To think that if you don't want people to use the N word, don't put it in the lyrics of your songs

[PatriarchyPersonified]

Just that really. Kendrick Lamar invited a fan out of the audience at a recent gig to rap along to the lyrics of one of his songs.

The fan (a white lady) repeatedly used the N word, because it's in the lyrics. He stopped her and told her she couldn't say it. She was also booed and abused by the crowd.

🤔

If you don't want people to say a certain word, then don't put it in the lyrics of your songs.

It's either not acceptable, or it's ok. You can't have it both ways.

I personally don't think the N word is an acceptable word to be used full stop, and that doesn't change based on the race of the person using it.

www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44209141

Meh if it's in the lyrics I'm singing it. Regardless who is "offended" by it That was a shitty thing for him to do, clearly a power play from him to humiliate her. Idiot.

I get all the arguments for why it’s ok for the oppressed to reclaim these slur words, however I think that people also need to try to accept and understand that it’s easy for well meaning white people to get a bit bloody confused about what they can and can’t say.

I'm not sure that well-meaning white people should necessarily be the focus. One could argue that privilege is why white people think they need to be the centre of attention and taken into account all the time.

it’s easy for well meaning white people to get a bit bloody confused about what they can and can’t say

Ugh, this is weak and excuses behaviour. It's the reason my friend's mum calls disabled people "spastics" because she's well meaning and can't keep up with the acceptable language. It's not a million miles from "political correctness gone mad".

It WOULD be easier, surely for everyone, if all these perjorative terms were consigned to the ‘never say it’ bin

This is literally exactly the case for white people and the "n word". It has been for many, many, many, many years.

VauxhallVectra
This isn't about children it's about a grown woman. What your saying is if there is any other inappropriate words in the song, fuck, bitch. This should mean that woman should be offended everytime a man says the word "bitch" in a song but we would be told not to be so rediculous.

Having ancestors who were stolen from their homelands, sold as property for the use of rich white people and referred to as the "n word" by their owners would qualify you to use the term.

So anyone who wants to use the word has to sign up on ancestry.com first? Or maybe one of those genetic tests?

It has different connotations when said by a white person over a black person no matter what the intentions. My dp often says "what up my ngga" as a joke to our baby son and I hate it but he also says it to his friends, it basically just means bro or mate. However if I said it would not be acceptable no matter how I meant it. The fact that saying ngga and saying n*gger have different meanings is also important to consider

If singing N is acceptable, can someone explain the derogatory use of calling women bitches, who he has 'fucked' etc

His reaction is completely unreasonable, he set her up to look like a dick by doing that. If he didn't want her to say it, she shouldn't have been invited up to perform.

@TheWhale2903

I was replying directly to another poster who specifically asked about what to tell children about the "n word"

Women should be offended every time a male rapper says the word "bitch" in a song. Misogyny tells us that we're being ridiculous.

@ImKait

Exactly, only takes a few minutes to sign up and will give you all the information you need

YANBU. If people put certain words in their songs, they should expect and not react badly when ANYBODY signs them.

In this context, it's a ridiculous publicity stunt and he should be ashamed of himself. What he did is purposely chose a white woman to humiliate her publicly, and because she was white - he wouldn't have pulled the same stunt with a black person.
that is racism.

Ah, that would be that old thing 'double standards' LifeBegins.

*signs, not signs!

I'd go with the context of the word. Is it used in a way to insult anyone? If so, then its racist and should be booed. If not, as in the use of rap songs and between friends, then its fine for use. Also how the rapper know that the woman wasnt of black descent? My friend looks white but her family are all black including her mum and dad and all her brothers (genetics are amazing arent they?). In theory is she not allowed to sing the n word? What about eminem?

He had a load of people @ikeepaforkinmypurse so she was just one of them.

I also wonder if he would have done the same to a white man? Does he call out eminem and the countless white male teenagers who no doubt also sing his songs including the use of the n word?

Eminem never used the "n word" in his old music.

I don't know about his recent work (I gave up on popular culture about 10 years ago )

Good article on this issue

Also how the rapper know that the woman wasnt of black descent?

Exactly. But Vauxhall says she should've really had her ancestry.com report with her, then she would've been fine.

To think that if you don't want people to use the N word, don't put it in the lyrics of your songs
YABU about this – people can put whatever words in their songs they like – but if your question was 'To think that if you don't want people to use the N word, don't invite them to sing along to your songs?' then YANBU.

It sounds as though he baited her just so he could then make a 'point'. It's not impressive behaviour.

The bloke he had up didn't use the word. So we might never know. Sexism is also dreadful.

I get all the arguments for why it’s ok for the oppressed to reclaim these slur words, however I think that people also need to try to accept and understand that it’s easy for well meaning white people to get a bit bloody confused about what they can and can’t say. It WOULD be easier, surely for everyone, if all these perjorative terms were consigned to the ‘never say it’ bin

What you're actually saying here is 'it would be easier for white people if black people stopped using the language they have reclaimed as an act of power and self-love because I find that a bit confusing.'

You're still asking for your feelings as a white person to be prioritised over the creativity and self-expression of a black person.

It isn't difficult. Don't say the n word. Never say it. Don't sing it at a concert or in a club, don't use it as a term of affection for your POC friends, don't think 'oh this time it's fine.' It's not confusing. If you're white, it's never acceptable. Your difficulty understanding that is not a valid reason to tell POC that they have to moderate their self-expression to accommodate your feelings.

Exactly @MrsTerryPratchett

The bloke he had up didn't use the word

Also, people saying she was set up to fail - when I'm listening to rap music I don't even say the n word when I'm singing alone in my own car. So I don't accept that she couldn't have decided not to sing it on stage. If she's a fan of the culture the least she can do is respect this incredibly simple and fundamental part of it.