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AALBC.com's Thumper's Corner Discussion Board » Culture, Race & Economy - Archive 2007 » Richard Pryor and the N-word « Previous Next »

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Yukio
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 01:30 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

What happened in Africa to induce him not to use the word?
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Tonya
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 02:26 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

He realized he's a nig-ger himself, (God bless his soul). I gotta feeling Brotha's and Sistah's in Africa don't hold back. They prob’ly called him a pogo-. He was married to a white woman, y'know.

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Chrishayden
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 02:46 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Wrong. He said he looked around saw black businessmen, doctors, policemen, people in charge. Said the airline pilot was black. Said he decided that there weren't any niggers and that he would stop using it.
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Tonya
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 03:04 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

That's what he said...
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Cynique
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 03:11 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Do you know the actual reason, Yukio?? I think it was a combination of things that inspired him to drop this word from his stand-up comedy act.
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Yukio
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 03:30 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

No. I don't. I only know what you explained to Tonya. His use of the word was not limited to the negative connotations of the word....but I suspect that going to Africa had some kind of emotional effect on him.

from the various speakers her here talk about africans americans in africa, the always talk about how we tend to romanticize africa. That we forget that they are humans first, and not some romantic land where we will find all the answers to our existence, past and future....

but anyways, no...I don't know...but I'm sure someone here does...
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Chrishayden
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 03:36 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

but anyways, no...I don't know...but I'm sure someone here does...

(So why'd you post all that if you don't know?)
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Cynique
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 03:36 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

That was chrishadyen who offered an explanation to Tonya, Yukio. Please don't mix us up. LOL. I never got the impression that Pryor thought a nigga was a particularly bad person. In his act he kinda used this word as a crutch to get him through his routines.
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Doberman23
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 04:23 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

speaking of richard pryor, i saw the "mack" the recently ... what a crappy movie. maybe it was good for it's time, but times must have been if it was.

cynique your bulls are going to get beat tonight, i expect the refs to make sure that the heat don't get swept. they did it for the lakers against phoenix last night ... kobe was happier than serena"sausageswallower" sailor would be if he slid down dick mountain and got stuck a few times on the way down. :-)
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Cynique
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 04:42 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

LMAO. I'm afraid you're right, Dobes. I know The Heat is determined to take advantage of home court advantage. But maybe the Bulls won't cooperate since they're kinda naive and don't know how things are supposed to go. And you can never count the Lakers out. I guess pride and Phil Jackson's Zen played a big factor in their victory also.
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Chrishayden
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 05:18 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

never got the impression that Pryor thought a nigga was a particularly bad person. In his act he kinda used this word as a crutch to get him through his routines

(But you are senile. So what does it matter what you think?

He used the word because the characters he was playing in his routines used the word. Now you are going to try to tell us no black people ever said "".

How low are you going to go before sundown?)
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Mzuri
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 05:26 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)


Speaking of Richard Pryor and the N-word. Did you all ever hear his album "That 's Crazy?" That was some of the funniest shit I ever heard in my life!!! It was hysterical!!!



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Cynique
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 06:10 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Pryor didn't play characters in all of his stand-up routines. His act was very much about telling stories about crazy folks. Even when you call on your favorite terms of "self-hate" and "senile", crisco-hayden, your lame arguments still don't hold up..
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Yukio
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 08:58 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Chris Hayden: Cuz, like you, when I dont "know," I do have thoughts on it!

Cynique: I apologize...it wont happen, again.

Finally, if was telling a story, elder cynique, then this would require him to speak for the characters in his stories, no?

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Troy
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Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 10:51 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I was just thinking about Richard Pryor on the heals of the Nappy Headed Hos controversy.

In fact I was listening to him on my Ipod during lunch today (did I say the these Ipoddy things are so cool -- I've been so on the uptake on this device)

Yukio, Pryor basically said what Chris wrote on one of his albums. I clearly remember thinking, when I heard him say that, that was he would not be funny any more.

Pryor's funniest albums was when he used the word Ni--er. He just was not as funny after that. Am I the only one who thinks that?


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Ntfs_encryption
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Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 01:20 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"Wrong. He said he looked around saw black businessmen, doctors, policemen, people in charge. Said the airline pilot was black. Said he decided that there weren't any niggers and that he would stop using it."

This is very true....

"Pryor's funniest albums was when he used the word Ni--er. He just was not as funny after that. Am I the only one who thinks that?"

Probably. I didn't like it when he did used it. Never have. And yes, I know I stand alone against this entire board on the "n" word, but I detest it. I make no distinction between who is using it. It matters not to me. In fact, it's worse when a black person uses it. And yes, I know everyone on this board is quite happy, comfortable, enthusiastic and upbeat about using this sub-humanizing racist term. And I guess I'll leave it at that.....E'nuff said.

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Troy
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Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 06:15 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Ntfs_encryption, what do you do when someone uses the "n-word" in your presence? Do you just seethe in silence or do you expression your outrage?

What would you do if someone called you the "N-word", in jest, or to deliberately anger you? I gather you do not make a distinction.

NTFS why do you not allow this word to have a different meaning in different contexts – like most other words. You see, I would ascribe a completely different meaning to the word were used by a Klansman, with noose in hand, versus a buddy I’ve know for 30 years.

Despite prolific use of the “N-word” Pryor’s That 's Crazy has got to be some of the funniest shit ever recorded. This album won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for 1974. It is interesting how far we have come in three decades.

