Tupac Shakur Racial Slur

Racial slurs used to be seen as slander and a form of expressing hatred. However, it is quite common to hear slurs used in the American vocabulary. The term, “nigger”, is a unique and a degrading insult. This word haunted and belittled generations of African Americans. Ironically, over time, it is now a popular, and casual phrase (along with other variations of the word) of fondness by the very same race who once had to tolerate such agony and despair. Amongst the generation of young people in today’s world, the slur can have a much friendlier context. One question that may arise is, how did this phrase become so popular, or socially acceptable? Most Americans understand that the term, Negro, began as a description with no significant worth …show more content…
The idiom, “nigga”, is used more freely amongst the youth of all races and ethnicities in the United States. In addition to African Americans, many other ethnic groups have adopted the term as part of their dialect, spreading from white, Hispanics and so on. One of the greatest musical artists of all time, Tupac Shakur, is recognized for making the word famous. Shakur would call himself this word, but would use it in a positive, and ego-boosting way. However, this caused a major uproar throughout the entire black community. It is understood that the attempt was to yield the word with such a negative connotation and definition and perform the opposite, but that’s practically impossible especially in this …show more content…
Is it racist to say that only a certain race or races can use the word while other races cannot? Does this not create some unfair double-standard? There are also people of the white race, who perform their music in a major black-influenced industry fully absorbed in black culture. These artist preach similar lyrics to those of African descent: luxurious cars, money, extravagant jewelry, etc., and yet, are they not allowed to say this specific word?
“Nigga” in the dialogue of most African Americans, is not degrading, at least in this companionship sense, and is seamlessly sincere and acceptable. However, I do not totally believe this theory either. On a personal note, I often experience a strange sensation of awkwardness whenever I am with an acquaintance of mine, and they proceed to use this phrase or listen to certain music that has this word repeated often. I am not confident in why, but this does provide a subliminal message that lets myself know that the answer to the debate cannot ignore the social consequences of saying