Burying The N-Word

NAACP Symbolically Buries Racist Word During Public Ceremony In Detroit

(AP)  There was no mourning at this funeral.

Hundreds of onlookers cheered Monday afternoon as the NAACP put to rest a long-standing symbol of racism by holding a public burial for the N-word during its annual convention in Detroit.

"Today we're not just burying the N-word, we're taking it out of our spirit," said Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "We gather burying all the things that go with the N-word. We have to bury the pimps and the hos that go with it."

"Die N-word, and we don't want to see you round here no more."

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People delegates from across the country gathered at downtown's Cobo Center and marched about a quarter-mile to Hart Plaza for a ceremony and rally.

Along the way, two Percheron horses pulled a pine box on top of which sat a bouquet of fake black roses.

The N-word has been used as a slur against blacks for more than a century. It remains a symbol of racism, but also is used by blacks when referring to other blacks, especially in comedy routines and rap and hip-hop music.

Public discussion on the word's use increased last year following a tirade by "Seinfeld" actor Michael Richards, who used it repeatedly while on stage at a Los Angeles comedy club.

But the issue over racially insensitive remarks heated up earlier this year after talk show host Don Imus used derogatory language to describe black members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

Black leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, have challenged the entertainment industry and the American public to stop using the N-word and other racial slurs.

NAACP National Board Chairman Julian Bond repeated the call during the opening address Sunday night for the 98th annual convention, which runs through Thursday.

"While we are happy to have sent a certain radio cowboy back to his ranch, we ought to hold ourselves to the same standard," Bond said. "If he can't refer to our women as `hos,' then we shouldn't either."

The NAACP held a symbolic funeral in Detroit in 1944 for Jim Crow, the systematic, mostly Southern practice of discrimination against and segregation of blacks from the end of post-Civil War reconstruction into the mid-20th century.

[kailumego1]

It's about time, excellent, now hopefully this will catch on to the rest....

[reel-crazy]

Perhaps they should have buried Cracker and Honky while they were at it so we can ALL get along for a change...

[infidel_us]

Wonder if they bothered to invite Snoop and the other trash mouthed hip hop "naggers"???? Didn't the "colored" people pull this same PR stunt last year??? This seems like a retread.

[jjp735i]

The NAACP can bury the n word all they want. But I am tired of teaching my kids not to use that word while their black friends use it all the time. Please don't call it a part of black culture. It's a word no one should be using. Period. You cannot expect one group to freely use the N word and not the other. It will never work until ALL people stop using. So dig deep NAACP, the N word will just crawl back up each time.

[Syndicate]

As long as blacks use cracker I will use N_____.

[mitch0927]

It's just a freaking word. Who cares about it anyway. Oh yeah, its for all the people out there that will say, "mommy, they called me a name and I want all of them to get fired and do a public apology." Good grief people, there are a heck of a lot more important things out there that need taken care of. What a waste of time.

[dan9111]

I am not so sure. It is a sad commentary on our civilization that we all oppose verbal bigotry, all the while condoning blatant violence in the various forms (such as military action). The symbolism behind this funeral might be comforting, but in the end we are still threatened by the same old evils of racism and hatred.

Those evils are not decreased by word-sensitivity, but in fact are increased. The racists among us all have been given this strength by those to sustain the false-power of words. *** did not demolish "queer" by funerals, but by dismantling the stigma. Taking charge of words does not require anger. There is still a common goal.

However, by a process of elimination, if one word-marketing strategy is best to stop bias among groups of people, then the other ought to be criticized. To my knowledge, NAACP has failed to do so.

[pugster]

I suppose that the NAACP will try to convience black rappers to stop using that word. Good luck.

[rushlimpdrug]

This sounds like a bad N___ joke.
- To bad the group is itself a big joke.
Millions of cd with songs that youth can hear "N____'s" over and over-
It is now cool and expected to use the word.
NAACP - sorry you came to late to this dance.

