The Word That Must Not Be Said

I hate it. I swear alot. But its the 1 word i will never say. No one should say it at all

 

I’m allowed to say it I guess because I’m mixed lol but the times I’ve said it, it sounded cringey and felt cringey. You can tell it’s not in my vocabulary.🤔

 

Yehh ive said it once before. And it made me feel sick the instant it came out of my mouth. Like actul physically like i needed to throw up

 

Idk. My body reacted that way not me. Either way i see it as only a bad word that no one should say ever. Its hypocritical and double standards to say its bad for some people to say it but fine for others. Its either fine for all or bad for all. And i vote bad for all coz its fuckn disgusting

 

You should absolutely not be using either version. I can explain why further in detail if you’re curious, but using that word is extremely disrespectful if you’re not black. It also makes a lot of us uncomfortable.
ALSO— we are just people! Like you! Really, no difference. Please don’t call us “African Americans” like we’re a specimen you’re discussing, just call us black. That’s what most black folk, in my experience, have been comfortable with. Myself included ofc.

 

It’s actually not double standards. There’s a lot that goes behind why it’s ok for a black person to say it and not a white person. Honestly, when I was in high school I used to feel the SAME way! That it was “hypocritical” and that anyone should be able to say it. Another black girl called me out for it and I doubled down. It took me years to understand that I had been wrong. If that word passes your lips as a white person you absolutely should feel sick! Also, black folks don’t refer to each other w/ the hard -r! If a white person does it that’s unforgivable. But even w/ an -a, it’s an extremely racist action for any non black person! (Not just white people)

 

The way i see it is if black people keep calling each other it they just normalizing the word so everyone gonna keep seeing it as ok. The word is either ok or not ok. No matter who says it. And to me the word needs deleted from everyones brain and from existence

 

Okay so try not to think of us as “black people” and think of us as people who are black. Being black, a lot of us have been called that word or faces racism growing up. When we say the word it’s kind of like subverting the meaning it originally had. When we say it it’s a joking, friendly thing. When a white person says it, they are speaking a word that is not their own trauma or their own experience. We essentially “reclaim” it. It’s like, maybe you have friend who gets made fun of for something. Then they nickname themselves after what they were harassed for to kind of try to throw it in the bullies’ face. I remember an ad for a movie years ago (Pitch Perfect?) where one of the characters called herself Fat Amy so “bxtches like you can’t do it behind her back.” It’s kind of like those situations except on a much deeper level that’s hard to explain over a few posts on social media.

What sucks is that white people don’t NEED to say it, and it feels like the fact that white folks shouldn’t be saying them makes them want to more. For many black people, it feels like let us have this ONE thing. I’ve been called it with a hard -r, I’ve been called a mutt, I’ve dealt w a lot. It’s a lot different when a black person says that word around me vs. a white person.

I think, if you really are open to alternate perspectives and to learning, listen to “I’m Not Racist” by Joyner Lucas, or read the lyrics. It’s a rap song split into the perspective of a trump supporter, and a black person. If you read the lyrics, definitely focus on the experiences behind some of what’s being said, and why that creates such deep emotion for black folks. (The first half is the imaginary trump supporter, the second half is Joyner Lucas.)

 

Sorry, I forgot to add this to my last post, but it was so long I figured I’d just reply again and split it up.
If the following feels aggressive to you or you feel defensive towards the end of it, please clear your mind and understand that Joyner’s song IS a deeply emotional vent. He feels angry at racists and at racist behavior because of what so many black have had to cope with.
Here’s a section of lyrics from the aforementioned song that kinda express my viewpoint.