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Serious Errors in the "N-Word" LegislationThe New York City Council has passed Councilman Comrie's "N-Word" legislation, complete with serious errors. Doesn't anyone have drafting or research skills anymore? In a previous post, I dared Comrie to honor the African-American stablehand who called New York City "The Big Apple" (and whose grandchildren might still be alive). Comrie wasn't interested in contacting me. Now, to the many legislative problems and errors: 1. VAGUENESS--What is the "n-word"? Nigger? Nigga? Negro? New York City? The legislation never states the word that is not to be used. 2. FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES--The New York City Council cannot ban a word--that's protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. OK, so this is a "symbolic" ban, not an "actual" ban. The New York City Council "symbolically" disagrees with the Bill of Rights and recommends that its citizens void some of its contents. That's not good, either. 3. FACTUAL ERRORS--Comrie's bill states: "The first documented written use of the word was in 1786." Obviously, I must have the only copy of the Oxford English Dictionary. The OED has citations for "nigger" from 1574, 1584, 1608, 1636, 1656, 1676, 1704, 1760, and 1775. 4. MORE FACTUAL ERRORS--Let's read this in full: "The first documented written use of the word was in 1786, when the 'N' word was a term slave masters used to label their African slaves; thus, the word has its origins in the contempt that slave masters had for their African slaves, and no matter how it is spelled, the word carries throughout the centuries these connotations of hate." This is not true. "Nigger" or "Negro" is simply Latin for the color "black." This bill makes stuff up. 5. MORE FACTUAL ERRORS--Let's read more: "The 'N' word was used to refer to slaves throughout the 1700's and 1800's, and by the early 1900's, the word 'Black' began to appear in print in reference to African Americans, a term generally rejected by the African American community because of its negative connotations." Does this line mean that there were slaves in the early 1900's? If it means that the word "black" emerged in the early 1900's, it's clearly wrong. Again, the OED is your friend. Use it. 6. MORE FACTUAL ERRORS--Let's read more: "The 'N' word connotes a lazy person with no self respect or regard for family, a person who is ignorant, stupid, slow moving, does not speak proper English and has childlike qualities, and such definition was cemented in American culture by early 1900’s caricatures of Black people, such as the film 'Birth Of A Nation." "Birth of a Nation" was a SILENT FILM. Where was "nigger" used? 7. MORE FACTUAL ERRORS--Let's read more: "While some African Americans started using the 'N' word to refer to themselves in the 1970's cultural era known as Black Exploitation, the term was also adopted during the beginning of 1990’s cultural era known as Hip Hop; Hip Hop culture removed the 'er' from the end of the word and added the letter 'a,' creating the term 'Nigga,' although the term remained pejorative in the Black community and, depending on social circles, at some times denoted class differences." See the "Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, H-O," pg. 659, where this use is traced from 1956-1960. Although I would have helped Comrie for free to research this, he evidently did not seek the help of any professional slang researcher. 8. MORE FACTUAL ERRORS--Let's read more: "In 2003, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) successfully influenced Merriam-Webster lexicographers to change the dictionary definition of the 'N' word in the dictionary to no longer mean African Americans." As M-W Joanne M. Despres explained to her American Dialect Society colleagues on June 12, 2003: "The only real change in M-W's policy is that the 'usu offensive' label was moved from the end to the beginning of the definition; this 9. OTHER SLANG NOT CONSIDERED?--What about "kike"? "Wop"? "Fag"? "Homo"? "Queer"? "Ching-Chung Chinaman"? If the New York City Council is going down this road to ban all hateful speech terms from New York City, why limit it to African-Americans? Because they have more political clout? SUMMARY: This law was not necessary, this law was unconstitutional in spirit, this law was poorly written, and this law contains numerous factual errors. It wasted Council resources. Its most valuable asset was in getting Leroy Comrie's name in the news. Good job. LINKS: http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Res%200693-2007.htm?CFID=1310861&CFTOKEN=70391409 http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0306b&L=ads-l&P=11420 The "n word" was already carefully defined by dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster and OED. There is no need for the City Council to legislate against "bad" language. Call it a "resolution" if you will, but it still recommends limiting First Amendment rights. "No one is banning or abolishing the word, they are calling on people to just simply stop using it." What's that again? The bill was poorly drafted, starting with the "n"-word's incorrect "first" citation of 1786 (probably taken directly from AbolishTheNWord.com). The council has ratified something that's not true. We can at least agree on that. The resolution is clearly well intentioned and harmless. It is undoubtedly intended to include all variations as well as those other words that might offend such as niggardly, and niggling even if they have entirely different meanings and derivations. Just Say No, Whip Inflation Now, WTF
Look its symbolic and it fits in with Black History Month, Obama, and the change we need to have within the African American community. Focus on other issues. Has anyone called you the N-Word? Are you black? Can you relate?