[SIDNEYWILLIAMSMD]

Julian Bond and company...what a sad group of people who have nothing to worry about except the "N" word which privately they use all the time. In my lifetime it has drifted from various words including negro, colored, black, and afro, to "N." The "N" word is what gets them laughing their buttocks off if a black commedian uses it, and gets them violent if any other race uses the "N" word. No other race has a name which is so emotionally charged in the same way. The NAACP is doomed for this reason...inability to determine a name. How about "American" without hyphens, without qualification. This is what we all are.

[davebeeman-2009]

How is it that these not-Caucasian people seem to belive that they speak for a certain community? Its these same people of any color who insist on putting derogatory language in their common vernacular and then cry foul when its used in reply. The infamous "n" word is a nice word to have placed in the universal lexicon of "bad" words, but words themselves are not bad, only the intent of the person using them is bad. Why not remove "stupid" and "dummy" as well. While we're at it, let's have a national campaign to promote grammar and spelling. It seems as though there is a seperate standard for certain ethnic groups that contributes to disparate socioeconomic outcomes.

[crackafool-2009]

Wow, what a way to completely miss the point and be so out of touch with reality. I think it's pretty incredible how black people took a word that was used to slur them, and made it their own... to the extent that white folk now shake in their boots at the mere thought of using the term.

[infidel_us]

As long as blacks use cracker I will use N_____.
Posted by cbscrash07 at 01:49 PM : Jul 09, 2007

I'll tell you....there are words and there are WORDS! I have heard every word blacks use as epithets towards whites, but NON OF THEM carry the same derogatory stature as the "N" word.

It is the ultimate racial put down. Do you hear me out there, you Wiggers? :)

[infidel_us]

to the extent that white folk now shake in their boots at the mere thought of using the term.
Posted by CrackaFool at 02:04 PM : Jul 09, 2007

Well, when "white folk" use it, like nappy headed ho, they lose their jobs. It's the old double standard....get it? But the time's coming where we're not rolling over anymore.

[mitch0927]

How about we start a group called NAAOP, which stands for (National Association for the Advancement of Other people). If memory serves me right, the Americans that are of the darker coler didn't want to be called "colored" but their orginazation's name is stil the same, why didn't it change? I know there are still a lot of backward people here in the United States, but I also believe that the race issue will always be around if we listen to Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson. Those men are the ones who stillstikes the fire to keep it going. All so they can fill their pockets with money and nothing else. Dr. King was a great man, and helped a lot of people with his teachings and marches. I know, I'm rambling, but it just bumms me out to see stories like this still being published. Enough said........

[willylou11]

I have heard every word blacks use as epithets towards whites, but NON OF THEM carry the same derogatory stature as the "N" word.

Posted by infidel_us at 02:05 PM : Jul 09, 2007

In response to this statement, it doesn't carry the same derogatory stature to you. To some of us it may. Like for instance, being beaten by seven different people while they hurled insults such as cracker and honkey at you, it might carry the same derogatory stature. And before anyone says it, I would like to say that nothing was done to provoke this reaction. Just basically someone minding his own business. So don't tell us that because it doesn't bother you, it shouldn't bother anyone. Because then that creates a double standard. As for me personally, I'm for abolishing the use of all words that are racially derogatory.

[mitch0927]

my spelling and grammar suck today

[olebd]

Why not bury the NAACP along with and all the other organizations such as BET, Miss Black America, Jet, Ebony and all the others that inadvertently promote a dividing line between the races because they reign so freely in a PC America and have the likes of Al and Jesse who can make millions while crying racism against anyone who thinks, speaks or looks different than what they deem acceptable.

[infidel_us]

Dr. King was a great man, and helped a lot of people with his teachings and marches. posted by mitch0927 at 02:14 PM : Jul 09, 2007

He wasn't that great. He probably banged more quiff than Bill Clinton has, the difference is, King was supposed to be a minister. Also, he plagerized large portions of his thesis.

