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Wednesday, March 24, 2010 | 5:42am
Steve Perry vs. Sarah Silverman: Why Won’t White People Own Up To Using The N-Word?
While we might be split on the power of “Nigger” we all know
@sarahKSilverman vs @beakypeartree #racism
Here’s an interesting one for you guys and I’d love for our honorary members of the Racial Determination Committee to chime in. Our President, Urban Thought has been having some problems accessing the site so please excuse him but I’d love to hear your thoughts.
In a recent interview with Playboy Magazine, Comedian Sarah Silverman told the magazine “onetime lead singer of a very popular band from the 1980s” used the n-word to describe her humor.
“You’re my favorite comedian – you have the best nigger jokes,” She said. “I’ll just say this: After that, I stopped believin’,”
The reference an obvious dig at 80′s rocker and Former Journey lead singer, Steve Perry who’s hit single “Don’t Stop Believin’,” topped charts and was most famously playing during the finale of The Sopranos.
It appears that Perry has “rabbit ears” and took offense to her recent slight and recently looked to Rolling Stone magazine to defend himself.
“I’m really shocked. She was so friendly and so nice,” he proclaimed. “I don’t understand why she would go there, it’s so bizarre. I don’t use that word, are you kidding? That’s so derogatory.”
“I walked up to her after the show and I said, ‘I can’t believe that somehow you seem to be getting away with all these slurs and the n-word, I just can’t believe how you’re doing this,’ and I looked at my friend and I said, ‘I can’t believe how she’s getting away with this,’ and she looked at me and kind of smiled. It wasn’t like I was condemning her or condoning her.”
In his own subliminal jab Perry chooses the high road painting her instead as the inappropriate party.
“You’ve gotta see her show because she uses every ethnic slur known to man that historically has been very unforgivable.”
So there you have it. As HUMANS, let alone African Americans we’d be niaeve to believe that a) folks don’t talk about us behind our back and b) don’t use racial slurs. Its the same concept behind why people curse. Its not necessary but is used for effect, shock value, to make us funny at the risk of being extremely inappropriate.
We all have prejudice but I’ve said time and time before I’m more accepting of those who are honest about their ish. If you’re a racist, be open about yours. Tell the world. That’s what was so horrifying about the KKK. They wore hoods. Cowards hiding behind white sheets. I’ve seen Sarah Silverman’s act and I find it very entertaining. She herself is a Jew and endlessly uses it as material to make her audience’s laugh. She doesn’t hide the fact that her humor might be seen as offensive but it works for her audience. On the other hand Steve Perry seems to be backpeddling. If you said it, own it! Are you a racist because you said you like her Nigger jokes? Nah. If that’s how you feel that’s how you feel. But trying to hide the fact that you might have used the word, makes me think what else are you hiding behind the curtain.
Sound Off. I want to hear your thoughts on this one.
FILED IN Editorials
I totally agree with your take on owning your statement…stop sprinkling sugar or shit, because it still stinks and taste like shit. Oh NO two girls one cup jokes. lol…
My first question would be: Is he supposed to have said this back in the 80’s or recently? If she’s dragging up something that’s 20-years plus, I would have a problem. There should be a statute of limitations on stupidity.
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My next problem is that there seems to be a shift going on in the outside world as far as when you can use the word and when not. It seems as though the ‘if you’re white you can’t use it’ rule hasn’t been followed as closely as it could be.
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It seems that the rules now follow a progression. (try to follow me here, it’s complicated).
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If you’re white you can’t use it. Unless you’re hanging out with long-term black friends and you have a friendly trash-talking relationship. At that point, you can use it, as long as you don’t use it in front of strangers (who don’t know that you’re saying it as a term of endearment and not an insult).
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Example: Look at any young white male living in most major cities of the US.
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You can use the word when singing along with a song, as long as the song was written and performed by a black person; and as long as you also include enough of the words before and after the N word to be clear that you are quoting publically accepted lyrics.
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Note: If you are a white male, this is complicated, since it gets you in the habit of using the word; which increases the chance that it will accidently come out when you don’t want it to. White men should especially avoid the DMX song ‘my N’s’, as this will eventually drive you crazy.
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If you’re a white celebrity, you can never use it. UNLESS (and this is rare)…. Unless you’re so hip that your using it is accepted by nearly all black people in the country (except Jesse and Al, of course). However: this privilege can be revoked if you get into some sort of public beef or trouble with a black person. And, if this happens, you are now retroactively responsible for any use of the word in the past (even if it was used at a time when you were allowed to use it)
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It’s all very complicated. Like I’ve said before, there should be a rule book passed out to everyone, or rules posted on a wall somewhere.
LMAO @ Retroactively responsible for any use of that word in the past! Hilarious!