The real N word is nonsense. Too bad the reso doesn't ban that; if it did, it would be self negating (is that a slur?) This is the single most ridiculous post I have seen. It should be zapped by the monitors for its sheer absurdity. The poster needs to get a life. Vagueness? We don't ALL know what the reso meant by the N Word?
In the poster's case, it must stand for "Nucklehead".
Leroy Comrie did a major service by elevating this issue to public debate. When I see Jewish teens calling each other the K word casually, I will be glad to put in a reso on that during Jewish history Month.
You have SO missed the point.
Leroy did real good here and I am proud of him for it. This is the most important thing that the one day a week legislators in the City Council have done in a long time. Don't they have anything better to do? And do they really think that the black kids saying "nigga, nigga, nigga" all day long even know of this resolution?
Lew: What exactly is the point? Do you advocate symbolicly banning Mark Twain? How about Dick Gregory? Of course, as usual, Popik is an imbecile; but, iin this once instance, it is a response in kind.
 Lew: this is not an absurd post. This semi-meaningless,semi-symbolic, toothless resolution, was meant only to get Comrie some press while he tries to become Queens Boro Prez two years from now. There is a reason we have first amendment rights; to protect us from fools like Leroy Comrie.
ok lookie here i fully agree with the poster of this article now just to be clear, which n-word is gonna be banned?
(This semi-meaningless,semi-symbolic, toothless resolution.)
That's certainly better than a law. One of the things I have objected to is the proliferation of laws and rules that are unenforceable, semi-enforced, or enforced in a discriminatory way. Here there is no enforcement, and it isn't real legislation, so I can't complain. Leaving aside the specifics, I don't object to elected officials thinking of themselves as leaders in their community, rather than just lawgivers. Most of what happens in society is outside the realm of government, and there are possibilities for inducing -- rather than trying to force -- people to voluntarily do things differently. So I don't object to the idea of member of the City Council, acting as leaders of their community, making a collective suggestion. Take another example. Our energy use would go down if people would use compact flourescent lightbulbs. There is a social benefit -- less strain on the power grid at peak times. Should the City Council pass a law fining people for using incandescent, or do nothing? Well, there is a third alternative.
As long as they didn't add to the long list of unenforced laws I criticized here http://www.r8ny.com/blog/larry_littlefield/man_s_rules_bite_dogs.html, I have no objection. I was worried people were going try to make the cops go around writing tickets for this, and they harass them for only ticketing Blacks! I find it curious that Prof. Rock Hackshaw is more than willing to toss insults on this blog but 24 hours ago he was crying like a batty woman because people wondered if he pitches or catches. Talk about the height of hypocrisy. Wasn't the very nature of his farewell address to the troops derived from the fact that anonymous posters were lobbing personal attacks. Fair enough to criticize the seriousness of the resolution- and I would argue that as a Caribbean-American from a predominately Black nation, you've been called the n-word alot less than you've been called say a pompous coconut -but when you engage in personal name-calling, irregardless of the legitimacy of your argument, then you lose people who actually enjoy your writings. Sad to say, but I won't miss your departure- if indeed you do follow through with your Hamlet routine. Your lack of thick skin and lack of commitment to telling the truth and dealing with whatever consequences may come has become annoying. It was beneath you to even respond to some of those posters. The fact that you did- in such a juvenile way as threatening to fight people -just empowered the peanut gallery to come after you even further. Brother, to actually publish your personal cell number was just reckless and fool-ish, if you want to call people fools. You're not Superman and there are truly crazy people in this world who don't think twice about taking life over words, much less deeds. And the world would be a much worser place for your family, friends and colleagues without you in it. Hence, the response to your call for ending anonymity. The net is the wonder of our age and this site is a joy for those of us who don't have lives and enjoy politics 24-7. Unfortunately, the net also has erased barriers of privacy and can be used to really cost people their jobs (see Gatey) and even their lives or the lives of their loved ones. Yeah, respect to you, Rock, for standing publicly behind your critiques. Unfortunately, many of us can't do that because we got bills to pay and families to feed. And some of us actually have something positive to contribute to the discussion- should we be barred because we're anonymous? If that were the case, this blog would become boring and cease to exist because it would be a discussion between a handful of people. All you've done is really given credence to the image of the hot-headed Caribbean male (hence your remarks last year about the feud between Nick Perry, Kendall Stewart and Wellington Sharpe). Additionally, you've deprived alot of us who honestly enjoy the give-and-take of political discusssion, the