I feel like I have to defend my favorite hip hop artist, Nas. For those of you who don't know, he has an album coming out titled "Nigger." Of course this has caused a boatload of controversy and everybody has an opinion on it and the word in general. Why should I be any different? First off let me say that I was born and raised in the south. I know about the pain behind that word. I've heard the horror stories, seen the pictures, watched the documentaries and read the books. But I have to be honest; to me it's just a word. Before anybody loses their mind, I should probably explain. I am from a different generation. That word still used today by us but the spelling is different. It is seen as a term of endearment. In a way, we have turned a negative into a positive. It's funny we call each other "nigga," but don't let a white person call us a "nigger." The needle on the record stops and all our attention turns to this white person who had the audacity to call us something we call ourselves. I don't have a problem with people not agreeing with the use of the word. I don't use the word either. But don't tell Nas that he can't use that word how he wants to. Last time I checked it was called Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Speech as long as Everybody Likes What You Say. The chance to speak on this album is just another photo op for our black leaders so of course they have something to say. Maybe I'm biased here but I think we should make the word exactly what it is; a word. How about we get offended when somebody calls us ignorant? I do but I can't speak for anybody else. Racism will exist regardless. Whether we are called African Americans, Black, Negros or more recently refugees the media has always had to find some way to describe us. I don't understand how they came up with the name "colored." We're all colored. Even white is a color.
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