"The Geek" Joins the N-Bomb Club

31. @D. I personally be believe that the present system of affirmative action is botched up and it causes resentment toward black people even thought it is unbased. White people complain about affirmative action b/c they say black people r unfairly taking their spot @ the colleges of their choice b/c of their race. If u think about it statistically this isn't likely b/c black people only make up 15% of the country's population and less than half of black people go to college (unfortunately). So the likelyhood that a black person will stop a white person from getting into the college of their choice is very unlikely. But the probability of a black person not getting into college b/c they didn't go to a prestigeous high school or their parents, r not alumni and can't make a generous donation to the college is much more likely. People fail to realize that Affirmative Action over the years has done much much more to futher women's rights and success than it ever has any minority. It is more likely that a woman of any race period might take a white male's place in college b/c of affirmative action than a black person. I think that Affirmative Action should be based on income rather than race so it can include white people too and since many minorities r poor by default they would be covered by affirmative action as well. The upper classes b/c of their money will always be able to get into college (which is a sort of unspoken affirmative action in itself since many kids w/ good grades r passed over every year b/c wealthy families can afford to donate million to ensure their childs admission) but for the poor, as college gets more and more expensive, college is becoming out of their grasp. This is bad for the country as a whole b/c an uneducated people r not a prosperous people.

As for Rap I think people r drawn in by the beats and depiction of a "glamorous" lifestyle more than anything else. But people who base their opinion of black people in general on what they see in rap videos simply r being ignorant. When I saw Godfather or Goodfellas did I walk away thinking,"All Italians must be gangsters." Ofcourse not. Neither would it make since to assume all chinese people r violent martial artist from watching a Jet Li movie. To form these sorts of opinions based on media distortions is reflective of already existing prejudice in that oneself not flaws of that race.

Posted at 4:24PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Brandon

32. I love Anthony Micheal Hall. Has been? I think not. He has had and continues to have an amazing career and is a great actor. I would bet many of today's "hot" celebs would kill to have the career he has.

As to the video-it's obvious he was having a good time and not intending to offend anyone. No big deal, just a slow day and night for TMZ apparently.

Posted at 4:47PM on Jan 11th 2007 by nicole

33. White people aren't allowed to use that word. I thought everyone knew that by now.

Posted at 5:35PM on Jan 11th 2007 by blargh

34.

Uhm .... I watched my favorite comedian the other night CHRIS ROCK !! and he uses it non stop !

Why all the racial sensitivity ?! Ppl seriously need to get a fucking life !!

Posted at 5:58PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Stop talentless hacks !

35. #34 Brandon>>thank you for being so elequent in your explanation. Very well put and TRUE.

Posted at 8:15PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Whatthehelleva

36. In response to the person who thought that Black people shouldn't have been riled up over Michael Richards' usage of the N word, crack open an encyclopedia (or at least a book) and learn more about the word before you complain to TMZ about it.

Posted at 8:26PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Penny Woods

37. As a highly intelligent African American woman, I must say that whoever created this story (in efforts of defaming this Anthony Michael Hall) is the poorest excuse for a reporter. It's obvious that Mr. Hall understands the context in which the word is used. N!99er and N!99@ are two totally different things.

The first denotes a sense of superiority/inferiority in that the term was initially used to describe a person of color during the times of slavery. Slaves were brought here against their will and forced to adapt. They were afraid because their fates were uncertain, many died on the ships en route to the new land, they had no knowledge of the climate, and extremely rare was it that one was even remotely exposed to the English language. However, they HAD TO adapt or face excrutiating beatings, possibly death. But the "n-bomb [er]" was used to describe these people as being lazy, slovenly, dumb, and incapable.

So, yes, that term when being used by someone other than a person of color is offensive, not because "it's just a word" but because it implies that you think of the current African American race just as your ancestors did. And I can only speak for myself when I say that it angers me for ANYONE to say that I'm dumb, and the easiest way to get me to do something is to tell me that it can't be done! That's just me.

Fast forward to the current generation....... "Sup, my ni99a!" The possessive pronoun "my" indicates ownership. Today's society has given each individual the idea "I can take anything derogatory and turn it into something positive" i.e. It is common practice for women to affectionately call each other bitches and whores. "Bitch, please. I wish you would go outside in those ugly pants." "You are such a whore," said laughingly. Do the objects of those comments take offense? Usually not. Why? The meaning of a bitch is a female dog. For what are dogs known? Loyalty, dependability, courage, and protection. So, for me to call my sister and say, "Bitch, whatchu doing?" may seem inappropriate for some but it doesn't offend her because she understands the context in which I used the word. Same for whore. When used amongst friends, it means a woman who has the charm, personality, and looks good enough to get a man what she wants with ease. But now, if my ex-boyfriend went to my brother and said, "Your sister is a BITCH!" he can just be prepared to get burst in the mouth.

So, when nigga is used amongst friends, it means "my hardworking, loyal, determined, faithful friend." See the difference in the way Mr. Hall used the word and the way Mr. Richards used it?

