There is a lot of buzz, and controversy, recently over a new rap video involving a Korean rapper, whose name I will not mention in this post. In his video, which I will not mention the name of the video or link it, is surrounded by a number of young Black men carrying guns that look fake, talking about killing and saying the word nigga multiple times. This video has offended people all over the world, and cause some to look at Koreans as being prejudice. But as I have written before, not all Koreans are prejudice, or uses racial slurs like this. But why would this young man say this word over and over again in a rap video? And what lesson should be learned in this story?
Why Some Feel Comfortable Using That Word
The word nigger, nigga or any other spelling you want to come up with, is considered the most hateful word in any language by many around the world. Even though the history of that word is widely disputed, it is known as the most hateful word in any language. Many younger Black people have tried to take the power and hate out of that word by using it as a term of endearment. To bring this point home even more, some tell their non Black friends that they can use this word as well. While those who chose to do this do so in a private setting, this is just a brazen attempt to get attention for money.
Is It Okay To Use This Word?
Should this word be used by anyone as a term of endearment? At the end of the day, a slur is a slur. If you don’t slur other groups of people, or you don’t want the group you’re a part of to be slurred, you should use slurs against anyone else. Even if you see someone in that group using that word, don’t use it. While people tend to be braver online than they would be in person, the fact is that many people are saying they want to do harm to this young Korean man for what he said. This will live forever on the internet, and he will not be able to undue this. One day, he’ll be alone or without is guns and could have his life in jeopardy over a video that lasted less than 5 minutes. It’s just not worth it.
This video did not make this young man look tough or “street.” It made him, and the other people in the video, look foolish and sad. I have the feeling that someone may sit him down and educate him on the true meaning of that word and how hurtful his speech was. While some will use this to fuel the argument that Koreans are racist people, his view does not reflect the view of most Koreans or Korean Americans. It shows his own ignorance and the ignorance of those around him.
For a video on this topic, click here.
The Waygookin Way 
That’s a tough one. In my opinion it all depends the in context of using the word, rappers use it all the time in music in terms of endearment and in derogatory ways and to me may have helped the youth growing up feeling that it isn’t bad because they don’t know what it means in the negative way. Reciting rap lyrics and going to concerts hearing legendary rappers they look up to use it in songs they sing everyday , its almost saying there is nothing wrong with using it to address your homie. I hear Hispanics Whites and Asians who live in the “hood” from day one and with African American folks, went to school with them played sports together, ate dinner at the house seem to have a pass to use the word freely. And there is no negative reaction as it’s said back to and forth like it’s has power connected to it. Now a white guy who wasn’t raised around the hood will get a very negative reaction regardless of if it was used in the most respectful way. I myself being half black don’t use the word at all now but when i lived in the “hoods” of Miami it was basically every other word in a sentence so adopting the lingo it was used more often but no negative reactions. Now I personally feel that the meaning of the word is shifting and the reactions are also. Until the shift is complete, when used to offend someone the reactions of being disrespected will never change. And for a Korean rapper to use it coming straight out of Korea is not right, being the that he didn’t earn the right or knows in what context and when it’s ok to use, just because he’s a rapper is not enough. That word got robbed of its true but meaning, just like Africa of its people and native Indians got robbed of North America.” Negus ” is the original word meaning is King, royalty, emperor of Ethiopia, a very powerful word and there was no way the slave owners wanted the world to know they where bringing over Kings so the change in the use and meaning happened. My opinion is that over a period of time since the reactions are becoming less negative and the word and be used by more by non Blacks to address them, while understanding that not everyone can use it and or you can’t use it as you desire and feel that that way respectfully. Leave that word out as your sing that rap song, the word is respected more than it was in the 60, 70,& 80’s eventhough it gets used by folks that wouldn’t think about it previously, My Negus is the true meaning of that word you hear and was spelled differently to use as propanganda to change the true meaning. Once African Americans realize the true meaning and that we’ve been called Kings the whole time but was made to think it came from negro Spanish word for black like that’s a bad thing. My Negus are kings so if Pabo ya is using it to sound hard or like the other rappers he need it understand what it really means along with any other rappers or people in general. Now I’ve lived over there from 88 to 91 and like any other country not every one is racist I get that but my experience there eventhough it’s my birth place was out of hand. I’ve never been treated worse in my life and more so by my own family the racisim felt evil and just unreal I definantly fought alot of it off literally. I only say that to say that I hope this rapper didn’t come from a family like that and then think it’s cool to use the term not knowing it means King but using it in a negative way or gets home and treats Negus differently them that’s foul and he needs his card revoked and stop rapping . Here a link to the the origin’s and the true meaning when you hear or use the word “Negus”.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Negus
Kamsahmnida !
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Thanks for your comment. It is truly informative and well thought out. The rapper in question seemed to be raised in the States and very cool with the other guys in the video. But it was shocking to many to see someone Asian saying over and over again that he was going to kill you nigga. The people in the video was dancing around like they had heard him say the word before and it was okay. While they may have found it to be funny, many other people did not. I fear for what will happen to him if he comes across the wrong person saying that word. Now is not the time to use that word lightly. I only use that word in historical settings and in conversations like this. I’ve had Korean people call me that thinking they were cool with me when they weren’t.
As a kid, people who would call Black people that were usually apart of a hate group. So for me, it does not have a positive meaning. But I think when in a conversation about history, it’s important to educate people about the hurt behind the word and why people get so upset about it. If for nothing else, I hopes this starts a conversation about the meaning of the word and helps people to see the feelings behind it. Thanks again for reading and commenting.
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“Knee-Gah” = You (Korean)
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