pleasure of hearing a superior intellect when it comes to the subject of central Brooklyn politics. Essentially, you were the Jackie Robinson of political blogs, but you lost your cool and quit. Man, imagine if the real Jackie had done that? What impact would that have had on civil rights in this nation? Lastly, memory recalls that you took Comrie to task two years ago for raising obscene campaign cash- via the 4-to-1 -and not having an opponent. I thought it curious that you chose him of all the Council candidates that year to take to task. At first I thought you might be doing the bidding of your boy Barron, who felt Comrie didn't push hard enough to be Speaker and feels that he hides under Quinn's skirt these days. But as a political student and cultural student, I've long noticed that Caribbean-Americans have a disdain for portly, obese people. I think it may have its roots in the psychological damage of European colonialism that still inhabits the Caribbean and its people. So when you attacked another Caribbean brother so viciously from out of nowhere- your offerings on Queens politics having been very limited up until that time -I figured it had to be personal on some level. But thats neither here or there. I really could have cared less about this particular post, much less the resolution, until you stop pouting long enough to weigh in on the discussion. PS- my brother stop dwelling on the batty issue so much. You know Brother Malcolm had a saying- one Barron hasn't yet co-opted- you throw a rock at a group of dogs, the ones that yell are the ones that got hit....... We all know that the word "nigger" no matter how it is spelt, has a long negative historical connotation for blacks. That's a given; but so do other words. For example; kike, wop, spic, honkie, red man, yellow man, coolie, chink, etcetra, etcetra. WHY is Comrie confining his first amendment faux pas to this word only? He knows this is a toothless tiger that he is riding for publicity reasons. He acts like a house-N in the council, but wants to ban the word when he knows that's impossible. Gimme a break. As for you Bashir (Political Student), I am nobody's flunky. For someone who has paid close attention to the things I have written here, you sure conveniently act now like an ass. I wonder why? Are you kissing Leroy's?
By the way political stdent (Mr. M or is it N-since I am not sure how you spell your last name/I only know how it sounds), since you have my pager number, you can call me anytime. I would really truly (and honestly) enjoy talking to you on a wide range of issues. Especially on your favorite: Charles Barron. you see, I don't work on anybody's plantation, nor do I do anyone's bidding.
Again with the same-sexual connotations. Kissing men's ass? Is kissing BBM's rears like some new sexual perverseness? Dude, come to grips with your closet. LOL Seriously, your farewell post pissed me off yesterday cause you ran like a bitch from a fight. Nothing worse than seeing a supposedly strong black man run from a room full of white nerds. I told you, Comrie and the resolution don't really mean shit. I think you hit a nerve last week when you ran down Una's game and the farce of the 40th election. And some real heavy shit went down that you're feeling the heat for. Nothing wrong with that. Gatey felt the same when he went too far in his critique of Jewish homeland politics. But don't pretend like we're all idiots? You write your harshest, most stinging and honest critique and a week later you got a bloody nose, talking about you got it by accidently falling. The real deal- Maurice was the Negro League legend of the blogs who was to old to play when it became a reality. You were handed the torch my man and you dropped it. Nothing less, nothing more. Was so disgusted I wasn't going to say anything but your recent commentary was so blatantly hypocritical. You were the teacher, brother. The sensei. And you betrayed that. Guess a hero is really just a sandwich. For the invitation. But since you're not teaching anymore, whats the point. And since you're leaving the game, no point in watching an all-white league. I hate hockey. Especially when the game is all about slapping the black puck around. Its why young brothers like me choose to make our money in business and education. Cause there are no honest elders around to learn us the political game. Peace. You surely didn't see the types of things written against me for you to take your position. I have never done a farewell post here. Never. Conditional, yes; farewell, no. You will see with the upcoming post that I sent out to my editors today where I come from on this; it should go up any minute now. I have been consistent about anonymous bloggers from way back to the Politicker. Long before Room8 started. I am not trying to be anyone's hero; you put this pressure on me and yet, you- a very good writer, with deep insights, lots of info, history and knowledge- have never written your own blog here; why?
You seem to be insinuationg that i am being dishonest about something(s); so, tell me specifically, exactly what do you think I am being dishonest about. I will (to the best of my ability) address whatever you claim. Only because I have taken you serioulsy over this past year that I am even going here. Don't chicken out now.... unless you were the one casting those aspersions.
How strange. All the people getting so mad about someone actually looking into the factual statements made in support of an important, to some, resolution regarding the use of the N-word.
