How dare they try to copyright the N-word

New York Daily News ^ | February 27, 2006 | Stanley Crouch

[presidio9]

One of the most repulsively fascinating facts about contemporary black popular culture is how it continues to reach fresh lows. It finds new ways of leaping all fences that would bar it from falling into a bottomless pit of tastelessness. All of the insults and burdens of minstrelsy have been bested by black comedians and rappers who have made stupidity, hedonism, pimping, misogyny, pornography and violence their stock in trade. One defense of this amoral sense of life and culture is that black people didn't invent any of it, so why shouldn't they, like the white people, be able to make big money from it? As one imbecilic black man in television said to me, "I ain't hating on these brothers. All they are doing is dealing with a market the same way that the white people do. This is capitalism and they're responding to a market. You know the old saying, 'Whatever the market will bear.' "

Now we find that comedian Damon Wayans has spent the past 14 months trying to copyright the N-word with "iggas" instead of "iggers." He wants to put it on apparel and whatnot. So far, he has not been successful but one can imagine young American kids wearing that word emblazoned on clothes and listening to rap "songs" in which the N-word frequently appears, in conjunction with "bitches" and "hos," among other denigrations.

Of course, there is a defense. One Hollywood Negro said that "Damon is no fool. He might be pulling a Brer Rabbit move that would mean that he would take control of the word and make everyone pay to use it."

I responded rappers and others would merely put the cost in the budget. The Hollywood guy agreed.

However this comes out, it is further proof of how remarkably decadent our moment is. On the one hand, opportunistic numbskulls use the rhetoric of free speech and the liberal arts to justify the thick presence of misogyny and insult in their material, meaning that constantly referring to women as bitches and hos is an expression of their artistry and their freedom of speech. So is the constant screaming of the N-word.

Now we have a comedian attempting to copyright the N-word so that everyone who uses it will have to pay him for the right. I guess that takes its place right next to John Singleton, Spike Lee and Will Smith supporting the dehumanizing "Hustle & Flow." In the world of entertainment, the siren call of the commercial, however hollow and denigrating, seems impossible for many to resist, a fact that transcends all ethnic, sexual and religious distinctions.

When Essence magazine began a campaign against the prevalence of misogyny and insult in rap material, literally hundreds of thousands voiced their approval. This proved that this product is disgusting to millions of black women and their supporters. Unfortunately, the most important movement in popular culture since the emergence of rap itself floundered. Essence let the campaign fizzle after editor Diane Weathers, who shaped the magazine's response to popular muck, left the magazine.

If Damon Wayans wins his quest for ownership of the N-word, one wonders to whom - if any - he will have to answer.

[ScreamingFist]

You know what kills me is that everyone is so scared of the "N" word - but using the Lord's name in vain is considered socially acceptable.

Using the Lords name in vain doesn't get you tossed in the clink for "hate crimes"......

[generally]

Bingo.

[Right Wing Assault]

I gonna copyright "she-hit" for starters.

[toeknee32]

Which makes me wonder how muslim groups that spout hate against non muslims in this country don't get tossed in the clink as well.

[Graymatter]

If he can do that, I am definitely going to copyright wet on a t-shirt.

[Octar]

I wonder if Moose Limbs is taken.

[hosepipe]

[ Us good "white" conservatives consider the word offensive..... ]

Ivory White, Off-White, or Micheal Jackson White?..
or even Julian Bond White, or Tony Brown White..

Sorry I'm an artist.. or Obama Osama (whatever his name is) White.. I guess a conversation about white black or grey is a sidebar.. Oh! well.. Many americans are grey you know..

[anton]

I'm not in the least bit offended by the N word, its use on this forum or anywhere.

The mothers outside my window yell it at their children, the children yell it at each other, the cop at the bank on the corner yells it to the school bus driver stopped in front of the bank. I may not use it, but is far from offensive.