Any "cracker" would have had his PhD revoked. But not Dr. K. His words were needed at the time....but they have largely been forgotten and/or rejected by today's afrikan American.

[ramos937]

Burying the N... word is a nice gesture but in practical everyday life does not mean a thing. It is pure PR. Someone that does not believe me, I invite to go to the nieghborhood bar where a lot of blacks congregrate.

[michellem99-2009]

OH dear their is a ton words that need to buried. I bought a book in 01 on slang so if some one said a word I can see if it is there,your colourful word listed. I don't like alot of them. So I find alot of them rude. I am white and I am a aunt to 2 blink/white teens. I don't care if others used the N word, but I don't use it. You have the right to ban your kids froms using it. No it not part the black xp and if their friends use it fine, not in my house. I am legally blind so I don't notice the skin colour as it meanlingless. It is the voice. I was 15,and this new kid boarded the school bus in 70.He was white/black. He was 10. He was my seat mate as I told he had a seat. Fine. The white boys called me the N lover. I was ripped. I told them to shut up. They did not mess with with me. I held my own. I felt it was not right he was picked on.No body chooses their snin colour.

[dcj2]

"...words themselves are not bad, only the intent of the person using them is bad."
Posted by DaveBeeman at 02:03 PM : Jul 09, 2007

No, the word itself is not bad, but I'd have to disagree with the rest of that statement. The power of the N-word is in the targeted community's continued sensitivity to it. Someone could call me honky all day long, with as much malice, hate and venom as they wanted, and it wouldn't mean a thing. I choose not to give that word any emotional power to hurt me. As a community, Caucasians have largely done the same, hence its virtual disappearance from the vernacular. Its admirable that leaders of the NAACP and other groups are taking steps towards accepting responsibility for the word, but it will never die so long as they continue to allow it to hurt them. Trying to force the word to go away by agreeing not to use it only empowers those who would use it hurt. The day that the N-word is as laughable to blacks as "the H-word" is to whites will be the day we're all free of its awful burden.

[mandylou4u]

When I was growing up, my mom taught me to treat EVERYONE! with respect, if I didn't, I was disiplined. This coming from a white woman who raised us in a predominately black neighborhood. My mother was beaten and called names from both sides of the fence because she was beautifully tanned from being part Indian. So I'm sure a lot of people feel the same as I do... Get over it! It's time to grow up and own your own destiny! Black kids, don't think you have to say certain "words" to fit in or sound like your "homies" This is getting very stupid. No wonder other countries hate us so much. Get a clue!

[infidel_us]

Someone that does not believe me, I invite to go to the nieghborhood bar where a lot of blacks congregrate.
Posted by ramos937 at 02:37 PM : Jul 09, 2007

"Do you mine if we dance wiff you dates?" - Animal House, 1978 :)

[mokemorgan]

Sticks and Stones, people. It is never acceptable to put down another person, but if you get so caught up in mere words, you can never
move beyond the hate that comes with slurs. Isn't it better to simply not identify with a lame word? I could not care less what some stupid idiot calls peole that look like me, I know better, and realize how innane and brainless
those kinds of hate-mongers are. Just ignore the
words that don't fit, and listen for words of encouragement and social reform. When the perpetrators learn that it doesn't cause pain, they will give up, and try something new. That, too will fade if it has no listeners.

[infidel_us]

and have the likes of Al and Jesse who can make millions while crying racism against anyone who thinks, speaks or looks different than what they deem acceptable.
Posted by olebd at 02:19 PM : Jul 09, 2007

Really! And all tax free! Jesse was paying all kinds of $$$ to his "ho" in the ATL. You KNOW if some "cracker" purpetrated that scam, the IRS would be all up in his jockstrap.

The old double standard.....alive and well.

[shoujoboy-2009]

Why does this just seem like a huge waste of time and an absolute joke? Burying a word? Yea that does exactly what besides nothing. Why don't we have symobollic burials of all slanderous words and act like it's going to make a difference. We get it, there is a politcal correctness fad running through the country and this is just a PR stunt to illustrate that.