Then Rock points out the real reason behind this symbolic measure and why the facts don't matter because it’s a political play to get press. Then some nut job with the name "political student"-- who really needs to find something to do with his/her time -- gets all creepy. How strange. Can't imagine why Rock even responds. His/her posts are filled with this creepy love-anger thing for him-- very scary and strange.
In the Wall Street world I live in, strong politics can cost you money and clients. I've got a wife and daughter to support. So it precludes me from being open about my political passions. And maybe I'm a bitch in the closet too for taking that position. An honest bitch though. LOL Two, regarding my own blog- I don't think anyone under 30 has enough experience and wisdom to hang with you cats on the topic of central brooklyn nor should they aspire too. Which is what I think is the problem with alot of elected officials in office now- they don't have enough real-life seasoning and experience to be in office. Unfortunately some are too greedy and power-hungry for their own good while others are pushed out there before they are ready. But I enjoyed the learning, hence the moniker. Have a lot of friends in the game, hence some of the inside knowledge. Which brings me to my last point- I'm not trying to hear you on this pressure bullshit. You freely took that torch from Maurice and you RAN with it. And did you not think along the way that your presence here drew people of color? Did not you not think that as the digital divide dwindles, more of our community were logging on to these sites to read you sticking it to the man and a few crooked black folks too. Hell, these guys should be paying you to stay because your departure is surely going to decrease the number of hits they get on this site. NO ONE is going to know the shit you went through. I didn't see all the fucked-up things that we're written, but the site masters (pardon the pun) have some responsibility there too. Hence, the real problems with blogging. Fuckers can post any type of shit they want without fear or editing. Thing I like about the Observer, you post something and it takes a while before it posts. SCREENING. Now maybe Ben and Gur don't have the resources yet to do that. But then there damn sure should be some round-the-clock observation so people are needlessly libeled. And don't let me get started about the lack of fundamental journalistic reporting by some news bloggers.... But I digress, NO ONE IS GOING TO KNOW THE SHIT YOU WENT THROUGH HERE. Really. And I've read enough to know that this is the price trailblazers pay. You don't want the pressure then get the fuck out the game. Just know that alot of us may not have felt secure enough to post and say so, but your presence here was appreciated. Damn, did you think while these white boys were kissing your ass about how great these posts were, some of us weren't becoming fans too? Shit...I really thought you were going to end up taking over the News blog and be a panelist on Inside City Hall. I'm tired of watching ofeys talking about our community's politics... was just messing with you on that thing. You really got to get some thicker skin brother. Its way too easy to get under yours and these white boys know that. Hence, why they fuck with you on the homo thing.
I had been involved in politics long before I met Maurice. I never tried to fill his large shoes. In fact, I pleaded with him to blog here, since it was so much simpler for him to reach a wider audience. I believe that he came because of me mainly. He is he; I am me. I am very protective of my individuality. I was trained to be proud of your name and live in a way to avoid having a bad reputation; thus it is very important to me when people try to slander my name. Once I sued a newspaper for this. When people suggest at least a dozen times within a forty-eight hour period on this site, that I have repeatedly broken the law; extorted or tried to extort; blackmailed, or tried to blackmail; and stole, and lied, and committed fraud, and coerced and so on and so on, while actually naming a politican and his campaign that I did all this with; and that this was the reason for my critique; then I have to do something, because their agenda is destructive. When some have been trying for years to spread many false rumors in the polity, trying to make me out to be some type of political mercenary, or some type of politivcal hit-man, then I have to reconsider if all this blogging, and all the attendant shit is worth it, once done the same way. If the editors choose to listen to my suggestions, then I will be here- albeit, not as frequently as I have in the past-I only verbally committed for a year anyway; i kept my part of the bargain. If not, then I will be an infrequent guest, that's all. Either way; I owe no one. It's my preogative. i have given blood over and ove rand over, and i still continue to give, in many ways, forms, manners and shapes, in this endless struggle. I am human. i can get tired.
Give me a break. All you do is talk nonsense. You are like this blog's version of The Enquirer. You're leaving "because you are tired and only gave a year committment", wah, wah, wah. Oh you whiny, egomaniac. You are leaving cause no one gives a shit about what you say anymore, even the folks that like your posts are fed up. Notice how no one has jumped to defend you in your spat with Political Student. Do us all a favor and just go away.
You couldn't be serious? To most of us on the blogs this guy represents near all we could ask for. He has been involved, he is analytical, he is connected and well informed. It is obvious from your tone that you are just envious of Rock and wish that you could write as well as he can. As much as I like blogging anonymously, it is anons like you who make his request for a new policy seem reasonable. Go back to your hole and crawl back in. STAY THERE.
