues
for African-Americans. Regardless of all the “fortune and fame” you may
achieve, to some you will always be only a N .
So why not substitute those negative phrases for more positive ones like
“Hello Sister," “What’s up my brother?” or even “Hey Homey."
Next time someone calls you a N——quote the rap group Public
Enemy and say”I don’t wanna be called ‘Yo N ’. “
An After Thought . . .
Negativity in the African American Vocabulary
By Joey Pereira
Contributing Writer
Whas’ Up My N ?, wait a second I like this one the best, Whas’
Up _ _ ( a garden tool)? Are these terms of endearment that we love to call
ourselves or are they terms that we have been trying to rid ourselves of since
the “superfly era”. What is so wrong with greeting each other with a simple
-’’Hello, how are you doing?” It’s not like I’m trying to be white, it’sjust being
right and respectful. Black women do not need to be called and labeled as
female dogs, garden tools and sex objects. As beautiful as they are and
as much as they have gone through since the beginning of time I’m sure you
can understand.
I can’t believe that we are in college, at “one exceptional university.” but
we are not acting like mature, exceptional men and women. I must be
honest, I have used those terms but not once has it made me feel good.
What is the problem? I have asked myself countless times and all I have
come up with is more questions. Everywhere I go all I ever hear is, N
- this, N -that. H- this, H-that, or life ain’t nothin but b and
money, (thank you our supposed rappin’ role models) Role Model, that's a
joke. Don’t get me wrong, there are some really on the tip brothers out there
slammin some dope beats and lyrics, but for the others that have so much
attention glamorizing the NIGG&Z4LIFE junk need to get a grip on life. I am
nobody's N never was, never will be, neither are the people I love and
respect, and neither are my Homeboys and Homegirls. It's cool to be down
and all that, but it’s not cool to be down in the dirt. Think about it, this is
how we are treating one another, just like dirt. I don’t know. I've always
grown up to believe that we come from the greatest people that the human
race had to offer, I hope that my mind is playing trick’s on me.
Other ethnic groups do not use derogatory phrases as terms of
endearment. Only us, only us N do such malice to our race. Alter all
the trials and tribulations our forefathers went through, and from all the
greatness we derive, we should have more pride. We are not N we
were never bom N —— but we will die N as long as we think we are.
Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton
Photo By Everett Hamilton
Mind Your Own Business
By Avice I. Marshall
Contributing Writer
Bill Clinton’s personal life is his
own business. The sex life of a
politician is his or her own busi
ness. The public does not need to
know anything about his sexual
life.
The voters do not need to know
what Gov. Clinton is doing in his
spare time. I think that his extra
marital affair with Gennifer Flowers
should not have been publicized by
the media. His affair with Ms. Flow
ers was highly publicized by the
media and it will have an affect on
his chances in the presidential race.
According to an Atlanta Journal
Constitution survey, slightly more
when he wrote the letter as a ‘deeply
agitated young man.” But, he said,
“The bottom line was that I was not
a draft dodger.”
He argued that he had actually
put himself in the draft “because
nearly everybody else had been
called, because I had friends that
had been wounded, friends who
had been killed.”
The Bush administration needs
to find something to that will keep
them occupied, so that they can
stay out of Gov. Clinton’s personal
life.
He told his supporters that he
was on the ropes and he asked for
a second chance. They say I’m on
the ropes now, not because of any
thing I’ve done in my public life...
than a third of the adults surveyed
thought voters had a right to know.
Many men have fooled around on
their spouses. The only thing that
really matters is whether Gov.
Clinton will be a good president.
Gov. Clinton should not be op
posed because of his extra-marital
affair and his attempt to escape the
Vietnam War. I think that the Bush
administration violated privacy laws
when they obtained the letter. There
fore, he released the letter in order to
save his Democratic campaign. In a
television appearance on “Nightline,”
“Gov. Clinton described himself
I’m on the ropes now because other
people have questioned my life af
ter years of public service.” (The
Atlanta Constitution 2/13/92)
Recently, Gov. Clinton’s oppo
nent Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, a
Vietnam War hero said that Clinton
cannot win the presidential race
because he avoided the Vietnam
draft. Sen. Kerrey does not know
what Gov. Clinton is capable of
doing. In the past, Sen. Kerrey did
not have much to say about Gov.
Clinton’s draft status and now he
wants to talk about it.
Editorial Editor’s Note
The Panther welcomes letters to the editor in
response to any article that may have appeared in
a past issue or to voice concerns to topics that
have not been discussed in this newspaper. Origi
nal poems and cartoons can also be submitted for
the Perspectives section.
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