From Niggers to Niggas (A History Lesson)

[Hidden Poetress]

FROM "NIGGERS" to "NIGGAS" (A HISTORY LESSON)[/b][/u]





First on de heel tap,
Den on the toe
Every time I wheel about
I jump Jim Crow.
Wheel about and turn about
En do j's so.
And every time I wheel about,
I jump Jim Crow.
- From 1823 sheet music[/color]


"NIGGER."
The white southern mispronunciation of Negro
We still have Black Kings and Queens
Pretending they don't hear though...
Or at least don't understand...
How something that happened so long ago
Can bring forth anger on demand
In the hands of the misguided and the misinformed
It doesn't even have to be the KKKlan...
It remains a principal symbol of white racism
Regardless of who's using it...
The power is in the word itself
Not the context in which it's used but...
We unfortunately have Black people
That see nothing wrong in abusing it...
COON
TOM
SAVAGE
PICANNINY
MAMMY
SAMBO
JIGABOO
All variations of the word...
But put a beat behind the word "nigga" and
Black folks forget every lesson learned...
How absurd!
Not so long ago
During the 60's hustle and bustle
You could buy "Chopped Up Niggers"
It was a best-selling children's puzzle...
Or maybe buy a card with
10 black puppies having a good time...
Then look down and read the caption
"Ten Little Nigger Boys Went Out To Dine"
Or maybe sing your baby the lullaby
"You'se just a little Nigger, but you'se all mine..."
Or maybe heed this good advice...
"Be a good "nigger" and you'll do fine."
"Nigger" luck means extreme good fortune
But completely undeserved...
"Nigger" stick is a term for police batons
Used to beat us down on curbs...
"Nigger" tip means a small tip or none at all
At any modern day restaurant...
"Nigger" rich means deep in debt
But with just enough money to flaunt...
But change 'nigger' rich for 'Hood Rich'
And you've got yourself a hit
Making money off our suffering
Am I the only one this makes sick?
Society calling Jews white-"niggers"
Arabs Sand-"niggers"
Japanese yellow-"niggers"
And I'm still trying to figure....
How a simple letter change
Completely rearranges the meaning?
Like trading 'er' for 'a'
Makes it any less demeaning...
This racist society created the word "nigger"
And continues to support and sustain it but...
Now we're "niggas"!!!
So black folk feel it's
Just time to accept and claim it...
Because we've made it our own!
I get so tired of hearing that song
Lyrics of internalized shame and hatred
But some of our people are still too ignorant
To understand and face it
Because let's face it...
Brotha is short for Brother
Sista is short for Sister and
"Nigga" is short for "Nigger"...
It might behoove you to study that picture...
People are reading this like
"I feel her. But using it repeatedly
Makes it less offensive."
"We shouldn't be prisoners of our past
Or let verbal weapons form against us."
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
We used to be Kings and Queens...
Now we're satisfied with a high five
And a word uniquely scribed to demean...
Rap lyrics exposing our ignorance
And we're indifferent
"Because it's different!"
"Nigger" means violent, field smart and
Black women as over-sexed beings...
"Nigga" means violent, street sense, over-sexed Black women....
Oh wait!! That's the same thing!
Brain-washed psychologically and completely unaware
That society's hate has entered our subconscious
And now permanently lives there...
Sambo said "nigga" too...
"Y'all niggas betta do what masta say do!"
Shuck and jive
Get real high
Stay in the fields
From nine to five
Just get by
Don't ask why
Then on Friday
Get real fly
Keep a few women
And multiply
On America's plantation
Is where you'll die....
I'm glad to see MLK and Marcus Garvey
Laying in eternal sleep
And that Allah decided it was time to call home
The great El Hajj Malik
Because they would weep....
At the regression of our people
How we accept the word "nigga"
And still expect to be treated equal
How we try to appear intelligent
When our vernacular is laced with evil
How we bury our heads in the sand and
Blame our problems on "The Man" and
"Let's just call ourselves niggas
Then the essence of hate will be diluted..."
I dispute it...
I was taught by my God when I see Satan
To rebuke him
So I assume then
That means "by any means"
Do not conclude that...
In the hands of a Black man
The word is made more conducive...
To our growth as a people
To our thirst to be treated equal
To our drive for society to realize
We are African Kings and Queens
So...
I will shout from the mountain top
That the good Doc saw before he died
We have struggled too hard to reach these heights
To slide down the other side...
And by that I'll abide...
I will never take this word in stride
Not when my grandmother is still alive
And the word IN ANY FORM
Makes tears stream from her eyes
In the south I reside...
So to me this isn't ancient history...
I see too many elders that
Just thought of it brings misery
Because bigotry...
Is still alive and well
In the land of Jim Crow
I don't have to recite history
I speak from experience
So I know
That I'll never "let it go"
I have to let it show
The word is still as powerful today
As it was 100 years ago
Though I suppose I'm supposed
To hold my head high
When one of my brothas or sistas
Can look me in the eye
And not recognize that the self-hatred
Created by this nation has
Been completely internalized...
So next time I see a member of the KKKlan
I'll say your work here is done
The battle has been won
You can take a well-deserved break
From your agenda of hate
Because as of late....
We've taken to doing your work for you....
No need for violence...
We do it to ourselves...
No need to disrespect...
We do it to ourselves...
No need for slavery...
We've become our own adversity
And adversely...
The use of the word "nigga"
Has become cursory
And what's worse it seems
Medgar Evers
Rosa Parks
Harriet Tubman
Frederick Douglas
Thurgood Marshall
Fought in vain...
Because now my people
Throw "nigga" around
Like it's a "fun for the whole family" game...
Like it wasn't used to maim
Or take aim at the brains
Of a race that for centuries
The world tried to contain...
Yet here we remain...
At the top of our game
Wealth, fortune, and fame
With only ourselves to blame...
For the disparity of our reality...
Even while I'm writing this
The spell check says "nigga" is misspelled
Yet I type in the word "nigger"....

