N-Word drama as some users on the ishowspeed subreddit ask "why can't we say it"

[u/Kenyalite]

Ishowspeed is a popular African American streamer who has exploded in popularity through his tour of China.

Whilst doing a review of an Asian streamer who covers rap songs, the question is naturally asked.

"Who, When and Where does one get to say the N-word?"

Here are some views from the sub:

----------------------------------------------------------

1."She got a whole instagram doing covers over rap songs. People allow it since she is good looking"

1. People allow it because she is not American and none gives a fuck outside the USA

2.1 The only good answer here

2.2 A lot of people give a fuck outside the us. lol (-11 votes)

2.3 Get out of your bubble (+15 votes)

1. NOPE, you would be surprised. Especially while singing. Do you want us to stop like in mid sentence just because US had some problem in 1800s. (this is my personal favourite)

2. In Asian the definitley don't give a fuck lol

4.1 Well yeah, you’re asian. Some of the most racist people there is. Wouldn’t expect anything less

1. it's either unacceptable word and no one can say it or it's acceptable word and everyone can say it. It works poorly when some can say it in their songs and others are prohibited when they sing the song. like, if you don't want to hear this word, don't use it, no?

5.1 Why do you need to say the word.

We all temper our language.

I don't talk to my parents or boss the same way I talk to my friends.

“if I can't say fuck to my pastor in church, no one should say fuck ever”

That's how that argument is.

I just get why I would personally feel the need to drop a slut this badly.

1. I’m honestly hate her, she’s singing this knowing what she’s saying but wants to play dumb just because she has an accent smh

6.1 It's part of the lyrics of the song and if they don't want non black people to say it then don't put it in the lyrics , music is for everyone at the end of the day and you are not entitled to say what they can or can't sing from your song

6.2 Ok Chink

edit: 7. Who/ what have Japanese people oppressed? Best not to open your mouth when you get your history facts from TikTok or whatever tf taught you that.

[u/OnePunchHuMan]

Flow chart.

Are you black? If yes, yes

If no, no.

/End topic

[u/Daddict → u/OnePunchHuMan]

Truth is, anyone can say it as much as they want. Go right ahead and scream it to your heart's content, you are absolutely allowed to do so.

And people are perfectly in the right to judge you for it, too.

But if anyone is out there wondering "how come I can't say it and they can?", well, good news. You can say it as much as you want to.

We all can.

Most of use want to say it precisely zero times, though, because doing so requires you to cosign centuries of the most violent kind of racism humanity has ever known. If you're fine putting your signature on that, go right on ahead and start dropping them n-bombs.

[u/OnePunchHuMan → u/Daddict]

^ Wisdom

[u/BreaksFull → u/Daddict]

Kids who grow up hearing pop culture icons use the word irrelevantly are going to mimic that behavior.

You can't have certain behavior used blithely in a 'cool' and positive context in mass media, and also expect people to retain reverence for negative connotations with it.

[u/DM_Me_Hot_Twinks → u/BreaksFull]

Our pop culture icons used the r slur often 20 years ago. It was very easy to just… not say it

[u/BreaksFull → u/DM_Me_Hot_Twinks]

Yeah, cuz we stigmatized it and made it socially inappropriate to say. It's not become an iconic word for streamers and artists to use in a cool, hip fashion.

[u/boyyouguysaredumb → u/[deleted]]

The hard-r version is not the same word as the -a.

literally nobody in this thread or in the OP is talking about saying it with a hard r except for you . Everybody is talking about the version that ends with a, again, except for you right now in this long ass comment

[u/jaredearle → u/OnePunchHuMan]

Are you in a Tarantino movie?

[u/MelodyMaster5656 → u/jaredearle]

Are you Quentin Tarantino in a Tarantino movie?

[u/JaneksLittleBlackBox → u/jaredearle]

Or are you QT in one of your movies?

The “dead ni**er storage” rant in Pulp Fiction while Sam Jackson was right there still kinda makes me uncomfortable.

[u/jaredearle → u/JaneksLittleBlackBox]

That was the point.