To the last post at 7am..................... where have you been following this story? On the three web sites / blogs where this has been running, the overwhelming view from very reputable people is that they all want Rock to stay here and keep doing what he does so well. Can't you see that most of us do "give a shit" and doesn't want him to leave. Stop the player hating. Many people I know feel that he is the best political writer on the blogs. You are just plain stupid.
To the last post at 7am..................... where have you been following this story? On the three web sites / blogs where this has been running, the overwhelming view from very reputable people is that they all want Rock to stay here and keep doing what he does so well. Can't you see that most of us do "give a shit" and doesn't want him to leave. Stop the player hating. Many people I know feel that he is the best political writer on the blogs. You are just plain stupid.
Maurice Gumbs was the Master/sensei. His political activism over a decade and a half involved voter registration for MANY years, helping uncover the Markowitz/Hyfin connection, being instrumental in bringing down Norman and Andrews. He was an elected school board member who brought that board out of the pit of hell that Sylvester Leaks and the UFT had created. His commentary via Footnotes was always sharp an on the money, even if you didn't often agree with him. Gatey said it well in his comments on Maurice. Honestly, I think Rock's blog is interesting, but what has he actually ever done?
Rcok, you slander Mr. Comrie. I for one know that he was truly shcoked at the level of the press he got. If you are not troubled by young people tossing ahateful word around like "Hello", that is YOUR problem. This was a resolution...and it got people to talk about an issue...which is RESPECT. RESPECT of people for one another. It was timely, in that it took on one of the nastiest words in the history of man, particularly Black man, during Black Histoiry Month. How poetic. And you reduce it to political press nonsense. Rock, this is the system...you do something good, and it DOES actually get covered, you might get credit. Leroy deserves all of the credit inthe world.
If a Council Member ended homelessness, would you say that he or she did it for the sake of good press? As I said before, that word is hateful yes, but no more or less so than words used to denigrate people of other races, nationalities, ethnicities and such. As an attorney Lew, can't you see the problem with legislators banning words (even symbolically)? So what happens tommorrow when Caribbean-Americans ask to ban "coconut", will you show the same fervor in helping their cause? Or would you less sensitive? And I could go on and on and on with words. This is such a crock and you know it.
Agreed. Maurice WAS the master/sensei. As Josh Gibson was the greatest Negro league player, and probably one of the greatest baseball players ever. Maurice was at his peak pre-blogging unfortunately. Actually waiting for Footnotes to hit the streets of brooklyn each month was like waiting for a storm. And you never knew what kind of wreckage it would leave in its path. Those of us young un's who attended Brooklyn College in the last decade or so were fortunate to get our hands on Footnotes regularly. The internet and blogs would make Footnotes today seem slow and dated. And so hopefully Maurice is enjoying a well-deserved retirement. I stand by my position that Rock is the Jackie Robinson of NYC blogs. He is the first person of color to flourish on these blogs. He is currently the master. That doesn't make him better than Maurice, by far. Such as Jackie was certainly not a better player than Josh. Its just that one's time came earlier than the other. My intention was certainly not to slight Maurice or overstate Rock. Simply putting it in perspective from a Black viewpoint or a baseball viewpoint. If you don't have either, then you just wouldn't understand. Your last post only gives credence to my position that you should have your own blog here on Room8, dispensing your political positions,acumen, views and knowlegdege. Maybe it's your turn to pick up the baton kid.
I just thought I'd add my two cents, since I am a lawyer and a noted slang historian. This bill sought to educate people about the "n word," but I showed that the history presented was wrong! I felt that my opinion was valuable, so I added it. The amount of hate represented in the comments (directed to me and to others) is incredible. I haven't commented on Rock or Maurice or Gatemouth, because they were writing about different issues. But I appreciate these voices. You can agree or disagree with someone without personal insults. If these insults silence original voices, that's very wrong.
Barry, this falls under one of Shakespeare's better rules. "Methinks the Lady doth protesteth too much."
Gatemouth said the same thing once. He thought the protests from rock were a bit much, but look what happened to him when anonymous folks protesteth. Anonymous faces can never get convictions in a court of law, why?
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Hey Popik, first of all, it is a resolution, not a law. You spent all this time nitpicking the resolution put foward by Comrie and continue to read more into it than necessary. No one is banning or abolishing the word, they are calling on people to just simply stop using it. Why is it so hard to comprehend that there is a vast majority of individuals, white, black, hispanic, whatever, who are just frustrated and tired of hearing youth toss around the word freely with no care in the world.
Take it for what it is worth. Not legal, we get it. But at the end of the day, Comrie has people all over the world talking about it. I'd say he succeeded.
And again, were'nt you leaving? Go get a job.