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Dude Dropped the H-bomb of N-bombs

By Kai Beasley
Black College Wire

Kai Beasley

Oh really, Michael? I mean, when it comes to dropping "N-bombs," there aren't many who could challenge you in the history of language. You can drop 'em, homey. You drop the H-bomb of N-bombs. I'm surprised anyone made it out of that comedy club alive. The blast radius of that N-bomb raid alone should have killed millions — not to mention the fallout. And then, after all that, you're going to say you're not a racist? Can we be serious for a second?

How can someone who shouts racial slurs at the top of his, or its lungs (and I'm talking about you, Kermit the frog. You think I don't see how you treat people who aren't green?) expect to make it OK by saying that he harbors no prejudice toward the folks he has offended?

The bottom line is there are any number of ways to express anger other than by attacking race. To make racial comments and say that you don't discriminate is absurd. I might as well apologize for urinating on a tree by saying, "The worst part about this whole thing is that I didn't even have to go to the bathroom!" Clearly, I had to go to the bathroom.

As for Mr. Richards, I have never heard the word "nigger" used with such malice in my life, barring the documentaries I saw in elementary school about the civil rights movement, the ones where I would sit in the back of the class and all the white kids would turn around and watch me more frequently than they would watch the movie on screen. You all know what I'm talking about.

Aside from Richards' obvious fluency in the "N" word, his apologizing to all the "Afro-Americans" only added insult to injury. "Afro-Americans?" Are you serious? Dude, we don't even call ourselves that anymore! If you're going to be ignorant, at least keep up with the times! You're killing me!

But on the other hand, maybe I'm completely off base here. I mean, think about what Michael did for the English language. I know brothers from the 'hood who can't use the "N" word that many times in a sentence and remain coherent.

And the fact of the matter is that even though he went crazier than George Bush during an AP calculus final (assuming he would attend), Michael was still completing coherent sentences at about an eighth-grade 'hood level. I mean, wow, I was actually quite impressed. He probably set a record for the most "N-bombs" in five sentences or something. Who can do that, huh? You tell me who you know who can do that and still form a complete thought! To that end, kudos, Michael Richards. Kudos indeed.

I also think we've been reintroduced to the word and its true meaning; a meaning that in time, we might have forgotten. We refer to our friends, and the people we know, as "nigga" all the time. Do we understand what that really means? In all seriousness, that word should have been buried along with slavery. It is a hurtful word whose only intent is to humiliate and demoralize.

I know that black people are the tops when it comes to putting a positive spin on negative things, but there's just no positive in the "N" word. A positive spin on "nigger" would be quite a task, especially considering that it can still be used by those whose purpose is to oppress.

Next time you're talking to your homeboy, take that into consideration.

Kai Beasley is a senior at Emory University who writes a weekly column for the Villanovan at Villanova University. To comment, e-mail [email protected]

Posted Dec. 11, 2006