Paltalk News - NYC to Ban the N-Word

So now the New York City Council wants to ban the "n" word in New York.

We decided to go to Harlem to ask people what they thought of the non-binding resolution. And found that, interestingly, not everyone was in agreement.

We found it to be a generational issue. Older people find the word to be biting, cruel and demeaning, no matter the context.

Many young people, on the other hand, say they use the word as a form of affectionate greeting.

If nothing else, the New York resolution creates discourse on the issue. But is this really the responsibility of government? To attempt to regulate good public form?

It's not really an encroachment on First Amendment Rights, because the proposed ordinance would have no effect of law. But as reprehensible as many of us find the 'n' word to be, do we want the New York City Council, or any other governmental entity for that matter, to become the thought police?

As one woman we interviewed in Harlem suggested, there are a lot more issues the City Council should be tackling that affect her daily life, than whether or not hip hop artists and comedians should use the 'n' word in their acts or whether young black people should greet each other, affectionately or not, with the pejorative.

You can discuss topics like this and others every weekday at 5 PM New York time on Newstalk Online on Paltalk.com, the largest multi-media interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users. Just go to www.paltalk.com/newstalk and click on the Join The Room button. It's free to join.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Paltalk
• Harlem
• n-word
• politics

[angyb333]

It's got soo bad, that blacks consider themselves niggas now. Black people wake up!!! How can you ask for the respect of a non black when you don't even respect yourself. And if a black guy can say it in an amicable term, then so can a white guy. STOP SAYING IT!!!!

[AcuteLady]

Blacks have not yet earned the right to demand anything from the country they are a part of???... what are you trying to say? if I could ask...

I honestly think that I might be misunderstanding what you are saying.

Hopefully I am, because if not, let me tell you that you are truly sounding like an extreme ignorant.

[borlavlad]

@angyb333 look, you left this comment 4 years ago :)

[videogamer4life360]

Its hilariously ironic because black people are keeping the n word alive.

[STARskyfox777]

Cracker and Wetback are offensive to me. Ban those words as well. I also don't like a few words (democrats, corvette, xbox360, and Netflix) ban those words as well.

[Armageddon1986]

No word should ever be banned no matter how offensive it may be. If one word can be banned than more words can be banned. When words are banned , freedoms are lost. 1st Amendment, right to free speech. Now if you get your ass beat for saying it in the wrong place, thats your own fault lol. Just no word should be banned and fine-able.

[TheRyanBrooke]

@angyb333 and if a white guy can't say it, then the suggestion is that we judge someone's right to use the word based not on the content of their character, but the color of their skin...

[tatomuck18]

they should ban the word CRACKER. Its not fair that the BLACK PANTHERS can scream it out in public!

[Lyingaboutmyage]

@mockyhotmail

So?

Dictating what people should say is mighty white of you.

[Lyingaboutmyage]

@angyb333

Nigga please.

[mockyhotmail]

well said. common sense at work. I hate the word and can't stand it when anyone uses it. I'd also like for someone to explain to rappers that the word was used by whites to undermine and seperate blacks as not being human - you're human, you're white, your black, you're a nigger. Unbelievable that certain peoples would willingly undermine themselves like that. Why don't the Irish call themselves 'mick' or the chinese call themselves 'chinks'? Because it's damn offensive that's why.

[stonescourt3]

you're right. if it offends someone, they shouldnt use it, no matter what who they are. we dont need the city government telling us what or what not to say.