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Die, N*****!
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In case you’re not up-to-date on all the burial happenings going on nowadays, the ever so hated N-word was put to rest in Detroit, MI., taking on similarities to the organization’s mock burial of the Jim Crow laws in Detroit in 1944. The NAACP held a mock funeral for the word to symbolically call an end to oppressing terminology that has flooded the American society. The funeral comes in retaliation to the degrading images of African Americans in the hip-hop and popular cultures, and also in retaliation to the Michael Richard and Don Imus’s infamous rants.
"Images reflected in songs and music videos that show half-dressed African-American women being objectified or demeaned by men, or young African-American men as thugs must stop," stated NAACP youth and college division director Stefanie L. Brown. "These kinds of images promote hurtful and false stereotypes of young African-Americans."
As a skeptical, frequently cynical, black chick, I have to raise a few questions (I know, I know, it's a faux pas to get this opinionated...not to mention being black and questioning the NAACP, but I need to add my two cents!).
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The NAACP invited community members and hip-hop stars to participate in the burial, but how realistic is it that this mock burial is going to make a difference? Are communities putting forth efforts to actually stop the usage of the word? I know if I was getting paid millions to use degrading language, I would (and I know I'm not alone here), so are musicians going to stop using it? With it becoming socially acceptable and losing its original derogatory meaning, is this effort going to make a difference?
Frankly, it's about 142 years too late, and there are a few other words I would have buried along with it.
photo courtesy of NAACP, check out the press releases for the funeral.
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