Diamondeye wrote:
Rorinthas wrote:
I just want to say that I think it was a poor choice of word. If we denouce rappers for using it then we have to denouce others. That said: If we aren't supposed to judge all of Acorn on "a few rogue employees" then should we be not judging the tea party movement on one nutjob whose shown himself to be out for profit with a sign?
It was definitely a poor choice of words. As Ladas pointed out, the word "Slave" would have worked too. He was going for shock value and like most shock attempts, it was in poor taste.
Except that he may have meant it beyond merely slavery.
For example, I've heard it said that for hundreds of years the Irish were the niggers of Europe.
That doesn't indicate slavery, it indicates exploitation and prejudice.
Words have only the power we give them. Does that mean I think he should have used that word? Probably not because it's just ammo against himself, or "self-defeating," even if accurate. I'm also not sure he was that deep about it in the first place, I'm merely stating it as a possibility.
Furthermore, it looks faked to me. 1) The white hardboard has some sort of construction paper attached to it, on which is written "niggar." 2) based upon the source material at the man's website, I believe that he can spell things properly. 3) The tape across the bottom of the construction paper area is not paralleled at the top, and would thus the paper would be likely to fall down. 4) The place where it looks like there
was tape at the top appears to have been "cut off" to make room for the equal sign.
Anyhow... even if 1) real and 2) meant simply as a synonym with "slave," I find the self-defeatism of this the offensive part, not any projected "racism."