Niggers And Pakis

I'm a little confused about racism and what is or isn't offensive.

Let's start with the word "Nigger". This word should be offensive considering it's roots and the years of hatred that are associated with it yet some black people band the word around like a term of endearment. It doesn't even seem to be about the context in which the word is used, it purely seems to be that if a white person uses the word it's bad and if a black person uses the word it's good. Black or white, some find it offensive in all senses, some don't. Perhaps it's about assumed context. If I'm white it is assumed I am using the word in a racist context whether I am or not, therefore it is deemed offensive because I'm white? Isn't that racial prejudice in action right there?

OK, so we have the word "Paki" which is short for Pakistani. A Pakistani finding this word offensive would be the same as me finding the word "Brit" offensive. I don't find it offensive, I'm proud to be called a Brit. If you're Indian and get called a paki, I can understand you being a little annoyed. That's like calling me Irish or French. Is it about being a minority, perhaps? I don't think so. Ask a Brit living in America if they mind being called a Brit...

So racism confuses me. From where I'm standing a racist remark is only racist if the person on the receiving end assumes based on their own racial prejudices (and I'm not saying they are wrong) that it is being used in a racist context. Perhaps the way to end racism is to stop assuming these things. The best way to beat a bully is to not let them get to you. Racism is essentially a form of bullying so surely the same rules apply.

If a white person calls a black person a nigger out of hatred and the black person isn't hurt by it, there would be no point in the white person using that as a form of attack ever again. Problem solved, right?

Or not...

Jozi from NBT reminded me about this in the comments so I thought I'd add it:

Jan 21, 2010

spithray said...

It's a bit of a minefield.

I remember, after the Jade/Shilpa incident, Big Brother were really uptight about racism and, near the beginning of the next series, a white girl referred to a black girl as 'nigger'. The Big Brother people went bonkers about it, but the white girl said she had used it as a term of endearment, as she comes from an area where she has many black friends and the word is used frequently between those friends.

I can't remember the result of the situation, but it certainly fits your argument of context versus skin colour.

Lee Stacey said...

. @spithray Dare I make a totally prejudiced assumption and guess that it was Daily Mail readers up in arms again? ;)

DanielJUK said...

'Paki' is a little different to 'Brit' though, 'Brit' has never really been used as a negative, for some people in Pakistan during the partition it was used as a negative horrid term, much like the n word! Especially for those who came to the UK. Paki *should* be just a shortened Pakistani but it does have a nastier context too and some Pakistani's and Indians who get mistakenly called that find it offensive!

I think its all about context! Its your aim of how you use the words! I try to be careful about the words I use although I have a friend who doesn't care and uses them all and says its their problem not his! I try not to use any offensive terms or slang which is negative to disabled people because I have issues with it. I try not to use things like "that is so lame" etc. I have no issue with swear words and other terms but just try to avoid those minefields ;)

. @DanielJUK But if you avoid a minefield it stays a minefield forever. Seek and destroy is the way forward. You've got to get in that minefield, find all the mines and destroy them or people are going to keep getting their balls blown off!

I don't really know however to get rid of the minefield. you cant change what people get offended by, everyone is different!

lol how not however!

Jan 25, 2010

CG_Hoffmann said...

i've been called a nigger and paki etc, even though i was born in east london, my mum is polish and my dad came from ecuador, but i've not seen him since i was like 1. i wasn't that offended, but i still managed to get them suspended from school for a week. i lol'ed :)

Feb 04, 2010

Jozette said...

I think that minorities that have a history of being marginalised and disadvantaged due to thier ethnicity have reapropriated some terms to take back power and control. Words that are laden with history, resentment and reppresion are taken by the community that has been repressed and put into a new and chosen context which allows that community to take back ownership of the meaning of the word that describes them. So the word 'nigger' takes on a new (and less offensive) meaning when it is owned and used by someone who has a history of being labbeled by that word in a negative way.

Brilliant comment, Jozette! Taking it back... Reminds me of the "porch monkeys" scene from Clerks 2.

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