Man Declared Innocent Of Racial Abuse; Used N-Word As ‘Term Of Endearment’

[FrodosPet]

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/man-declared-innocent-of-racial-abuse-used-n-word-as-term-of-endearment/

Another man in the United Kingdom was also given such clearance for using the n-word recently – by a North Staffordshire magistrate who believed him when he said to use it as a “term of endearment.”

According to The Guardian, local man Christopher Jones was initially charged by local authorities and courts with racial abuse when he used the word while addressing a black man.

~ snip ~

“I am not a racist,” he was quoted as saying to area newspaper The Sentinel. “It was used as slang. For me it is a term of endearment, not something racist.”

~ snip ~

----------------------------------------------------------------

For several years now, the word seems to be used as a rough sounding term for "friend" as much as a slur. A young man explained to me that as long as you are pronouncing it "ah" instead of "er", it's OK, they were de-weaponizing it.

And the reality is, he is an inner city white boy who used it frequently with his friends, who accepted and returned it.

I am of the generation that said, "if you are white, you DON'T use it unless you are a racist jackass". So hearing how common it is amongst younger people was a shock.

My question for wiser people than myself: Can the word be de-weaponized? Does what the young are doing help take the sting out of it, or is it just one more example of white privilege - to try and justify the use of an "off limits" and very ugly term by slapping a coat of paint on it?

[LeftyMom]

1. This might help, especially for the use among young white people:

http://jezebel.com/5905291/a-complete-guide-to-hipster-racism

[Ron Obvious]

2. I'm far more concerned that someone can face criminal charges over name calling.

I'm far more concerned over the notion that someone can face criminal charges for employing a certain word or name-calling. We've seen it a short while ago with Chelsea footballer John Terry as well, and he was cleared only because it was deemed inconclusive that he used the slur..

It's even more frightening to me that it doesn't appear to be controversial because anyone who speaks out against this sort of thing risks being tarred with the same brush. In fact, I suspect many here on DU don't see the problem with this.

Sheer Orwellian Insanity.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Original Guardian link here

A court has cleared a man who shouted the word "nigger" at a black man of racial abuse, after he claimed he was a rap music fan who used the term as an endearment.

Christopher Jones was found by North Staffordshire magistrates to have used the term widely seen as one of racist abuse, but not to have used it in a hostile way.

He told magistrates he used the term regularly on the streets around his home in Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jones was charged by police and in court pleaded not guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour which was racially aggravated.

After his acquittal, Jones said he had more black friends than white ones and added: "I can be sat with a black friend and I will say 'What up, nigger?' and it's a term of endearment."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/04/man-cleared-racial-abuse-endearment

[loli phabay]

4. dumb arrest. hear younger people every day use terms like this amongst themselves

Its not the words themselves there needs to be intent behind them as the world moves on. People self describe and use words in their own groups that others find offensive every day.

[The Straight Story]

5. heck, in Meta/Du you just get a post hidden/yelled at (so far)

If DU was a country though....