As for today's youth idolizing rappers, thugs, etc..... I can't exactly relate, but I can understand. I didn't grow up "in the hood." There weren't prostitutes or drug dealers on the corners where I lived. However, I do know that many people look at the rappers, ball players, video hoes, and so on as inspiration because they used their talents and the opportunities that they were afforded to place themselves in higher tax brackets and get out of the 'hood. For many African Americans, leaving the South for the North presented the idea of freedom, true freedom. Once the slaves were freed, they still had no protection from the angry owners and white in general who looked upon them as purchased property. So, they migrated North where they no longer had to look out for "the white man," but they faced new opposition. Lack of education placed them in position to receive the worst jobs, they had to provide for their families, and protect themselves from the predators who were out to take what they could not obtain on their own. Keep in mind the Great Depression and wars that followed. Black men joined the military not out of patriotism but as a means of income. They'd rather risk losing their lives and be able to sustain their families than to lose their masculinity on American grounds. While away, they were introduced to drugs, just as white men and other races. They'd come back home and find a way to satisfy their addictions. This soon became a market, directly related to the laws of supply and demand. Drug dealing soon became extremely profitable and has appeared to be glamorous because 1. Dealers make their own hours. 2. The money is easy and requires no hard labor. and 3. Plenty of money (tax-free, by the way) yields to a higher standard of living.

However, some people, although rare, used this money (and money obtained in other scandalous ways) as a jump start into wealth and found other ways to accumulate more money and make it work for them.

The last thing that I'll explain....... (I know you're probably tired of reading..... Oops! I forgot, that's supposed to be us, too. LOL)..... Ebonics. Not every black person uses Ebonics. However, I do. Will I use it with you? Probably not. Why? 1. When in Rome... (Why would I talk to you in a way that you don't understand? That shows poor communication skills.) and 2. I don't want to run the risk of having you think I am ignorant or incapable of speaking properly, thus leading to the "n-word." So, when do I use Ebonics and why? It is factual information that the English spoken in America is an adaptation of the language spoken in England. Ebonics is an adaptation of the English spoken in America. If average America can accept the language most commonly spoken which is an adaptation, why shouldn't I be allowed to use Ebonics when speaking to my family and others who understand the lingo? When the slaves were brought here against their will, how many white Americans tried to learn the languages spoken by the slaves? Few, if any. Therefore, why fault black Americans for not wanting to totally conform to what has been established as "standard?" Why must we be ridiculed for holding on to something that is our own? Can we fluently and effectively speak your language, usually. Is it always necessary? No. Sometimes, I'm just not talking to you.

Anthony Michael Hall obviously tapped into that part of our culture, and he understands the context in which that particular word is used. I don't see the big deal.

Posted at 8:46PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Jade

38. The Breakfast Club movie was racist because there were no African Americans in it. This cracker is a racist too.

Posted at 9:19PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Farrah

39. Slim Shady and Kid Rock are the only white boyz who run with people of Color , in fact , Kid Rocks son is half black ( and so handsome )and it is not for show. They came from trailer homes and disfuctional families and write about it with real street cred'. I dont know anyone that thinks of Slim or Kid as "white niggers" , the people I associate with , of all Colors, eather dont like rap/hip hop at all, or ( like me , part of the 35-50 years gen OLD :) ) enjoy a bit of all music including rap. As for Anthony Michael Hall, hes a has been ( big time ) and would do anything for attention. Enough said. Peace and Love :)

Posted at 10:07PM on Jan 11th 2007 by AngelG1

40. the n-word is NO joke in any context AMERICA!!!!!!! Wake up.

Posted at 10:37PM on Jan 11th 2007 by c. bradley

41. HallllOOOOO '
who be dis' a**hole ? I'm too bizy kickin' the streets and bangin' ho's to know ??? Is he a reverse Orea -- like Ophrat . Or be he a cool MF lookin' to roll . HO HO HE HE . Little white boys black LIKE ME . Shite n*****s , grab the honeys a forty and a blunt -- lets' ROLL !!

Posted at 10:40PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Huggs fo' Thuggs

42. Hey #34 Rusty you nailed it -speak the truth !!! lol

Peace and Love :)

Posted at 10:51PM on Jan 11th 2007 by AngelG1

43. I agree with tactless. J.Lo did get backlash from using it even though she is Latino, Eminem personally said he would never use that word because he doesn't have the right to. And for people that say get over it, I hope if you slowly die from a disease somebody tells you to get over it. Its more than a word it pain behind it that yo will never know, so nobody gets a "pass"

Posted at 12:35AM on Jan 12th 2007 by ugh

44. INTRODUCING THE BENEDICT ARNOLD LIST

United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. presents its Benedict Arnold list for those Blacks who insist upon publicly using the n-word including Daman Wayans.

No longer is it acceptable to trample upon the memories and honor of those who were tarred and feathered, burnt alive, castrated, hung, boiled alive, sodomized and tortured with hot pokers, disemboweled, unmercifully tortured in countless numbers of other ways, all in the name of the n-word simply because since the victims were considered to be a n***er it was okay to perform such atrocious, despicable acts. And yet as evil and heinous as these acts were there is something that transcends it and that is descendants of these canonized victims taking the word n***er and embracing it with tender loving care and using it endearingly and affectionately among them. How idiotic and moronic can this possibly be?

DAMAN WAYANS and JOHN RIDLEY names have been placed on this list.

Posted at 1:04AM on Jan 12th 2007 by H. Lewis Smith

45. What the fucking hell - I hope the mother fucker who uploaded this gets fucking cancer and dies.

Posted at 6:25AM on Jan 12th 2007 by AMH Fan