Rather, it has come to be an icon for the unworthiness of the entire black separatist movement: the symbol of hatred and racism they profess to despise is actually one their favorite terms.

I like its expanding use and hope it continues. Someday, the N word will have the emotional power of Honkie or Cracker and we can be done with it.

[ScreamingFist]

Many americans are grey you know..

I'm red, but the difference is lost on the majority of blacks and caucasians.....

[hosepipe]

[ I'm red, but the difference is lost on the majority of blacks and caucasians..... ]

Hmmm vermillion red, pink, earthy red, henna, or rosey red?..
signed; Soaring Eagle..

[Sensei Ern]

We were given the right to use the alternative, "ninja", which I like more.

f-shizzle ma-ninjazzle

[AlanGreenSpam]

What is missing is the argment that there is reverse racism involved here.

All of the students are calling each other "Nigga," and it's cool, but they first examine the skin color of the person uttering the word.

If skin color = "white" then the person is a racist.

What if a white guy calls a white guy a "Nigga" for fun, is it racist?

[ScreamingFist]

Hmmm vermillion red, pink, earthy red, henna, or rosey red?.. signed; Soaring Eagle..

Well, more of a dark tanned, out in the sun and wind..reddish brown, I often get confused with camel jocks by the niggas and crackers.

[Junior_G]

I think Damon Wayans should use the trademark to market a line of lovable plush toys. It'd be awesome.

[Buffettfan]

Here is the song that is nominated for an oscar. Isn't this sick? Where are the poverty pimps like Jackson and Sharpton? Where are all of the guilty white liberals who went after John Rocker? Black culture is morally bankrupt.

http://www.armyarcherd.com/2006/02/its_hard_out_he.html

OSCAR NIGHT - It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp Lyrics - Djay f/ Shug
2/24/06

[Chorus 2X: Shug - singing] + (Djay)
You know it's hard out here for a pimp (you ain't knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain't knowin)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain't knowin)
[1] Because a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain't knowin)
[2] Will have a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain't knowin)


[Djay]
In my eyes I done seen some crazy thangs in the streets
Gotta couple hoes workin on the changes for me
But I gotta keep my game tight like Kobe on game night
Like takin from a ho don't know no better, I know that ain't right

Done seen people killed, done seen people deal
Done seen people live in poverty with no meals
It's fucked up where I live, but that's just how it is
It might be new to you, but it's been like this for years
It's blood sweat and tears when it come down to this shit
I'm tryin to get rich 'fore I leave up out this bitch
I'm tryin to have thangs but it's hard fo' a pimp
But I'm prayin and I'm hopin to God I don't slip, yeah

[Chorus]

[Djay]
Man it seems like I'm duckin dodgin bullets everyday
Niggaz hatin on me cause I got, hoes on the tray
But I gotta stay paid, gotta stay above water
Couldn't keep up with my hoes, that's when shit got harder
North Memphis where I'm from, I'm 7th Street bound
Where niggaz all the time end up lost and never found
Man these girls think we prove thangs, leave a big head
They come hopin every night, they don't end up bein dead
Wait I got a snow bunny, and a black girl too
You pay the right price and they'll both do you
That's the way the game goes, gotta keep it strictly pimpin
Gotta have my hustle tight, makin change off these women, yeah

[hosepipe]

[ Well, more of a dark tanned, out in the sun and wind..reddish brown, I often get confused with camel jocks by the niggas and crackers. ]

LoL...

[libstripper]

I Can. Just spell it "fluck." Will everyone please starting sending me their checks immediately, othewise you will all be sued for copyright infringement.

[pepperhead]

Maybe NWA and the owners of "Fear Of A Black Hat" should sue Damon for trying to copyright the N word. ;)

[PBRSTREETGANG]

[elcid1970]

Since the term `colored pepople' is now considered offensive,

Shouldn't the NAACP change its name to the "National Association for the Advancement of African Americans"?

NAAAA!!