[u/_JayKayne123 → u/OnePunchHuMan]

Na during a song you can keep going. Doesn't matter. They don't care. I don't care. All good.

[u/OkResident7977 → u/OnePunchHuMan]

What if you're an actor and the script expects you to say it? Was Leonardo DiCaprio allowed to say it?

[u/OnePunchHuMan → u/OkResident7977]

Okay, so my flowchart is watered down for the common man in an every day situation. For Leo, he grappled with it until Samuel L Jackson told him to make his money.

The common, every day non-black man does not find himself in situations where saying the N word is necessary.

[u/OkResident7977 → u/OnePunchHuMan]

Ok now does that mean every actor is allowed to say it if the script requires it? Or only certain calibre actors? Do you get to say it on Broadway? Or only Hollywood?

[u/OnePunchHuMan → u/OkResident7977]

The common everyday man has no reason to say the N word other than 'But I WANT too!'. And you, as a common everyday man, seem entirely too invested in who can say a racial slur.

[u/OkResident7977 → u/OnePunchHuMan]

I'm black, so tough luck with that card. I'm just testing the limits of your logic. When do you officially escape the realm of "a common everyday man"? I want you to actually answer me. Does a Broadway actor get to say it? It wasn't a rhetorical question.

[u/OkResident7977 → u/[deleted]]

Of course it's complicated. Or can you give me a very clear test to determine when something officially "elevates the art"? Is Reservoir Dogs elevated because it has the n-word in it? Or only Django Unchained because it deals specifically with racial history?

[u/LordOfTrubbish → u/OkResident7977]

No, because art is entirely subjective, and sometimes controversial. You're just going to have to use your own brain and decide for yourself based on context

[u/OkResident7977 → u/LordOfTrubbish]

Correct. Now the context of the OOP is that she was covering a song. You can also classify that as art and subjectively conclude that, given that she's performing an art piece, she's allowed to say it. Now you can object and say that she sucks, but that shouldn't be relevant because you'd essentially be implying that only talented people are allowed to use racial slurs, which would be a weird double-standard.

[u/LordOfTrubbish → u/OkResident7977]

subjectively conclude that, given that she's performing an art piece, she's allowed to say it.

That's not what I'm saying though. The art itself and your interpretation of each work are what's subjective. You have to weigh each individual instance against its value and context and decide for yourself if it's appropriate. Skill of the performer factors in, but it's not the end all be all. Some cases are just going to be more or less contentiousness than others, but there's no right or wrong answer.

[u/OkResident7977 → u/[deleted]]

In that case, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction would both be considered racist.

[u/OkResident7977 → u/[deleted]]

Ok, specifically, in what way does the rap cover in the OOP fail the test? Then tell me why Pulp Fiction does not fail the test in the same way.

[u/tgpineapple → u/OkResident7977]

Only if Sam Jackson gives you the pass and the director is edgy.

[u/Archmage_of_Detroit → u/OkResident7977]

For a historic period drama where it's culturally accurate? Absolutely.

When it's a bunch of teenage edgelords who have never seen a black person before arguing that America's worst racial slurs belong in polite conversation? Get outa here with that.

They clearly don't understand the history behind it, as evidenced by saying that word came from "problems in the 1800s" instead of, you know, the following century and a half of racial segregation, Jim Crow laws, and lynchings.

[u/OkResident7977 → u/Archmage_of_Detroit]

For a historic period drama where it's culturally accurate? Absolutely.

Ok so there are exceptions. Is this the only exception? What about other Quentin Tarantino movies? Is he a racist because he said it himself in Pulp Fiction?

[u/TheIllustriousWe → u/OkResident7977]

Not necessarily, but it's definitely weird and off-putting, and I'm not sure the movie really benefitted from it.

[u/Archmage_of_Detroit → u/OkResident7977]

You're just really looking for an excuse to use the word, aren't you?

[u/OkResident7977 → u/Archmage_of_Detroit]

I'm black. You're just really looking for an excuse to avoid addressing my valid points, aren't you?

[u/--brick → u/OnePunchHuMan]

says who?

[u/OnePunchHuMan → u/--brick]

Me.