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Troy
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Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 06:19 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I see I've filter out the use of the N-word on the discussion board. I did not do it because I did not want the words used, but some people were getting carried away with the n-word and other 4 letter words.

So in that context, even I, do not want the n-word used... Again it depends upon the context.

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Yukio
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Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 09:50 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Ok. Since black folk generally use it differently than the KKK or your neighborhood black/white racist, then Pryor's rationale makes no sense...it seems to be a emotional response....

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Ntfs_encryption
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Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007 - 05:21 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)


"Ntfs_encryption, what do you do when someone uses the "n-word" in your presence? Do you just seethe in silence or do you expression your outrage?"

I don't do anything. I don't have to. The black friends I have do not use racially degrading and ignorant epitaphs. So there is no response required on my part. I personally don't know anyone that ignorant. All the black people I know feel just as strongly about this as I do.

"What would you do if someone called you the "N-word", in jest, or to deliberately anger you? I gather you do not make a distinction."

This is true. But I make no differentiation. I don't use the word for any reason. There is no need to. I have no desire to use indefensible racist names in jest or anger. But if a black person did call me the "n" word, I'm not going to fly into a blind rage and do a UFC or Pride imitation on them for doing so. No need for that.

"NTFS why do you not allow this word to have a different meaning in different contexts – like most other words. You see, I would ascribe a completely different meaning to the word were used by a Klansman, with noose in hand, versus a buddy I’ve know for 30 years."

Bro Troy, that's where you and I differ. I don't use nor tolerate the word under any circumstances...PERIOD! There is no sane or acceptable reason for the word to come out of the mouth of any black person for any reason....PERIOD! The word was created to to label and lower our race to a level of sub-humans. So why would I call another black person a word that was created to justify the dehumanization and brutality of our parents, grandparents and ancestors? Are there no other words in the English language that can be used to describe or express our camaraderie or anger?

As I stated before, I know I'm the lone wolf in the woods on this particular subject in this forum. Many of the Negroes who frequent this board take immense pride, joy and enthusiasm in calling other black people the "n" word whether in a racially heterogeneous or homogeneous company. Matters not to them since they seem to be genetically programed to do so (although we know that is not the case). The appalling level of ignorance that drives Negroes to use this type of language is shocking. I've heard all the arguments and rationalizations for using self hatred names. There is more intelligence in the gravel in my drive way than in those feeble and intellectually embarrassing arguments. And all the various derivations of the "n" word are equally if not more sickening than the original self hating epitaph.

"Despite prolific use of the “N-word” Pryor’s That ••••••'s Crazy has got to be some of the funniest shit ever recorded. This album won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for 1974. It is interesting how far we have come in three decades."

Well, that's the sad part, we haven't come far -we've gone backwards at the speed light! There has to be at least one voice of dissention against self loathing flagellation. So, I'll step up to the plate. And for the record, this is not some "self righteous" indignant soap box preaching. It's an honest moral protest against an entrenched generational arrogance of self hatred, disrespect and historical ignorance.

Yes, enraged Negroes will immediately retaliate against my response by calling me the "n" word. That is to be expected. But when they do it, I always laugh and dismiss it since they know and I know it is a desperate cheap shot to get a rise out of me. Doesn't work. But I do cringe when I hear Negroes calling each other the "n" word in public, mixed company or not. E'nuff said..........



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Renata
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Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007 - 08:40 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I so detested his use of the word that I've never followed his work closely enough to know whether he's funny or not. But I'll take you people's word for it.
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Troy
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Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 09:38 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Yukio of course the reaction to the word is emotional. The word, unfortunately, only has the meaning the individual user or listener ascribes to it. Which is why it is so controversial now.

Some people don’t want to use the word or hear the word spoken. They would probably be happy if the word disappeared altogether. But what these folks fail to realize is that if the n-word simply vanished from our vocabulary, without a trace, that the sentiment of the individuals who use the word, even in it’s most negative context, would persist.

They would simply find a new vocabulary.

I think the word should stay. If a white man uses it when addressing me I know exactly where he stands – his communication to me would be crystal with a single word.

Coming out of a Black mouth the meaning is also clear. When you hear a mother in the subway gather up her boys by saying, “you little ni—ers get over here”, in a car full of people. The meaning is just as clear although for a completely different reason.

You can tell a lot about a person by the vocabulary they use and when they use it. You can also tell the same about the culture.

Perhaps Richard Pryor helped change the culture... While white people were giving the That Nig-er’s Crazy a Grammy we still listened to the album in the basement, behind closed doors or, like Renata, not at all. The album was taboo, which perhaps was part of the appeal to some. Kinda like Adam eating the apple…

Ntfs_encryption, I know you are exaggerating it you believe many people on this board would use the n-word in mixed company. I know I have never used the word in front of white people I have never heard the word come of my teenagers mouths and I have never used it in front of my mother – it front of my boys, as a youth, well that was a different story.

I rarely use the word now – not even in front of my boys from back in the day.

Either way, this genie out of the bottle – has been for generation. Unless you are prepared to start burning old Richard Pryor albums and throwing people in prison and torturing them for using the ‘n—word’ you can forget it. Like it or not it is here to stay.

That said, I do not think the n-word should be allowed to be freely used along with other words in the media without retriction.

----

Is anyone old enough to remember or otherwise know if there was any backlash from the Black community for giving Pryor a Grammy for an Album entitled "That Ni--er's Crazy"?

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