New York City bans racial slur... no longer part of USA

New York City bans racial slur

By Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City symbolically banned use of the word nigger on Wednesday, the latest step in a campaign that hopes to expunge the most vile of racial slurs from hip hop music and television.

The City Council unanimously declared a moratorium that carries no penalty but aims to stop youth from casually using the word, considered by most Americans to be the most offensive in the English language.

The New York City measure follows similar resolutions this month by the New York state assembly and state senate, and supporters of the ban are taking their campaign to The Recording Academy, asking it not to nominate musicians for Grammy awards if they use the word in their lyrics.

Many rap artists and young New Yorkers toss the word around as a term of endearment or as a substitute for black, angering some black leaders who consider those who use it as ignorant of the word's hate-filled history in slavery and segregation.

"This could be the beginning of a movement," councilman Albert Vann said.

Councilman Leroy Comrie, a sponsor of the moratorium, said the campaign against the word has gained strength since comedian Michael Richards spewed it in a racially charged tirade in Los Angeles.

The Laugh Factory club where Richards performed has since banned comedians from using the word there and the former "Seinfeld" television star has apologized.

"The Michael Richards incident really brought it to another level. It has forced people to express their outrage. Many people had been seething quietly," Comrie said.

Comrie also asked TV network Black Entertainment Television to stop using the word in its shows. Representatives of BET did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Grammy spokesman said he doubted the academy's 11,000 voting members would support any measure that might censor artists.

"They are not going to be supportive of something that excludes someone simply because they are using a word that is offensive," said Ron Roecker, vice president of communication for the Recording Academy.

The city resolution calling for the moratorium traces the etymology of the word from the Latin "niger," meaning black, to its first documented written use in 1786 as a term slave masters used to label their African slaves.

Use of the word by blacks exploded with the rise of rap music in recent years, and some black comedians like Chris Rock continue to use it in their routines.

"What, is there a fine? Am I going to get a ticket?" Rock mocked in a Reuters interview when asked about the City Council move. "Do judges say, '10 years, nigger!'"

Rock said politicians were trying to divert attention from real problems: "Enough real bad things happen in this city to worry about how I am going to use the word."

(Additional reporting by Christine Kearney)

So much for free speech. New York is no longer in America I guess.

[Perry Winkle]

Keywords being: "symbolic" and "no penalty".

[deadbeater]

When even Richard Pryor disavowed the continued use of the n-word, it was time for its usage to go. No reason why the rappers should continue using it. It's equivalent of Jews calling each other and themselves 'Kikes'. Yes, and I'm a hip hop fanatic.

[bluecuracao]

If the word is used as hate speech, it's not covered under the First Amendment. Though that doesn't really seem to be the issue behind the banning here...Maybe they're going with an expanded definition of "defamatory."

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, by all means be politically correct. Gives us something to do while we ignore real problems.

[elSicomoro]

Let people call each other whatever the heck they want...it's when illegal action(s) are added to those words that we really need to be worried.

[rigcranop]

First and foremost, we have the right to say as we please. Of course, there may be unpleasant physical side effects as a result.

a moratorium that carries no penalty

As it should be. Those that use the word, will continue to use it. So it would seem that the lawmakers should be spending their time on other issues instead of trying to endear themselves to constituents.

Rock said politicians were trying to divert attention from real problems: "Enough real bad things happen in this city to worry about how I am going to use the word."

Not too long ago, wasn't there a school of thought that using the word openly and publicly would take some of the sting out of it?
Kudos to those in the cellar, who remind us of our liberties on a regular basis.
Note: Trotta does his best to use plenty of buzz words in his article to stir the emotions.

most vile, most offensive in the English language, hate-filled history, spewed it in a racially charged tirade, slave masters

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by sycamore

Let people call each other whatever the heck they want...it's when illegal action(s) are added to those words that we really need to be worried.

True. But I get from the article that the intent of this so-called "ban" is more specific than simply trying to keep people from hurling insults. Black leaders feel an obligation (and get pressured) to set standards for youth, and this is an attempt at that, as lame as it may seem. Starting at the beginning of it, so to speak.

[rigcranop]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Yes, by all means be politically correct. Gives us something to do while we ignore real problems.

You are frequently dead on with a minimum of words. It's an art you have there.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I have to, I don't type. A long post could, and often does, take me over an hour.

@ blue. Your probably right, I just hope the ones trying are indeed the black leaders and not who the politicians think are the black leaders. Who will the youth really listen to, not Bill Cosby.

Or Flava' Flav... he hates tha' word too... had a song out in the 90s about it. Love me some Public Enemy.
I don't like derogatory language either... but I dislike PC more.... So:

[bluecuracao]

That man is marketing GENIUS.

[wolf]

Hey Rzen, isn't Florida banning the use of the term "illegal alien," or at least it's being proposed in your state govt?

Thoughtcrime! Doubleplusungood!

Nigga' please... there ain't no way we gonna' let that shit happen.

[9th Engineer]

Whatever happens, I wish we could at least show some consistancy in how we interperate the word. If we can't say it then punish all offenders equally, but if some are allowed to use it then don't start making PC rules about 'poetic licence' of a word I'd get in trouble for using in the exact same context.