[honest_news]

"While we are happy to have sent a certain radio cowboy back to his ranch, we ought to hold ourselves to the same standard," Bond said. "If he can't refer to our women as `hos,' then we shouldn't either."

Hear, hear, Julian Bond. I hope that Sharpton, Jackson and other activists were listening to your wise advice.

And this goes for the "N-word" as well -- when I see Sharpton et al attack black entertainers with the same ferocity and passion that they went after "a certain radio cowboy", then I'll be convinced that they are serious about stamping out racial epithets, rather than using them as a way to target white celebrities for political gain.

[passerby2]

Isn't everybody on this earth colored people? I haven't seen too many clear people walking around.
____ ______
_____ ______
______ ______
_______ ______
________ ______
_________ _______
__________ _______

There's only a diagonal line there if you focus on it.

[jinxkity]

"Black leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, have challenged the entertainment industry and the American public to stop using the N-word and other racial slurs."

WHAT?!?! You're the leaders! Don't just "challenge" them, DEMAND it! Step up for once and make the changes happen that you have been ranting about. Stop riding the coattails of those who sacrificed their lives and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

[marcodele]

I hope Chris Rock, all the black comics, and all the rap musicians get this same memo.

Its a bad word, no matter what color mouth it comes from. But the double standard is causing a resurgence of its use.

I've never used it, I don't hang with people who do, and its time for everyone to get over this dumb word and let it go forever.

[infidel_us]

honest_news,

Well there you go! Bill Cosby has been saying that stuff for years, and what do the "naggers" say? "Dr. Cosby doesn't speak for black Americans."

Blacks have no role models. They have no "leaders" they can look up to. As with mostly ALL uneducated humans, if left to their own, they will sink to the absolute LOWEST COMMON DENOMONATOR.

Is that not what we see?

[infidel_us]

"Black leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, have challenged the entertainment industry and the American public to stop using the N-word and other racial slurs."

I never saw one of them stand in front of a record executive's house like they stood out in front of that man's legitimate business in Chicago a few weeks ago. Have you???

[billpl-2009]

That just proves how backass backwards these so called leader's have gotten.
They're making it worse not better.
The N-word will only go away when it finally loses its meaning.
When nobody cares if you say it.
Just call me a "redneck cracker"
I'll just roll my eyes and reply "whatever?.."

Sorta like abortion.
There's no victory in banning abortion.
All just pissin' into the wind.
Victory is when it's still legal and no one shows up to have one.

...such idiots people can be.

[shanev137]

Is the word Wigger banned as well?

[mitywhity]

Why don't they bury the "R" word - RACISM! They use it as a cover to perpetuate their culture of self-destruction by blaming all their woes on whitey and never, ever taking any responsibility as a whole for their own race. I loathe all no-good, lazy, shifless, druggie, drunk, dregs of humanity no matter what their color is. Until they can rein-in the hip-hop, rapping gangsta' image they are known for I don't see anyone taking them seriously. The "N" word is crude, but so is Cracker, Heimey, Honky Mo-Fo, and all the other slurs they use with abandon. Instaed of burying a word they need to bury the culture that epitomizes the word!

[r-u-kidding]

Black entertainers make WAY TOO MUCH MONEY to quite using that word. They're the ones who perpetuate the very racism they claim to be victims of. IDIOTS!!!!

[blondmadison]

IT WAS NEVER A REAL WORD TO BEGIN WITH!!

Giving it so much credence makes it seem as though it were a real word.

Now hear this: It is not now and it never was a real word.

Instead of having a ceremony to symbollically bury something which has never been real---why not make anyone using the word, Legally Psycho-tic---insane.

Lock them up, give them thorazine and wish their soul well. Imagine how many people we'd get to lock up? Imagine how much land and money of theirs we could take over...hey, this might be a really swell, one of my finest maybe, ideas...

