Richard Sherman: Banning "N Word" Racist

Either everyone should be allowed to use it or no one should, thats if you want equality. If you don't want equality then get mad when Cooper says it but don't get mad when Sherman says it.

 

personally i think they are making a big deal of nothing. words aren't offensive its the context of the words that can be offensive

 

I get what he is saying. I'm certain the majority of players using it are black so a white commissioner and white owners deciding that black people can't use it does come off as insensitive.

To clarify, black people took a racist word and turned it into a term of endearment and now white people in a position of power are telling them they can't use it?

Uh, yea

 

Oh, is that what is happening? I thought they were banning everyone, regardless of color, from using it.

 

lol no I don't think that was the intent. I think this is an example of them trying to ramrod cultural change down peoples throats but it comes off as insensitive.

They are. My point is that it isn't white people throwing "nigger" around willy-nilly on the field. It is black people using "nigga" so of course it is them who are going to be affected by it when they obviously aren't using it as a racist term

Sherman's point is valid. If you are going to ban the n-word when the context of its usage is not racist then you might as well ban every single curse word. Otherwise you are singling out black people. Him calling it "racist" was a little too far but it is pretty insensitive.

 

Then they should ban every slur. Racist, sexist, etc. Making an example out of 1 word was not the best place to go.

 

My immediate question is why not expand that list to contain other insensitive terms? It also brings up context since it can be used different ways and we are letting the refs in the heat of the moment to do their normal jobs and also keep their ears and eyes open to look improper use of the word?

I don't think this will get passed. I definitely understand what the NFL is trying to do, but I think this is another example of not fully thinking something through.

 

Yeah, I know.

 

Some workplaces have their own set of rules I work in construction and we say crazy shit on the job site so I don't agree with the NFL trying to legislate interactions between players on the field, Its a very slippery slope.

 

first of all, he said it was almost racist, not that it was racist. and i get his point, much like beastbeach has said, id be willing to bet a large majority if not all the players saying nigger or nigga on the field are minorities and have adopted the attitude that they are taking back a word that was used to dehumanize and devalue their race. so, when the people they took the word from get all upset and tell them they cant use it, it sounds like they are upset that the word isnt only the derogatory form an longer.

i dont think that people should keep using the word just because of its original intent and how it really is just a horrible word. but i also dont think its my place to tell anyone else how to feel. ultimately though, that is why i dont think the word should be used. you may not find anything wrong with the word, but there are a lot of people that are grossly offended by that word and i think that should be enough. racism is a horrible thing and it can have a serious effect on peoples lives.

 

That's definitely true, but why stop there? It has much more meaning and history, but many words are used on the field that are definitely derogatory and it seems strange to just stop here if you are going to control it

 

I sort of agree with you, it goes back to my original point about it being a slippery slope, first nigga then what? This issue is very sensitive and should probably be left alone, everybodies culture and background is different.

 

And I agree with you, I don't think they should create this. It isn't fully thought out correctly in my opinion

 

Well, if you advocate black people being allowed to do it, then how about people go all Ben Chapman a la "42" on their asses? Fair is fair.

I don't know one actual black person in my life that thinks it's acceptable for ANYONE regardless of color to say it. It's ignorance ass shit.

 

I heard Colin Cowherd make this point and I really agree with it (first time for everything), but until the African-American community can get together on the same page about the n word, and then tell the rest of America what they feel about the use of the word, the white community shouldn't even express any opinion on the matter.

It should really be their call all the way on this one about how they feel they can or can't use the n word, and we should respect their decision on the matter.