-B.
LOL!!!! Sad but true…..
LOL! Too many rules, I agree. That’s why I say don’t use it BUT if you do don’t hide from it. Say it with conviction. Let everyone know where you stand.
haha thats crazy cuz just last week i was in time square and a man(white) got punched in the face cuz he was upset and said you niggers need to respect….. then BAM come this mans(black) fist right across his face.apparently he wasnt having it he didnt care where he was or who he was he gave him a knuckle sandwich.
Let me state that I am of mixed race,,,,, But it offends me when I hear the N,,,,,,,, And I hear it at least 10 times a day, But it is my BROTHERS in the neighborhood saying it,,,,,calling each other that,,,,If WE don’t want to hear people saying IT then WE NEED TO STOP IT!!!!!
Steve Perry didn’t say the N – word and he had every right to defend himself against the lies of someone else. He has a reputation behind him as he is known for never saying anything bad about anyone.
Many people use the N- word – african americans more than anyone else. Just because someone uses the N-word doesn’t make them a racist. AM people use the term “honkey” all the time and white people don’t get upset about it.
I never use the N-word but I actually feel stupid saying “you know that guy used the n-word.” I think saying n-word is ridiculous. It’s nigger. It’s a word. It’s deragatory and stupid to call anyone that or to be prejudice in the first place. But like fat, lazy, stupid, it’s a word. People use it – get over it. Sticks and stones!
I can understand that. I hate it when they have to add the suffix ‘gate’ to the end of any political scandal
Notice I try not to use the term “N-word” its mad juvenile. We’re not in 5th grade. In a journalistic setting its important to be clear. No one say’s the N-word they say NIGGER. Lets call a spade a spade. Who knows what he said but at the end of the day it was playboy so who knows.
cant polish a turd. if it stinks like shit, most likely IS shit. seems since ole boy became president, that word has become the ‘shit’ to use amongst white people. like “its cool to say it now bc our president is black” kinda mentality.
I may be alone on this but this is what I feel…The word itself doesn’t have any power unless black people give it power. Meaning if we get offended off everyone and everytime a white person uses it they now know that we are mad. Whites have been testing us for years. The ONLY time I get offended is if a white person calls me DIRECTLY a NIGGER(hince the er). I went to school at a racist high school with only 4 black people who were mixed and 1 that wasn’t. When the whites there would call ME a nigger I was pissed yes, but I refused to let them know that it got to me because now they know exactly how to push my buttons everytime. My oldest child is half white and her father grew up in a black area with lots of black friends and he asked me if I was ok with it cause his other friends were. I told him as long as you never use the “er” around me(cause if he loves he wouldn’t) and NEVER call me DIRECTLY a nigger than to me it has no power. Now like I said I may be alone on this but since we as black people seem to be comfortable calling each other niggas (“as”) around white people then of course they feel why can’t they. they can argue their first amendment rights and everything. So to ME I don’t like it but I also don’t react off of it unless directed to me. words don’t affect me like that. it may not be on the same level but if i got mad everytime i heard a white person say nigger then i need to also be mad everytime a black person calls me a hoe or a bitch or anything else of that nature(although they seem to say that they say those types of things as a term of endearmeant…ex: ja-rule “my down ass bitch”).
must we go through this again come’on man!!!
Spending my days around young people over the past couple of months have caused me to keep my mouth shut in correcting anyone who uses the word.
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If Perry is saying he didn’t say it then I have to believe him. If Sarah is lying then she needs to correct herself. But if he did say it I won’t be mad about it, just admit it and move on. A closet racist is worst then an open one. I’d rather see your true colors then have you talk bad about me behind my back.
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That being said, you don’t know what is in the heart of man when he makes any statement. Know how you want to treated and make your point clear to whomever you have the problem with. Be prepared of whatever consequences come with it.
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Like Malcolm said, there should be a rule book. However, most people have the common sense enough to act accordingly in different environments (or at least I would hope they do).
It’s not in his character to say such a word. His all time favorite singer since he was 7 years old is Sam Cooke who is African American. He is a BIG lover of Motown music. Also he has a strong musical backgrown in R & B music. He is the one who pulled Randy Jackson into Journey. This Latino who grew up in the ghetto of Bakersfield, is the “blackest” guy I know. She may have been tired, drunk, high or confused who knows, but she is definetly mistaken.
Anyone who knows Steve Perry knows he would never say such a thing – especially to someone like Sarah. I happen to know Steve Perry never said such a thing and never would. No wonder he hates the limelight so much and practically hides from public life. Sarah is foul mouthed, low life trailer trash. I’m surpised a person as classy as Steve Perry went to her show. However, I know he was there with a black man. Go figure!! Yea, I’m sure he used the N-word in front of his friend.