"The Geek" Joins the N-Bomb Club

31. He was just saying, "What's up my brotha", the same way some Black men do when they greet each other. That's all.

Not a joke....not trying to be funny.... just being REAL.

Very few people outside of Black people understand that. And whoever tried to turn this into a "story" definitely doesn't get it.

It seems like Anthony Michael Hall gets it. And if you have to ask what "it" is......you'll never understand.

Posted at 3:26PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Shay

32. Obviously, he was not trying to be derogetory or offensive. It sounds like that word is apart of his normal speech. It's a difference in the way the word is used. There's the "YOU STUPID NI**ER!!" and the "'Sup', my nigga..." and it sounds like he was using the second use of the word. I have white friends who hang around with nothing but black people and they use the word so freely but nobody (in our circle, at least) has a problem because they don't mean it in a nasty way. I'm a black woman and I was not offended by the way Anthony Michael Hall just used the word, not the way I was with Michael Richards. Yeah, call it a double standard or whatever, but that's the way it is. Certain people using the word in a certain way is wrong and offensive for black people. It's going to be that way forever.

Posted at 3:30PM on Jan 11th 2007 by Lucy

33. 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

34. 32. Naima, stop posting on TMZ.com and get me my coffee!

Posted at 3:58PM on Jan 12th 2007 by Craig

35. @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

36. #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

37. 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

38. To #12 What you mean you dont understand why black people get offended by the word nigga?I could just slap you right now i guess you dont have any black friends to tell you this back in slavery time white people used to call us niggas because they taught because the color of our skin.That white people thought they were better then us when people are going to realize that calling a black person nigga is not right and stupid.I DONT CARE IF YOUR MIX WITH BLACK WHITE PEOPLE SHOULDNT USE THE WORD NIGGA NO IF AND OR BUTS ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 6:31PM on Jan 12th 2007 by Siearra

39. I don't care if he was joking or not, you don't say that word. I'm so sick of people saying "lighten up, he was just kidding." MY ASS!! I don't care who it is, whether it's Chris Rock or Anthony Michael Hall, don't use it. Clearly that word is tied to a racist past. You can't make it pretty. No I will not use it as a term of affection, because it's not. Stop being idiots. Find something else to say. The English language has thousands endearing terms. Use one of those. White people kill me, with this "Oh guys he was just joking, black people are so sensitive." And black people, don't even get me started. Stop being part of the minstrel show. Just use another word. It's really not that hard.

Posted at 12:20PM on Jan 13th 2007 by Shay

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

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

Peace and Love :)

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

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

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

45. 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