[wiccantexan]

Blacks have no role models. They have no "leaders" they can look up to.
Posted by infidel_us at 03:07 PM : Jul 09, 2007

Morgan Freeman has said for some time now that he will not participate in Black History Month, because "black history is American history." If the media spotlight would focus more on this type of attitude, and person, it would be all for the good.

[blondmadison]

Dear Mayor Kilpatrick,

Please be quiet...read my idea...we could make some serious big time bucks here. Sir...please read my idea and think about it.

We wouldn't need to pass a law or anything. No law was passed about not using that NON-word all this time.

Just think about it. We quietly, without any major announcement, quietly pass a law, without putting it in writing. Then, we plant spies across the nation in all the major cities - undercover task forces...as soon as they hear the word--they shoot the skunk with a moose tranquilizer and OUR ambulance swings around to pick them up and take them to OUR NEW IMPROVED INSANE ASYLUM WHERE THEY NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE FOR ANY REASON.

While under sedation, we have them sign over all their assets and list us in their will. Done deal. THey are gone and we are getting richer by the day. Come on Mayor...Payback is a B-tch but Sir, in a Pay It Forward kind of way, know what I mean???

[xzavierbrown]

it is the N-word MENTALITY that needs to be buried. Along with that are the misguided bleeding heart liberals that allowed this type of mentality to exist.

[seaslew]

this is the most stupid thing i have read in days, , lets ban books and hunt for witches while we are at it. the NAACP just wants attention,. grown men at a funeral for a word,.. no wonder the world see the USA as a joke,

[dmk3]

I agree that it is just a word. But how and why that word came about is the part that makes it so personal and painful to black folk. However it is just a word. I also agree that it is the ***** mentality that needs to be buried. A funeral service for a word? Please give me a break. And Jesse and Al need to attack the problem NOT the word. Get our kids involved and let them know that they are NOT ***** but people. Our peeps need some guidance not burial services for words. That is retarded. (Better bury that word too)

[mbcsmith]

Oh well, the N-word is dead. Guess we go back to colored people.

[dmk3]

mbcsmith,
how about learning the persons name? why does someone need to be classified by a word? get a clue. and if you call someone colored, you will be addressing an entire nation.(depending on which color you are refering to)

[jimibear]

This is pathetic, ludicrous and totally without meaning. People saying "the N-Word" are like a bunch of little children sayiny "H-E-double toothpicks" and other such puerile childishness.

This "word" is so powerful It Must Not Be Spoken, and it seems to be cast as the cause of all problems in black society. Well, it's not. One of the main problems in black society is exemplifified by the fact that the black mayor of a major city can't use simple English grammar.

""Die N-word, and we don't want to see you round here no more.""

It is this sort of ignorant shadowplay that perpetuates racism in this country, because to be quite frank, such idiotic displays and mis-use of the language by prominent black people make all black people look stupid by association. It's worse than useless; it does actual harm to the cause of racial equality.

[hedonist3]

Hey! Whatever happened to the sticks-and-stones theory!?!?!

[dmk3]

JIMIBEAR,
SHUT UP! It makes that man look stupid, not an entire race of people,by association or otherwise.

[jimibear]

dmk3,

"National Association for the Advancement of Colored People delegates from across the country gathered at downtown's Cobo Center and marched about a quarter-mile to Hart Plaza for a ceremony and rally."

This means that black people from all over the country took part in this idiocy, so it's not just one guy. And with regard to the grammar issue, when a prominent member of the black community, who could logically be assumed to be better-educated than most, can't speak basic English, it does indeed tend to make one think that other blacks will be even more poorly-spoken.

Yelling shut up, by the way, makes you look stupid, and the rest of your post supports that.

[bobgee_1999]

This is so incredibly childish. Speaking for myself, there's not a word in any language I'm afraid of. Contrary to BlondMadison attmpts at revisionism, "n'gger" is indeed a "real word," whatever that means, dating back at least four centuries. It's a word, and that's ALL it is. Grow up.