It was the word that threatened to break the internet, silenced the White House Correspondent's Dinner, and had both black and white people, alike all in their feelings.
After President Obama's night full of shade and good times at his ceremonial last correspondent's dinner, comedian Larry Wilmore followed suit with his own litany of jokes, but it was what he said at the end had the internet buzzing and folks deep in their feelings. He said to President Obama in a congratulatory and joking tone, "Barry, you did that my nigga," while doing a chest dap. Now with the camera trained on President Obama, I saw a smile (a big one I might add), and a chest dap in return. Later in the evening, President Obama personally went up to Larry Wilmore and congratulated him on a job well done.
White people, led by the ever annoying, let me troll black people, and make myself emperor and spokesperson for everything black, Piers Morgan, wrote a lengthy thinkpiece on how appalled he was at Larry Wilmore using the term for the leader of the free world...Even though his fellow white brothers and sisters, called the President's daughter, a minor I might add, the N-word with the "er" on the end, for being accepted into Harvard...I didn't see a thinkpiece or outrage on that Piers! (rolls eyes).
Then there is Ashy Black Twitter who are the purveyors of all things black. Who are constantly concerned with the white gaze, respectability politics, and consistently giving out historical lessons, like the rest of us did not have one history course, about the historical properties of the word. They wrote thinkpieces, gave history lessons, preached, shamed....you know, the usual about how when we use that word we give white people the license to use it...what? Um, newsflash, they were using it during slavery, and long before the "er" was dropped, so your theory and/or shaming attempt are moot points!
But the bigger issue is, you are mad, in your feelings, moreso than the person who the gesture was directed to. President Obama smiled, chest dapped, and congratulated Wilmore. Even had his press secretary tell you'll mad asses the next day, that he took no offense took it, and you'll still lost your minds.
White people are mad, because well, they want to say it too. It's like when you are a kid, and your brother or sister gets certain privileges, you think it is only fair that you receive them also. Get out of here with that foolishness!
Ashy Black Twitter is mad, because for them as pro-black as they say they are, a part of them still is infatuated and affirmed by the white gaze; therefore, they have to maintain a certain level of respectability. Dr. King and Malcolm X were respectable, but that doesn't make them any less dead, so will your black ass be if you encounter the right racist. If a person hates you because of skin color, your lack of use of the N-word, your dual degrees, your gang tattoos, your grills, none of that matters, you will meet your demise as those long before you.
For the record, I don't use the word. It's a personal choice, not rooted in anything historic, respectable or significant. But I do respect others' use of the term. You know that 1st Amendment thing! Now let me say this my fellow white people, your use of it towards me, will get your ass beat. And to my fellow black brothers and sisters, even if you change it to an "a" ending instead of an "er", I don't want to converse with you that way. Again, it is a matter of preference!
Until next time...
No comments:
Post a Comment