Just try it and see for yourselves.

Some might get offended
But please ask me do I care...
I have to be a teacher
And class is in session
I can't stand by while my people regress and
There is no time better than present
For a "Niggers" to "Niggas" history lesson....

[WlkWlk3]

this is the straw that broke my mental back... the word has been deleted from my vocabulary... the strenght and truth behind this cannot be ignored, this is an important piece of literature and i feel it should be circulated everywhere there are people...

[Sable]

You know, I had an experience about a five years ago. I use to work for an accountant. I was the only black tax preparer in the office. We got to talking about black and white issues, and at the time, that word did not offend me. I even used it in their presence! The phrase was "field nigger" because that's what my mother would call my husband at times. So I repeated it! Well, earlier this year, after work, we all went to a bar. I was the only black patron there. Everyone one else, except the cooks, were white(surprise,surprise!) Well, MY BOSS, said the word, using it in the same context I did, in reference to what I'd said years earlier. IT MADE ME MAD!!! I was so embarrased! They kept it up and I never said a word!!! One of the cooks came from the back to see what was going on. She looked at me, and I felt small..... I will never forget that feeling! Its funny how I could behave that way, just because I was around them! KIt was like I felt like one of them, at my own damn expence! That was a very insightful and knowledgable scribe! Thank you, Sis, for opening my eyes!
Much love,
SAble

[Ol' Skool]

My favorite piece of all times...I need not say more! :im_not_worthy:

[dasuntoucha]

This is a lesson that needs to be taught over and over again...classic material fo' sho'...Brava!

[..spirit.. the soul sage poet]

ooh i remember this it's the first one that made me go whooooooaaaaaaa .... the impact is still there ...peace

[Renee Aka STS]

I remember this one and I'm sure your remember how disgusted I was.
This is an amazing scribe and it should be read in every
Jr high and high school.
As a matter of fact with ur permission and ur picture.
I would like to give it to one of My friends who's a Teacher.
It would be great when she does her elaborate lessons for Black History Month.

[Lady Kris]

Because let's face it...
Brotha is short for Brother
Sista is short for Sister and
"Nigga" is short for "Nigger"...

man, thats all i can say

[mistermidnight]

i have a friend named frank who wrote a piece about
what kinda civil rights movement would we have had if
dr. king punctuated his sentences with 'nigga' while
lettin his pants sag so his draws could show...

social changes without a strong moral foundation are bound to fail...

i still use 'nigga' on occassion, but mostly around family and friends - those who
know not to be offended when it comes out of one of our mouths and know
how to react accordingly to it.
(and its still not a word that i use around children!)

malcolm x challenged us to learn one new word a day from the dictionary -
his hood-side disciples never seem to reference that point at all -
when using 'nigga' no matter how accustomed some of us are to it, it mosttimes
falls completely short of the glowing endorsement of brothahood it tries to achieve.

(i had a great point i was about to make but my woman
brought me a cup of coffee and a piece of pound cake then kissed me
and i went blank...)

so, um...

whair was i?

oh... GREAT POEM SISTA!
well said!

[bythewurd]

My pOetic Moderator/Sista

I can't over-Love this enough !!!

now... (((( THIS )))) is what I call ... ((( CURRICULUM )) ....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.............................................................
My people will be destroyed,
because they have no knowledge.
You have refused to learn,
so I will refuse to let you be priests to me.
You have forgotten the teachings of your God,
so I will forget your children.

~ Hosea 4:6

We need some REAL knowledge
you are brilliant !!!

Blessssssssssss

[acr1m0ny]

This has got to be one of the most heart-stirring, impressive pieces that I've read of yours. This belongs blown up adorning the walls of its own little niche in a museum. It would be my favorite display.

[Park Heights]

Because now my people
Throw "nigga" around
Like it's a "fun for the whole family" game...

Ain't THAT the truth.... as a matter of fact it reminds me of a site I'm sure you guys know about... I'mma post it ont he board though.

[R.E.T.S.]

Hmmm.... Do I agree with this!!

This word, along with several others, I despise. I honestly feel it's the same argument, (or nearly), as "Dress loose, get treated loose."

I was actually told by my friend James that I could go ahead and call him that... I chose to call him my boy. Still do. The N word never leaves my mouth- To this day.


Nice write.

[echo]

More need to see this sis. You are amazing.

[Poeticrebellion]

I know I've read this, as it's unforgettable, but apparently neglected a comment...You're so very admirable