Gwyneth Paltrow, “Niggas,” and the Black Folks Who Cried Wolf
While hanging out with two self-proclaimed “Niggas in Paris,” A-List actress Gwyneth Paltrow — who for some reason can often be found shaking what her mama gave her somewhere in the vicinity of Jay-Z – decided to tweet that she was with “Ni**as in Paris for real.”
And the Civil Rights police turned on their loud sirens and went to work.
If you’ll notice by that first sentence, there’s a lot of “nigga” throwing going on, yet there was no outcry until the white woman said it. One has to question why exactly it’s perfectly acceptable for two, adult black men (Jay-Z and Kanye West) to make a song about a couple of “niggas” ballin’ in the City of Lights, but when their white friend tweets the name of the song, she’s all of a sudden racist.
[Side note: This criticism is directed towards those black people who say the word "nigga" freely or have no issue with it unless it comes from the mouth of a non-black person. If you do not condone the use of the word by anyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, then the "hypocrite" label does not apply to you.]
It’s this kind of backwards thinking that always amazes me. Many in our communities have co-opted a word created specifically by white Americans to degrade black Americans; yet when we say it it’s supposed to be an inclusive thing. It’s the unofficial logo on the “Black card,” accepted anywhere that you can find a group of “niggas.”
I’ve never understood the semantics hoops some black people go through to justify the word’s usage. No matter which way you slice it or dice it, brotha is short for brother; sista is short for sister; and nigga is short for nigger. The word is no different when used predominantly by black people in financial bondage or living in prison slave quarters, than when used by a white plantation owner. It amounts to nothing more than bastardized slang and they know it.
Re-enter Gwyneth Paltrow.
She had no idea that her words would cause such a maelstrom of controversy. Why? Because it’s the title of a song written by black men and since when is it a white woman’s job to show more respect for Jay-Z and Kanye West than they show for themselves? (And as Kanye told a recent Parisian crowd, he’ll grant them permission to say it, you know, to sing along). For anyone to find her words in any way disrespectful or culturally insensitive — while simultaneously Diddy-boppin’ along to lyrics — would require such a giant leap into insanity that I would suggest they seek professional help. To be honest, I even get the fellas point of using the word in this song. If we’re to sift through the negative historical and societal associations with the word, it’s easy to see that what they are saying is, “Look, society calls us niggas, but now these niggas are in Paris and white people are paying thousands to come see us.” It’s a rags-to-riches tale of two homegrown “niggas” making it from the hood all the way to Paree. It’s exhilarating, cathartic, validation and confirmation that they’ve made it to the big leagues. Instead of shucking and jiving in the United States, they can now do it in Europe – and doesn’t it feel grand?
If anyone should offer an apology to the insulted masses of black folk, it’s those two for crafting such an ignorant song.
Still…just as I heavily criticized the censorship of the word “nigger” in Huckleberry Finn, I defend Gwyneth’s regurgitation of the word “niggas” here. She has an appreciation of the commercialized Hip-Hop that she has been spoon-fed. She respects Jay-Z and his art. She’s proud of him for being a “nigga in Paris,” just as he’s proud of himself.
Maybe it’s time that those who are screaming “off with her head” all over the internet redirect that anger to the real source. You know, her “friends,” Jay-Z and Kanye who have yet to come to her defense, even as “The Dream” and Russell Simmons jump in to protect her from criticism (The Dream now claims he sent the tweet from Paltrow’s phone). If “nigga” is the terminology of oppression for the black folks who cried wolf, then they must also realize that degradation will always be degradation – even if the oppressors have black faces.
Black people like JAY-Z and his generation made it easy for white people to use that word and I don’t care how you say it. I don’t listen to songs with that word.
@TRUTHTELLER – Yes. A bunch of ignorant rappers decided it would be cool to embrace a hurtful term in their songs that white people recite. Now black people take to the Internet because a white woman did it. They should have had sense a long time ago to stop it. They didn’t. The hypocrisy and stupidity that comes from the black community machine is mind boggling.
White people, Asian people, nor Hispanic people throw around racial slurs at their own group the way black people throw around the n-word. Black people just seem to have less respect for themselves than other groups. When you don’t accept and respect your identity, it makes it easy for people to ridicule the things you don’t like. Black people make fun of dark skinned black people. They make fun of nappy hair. Do you ever hear Asian people making fun of each other for having small eyes? No. They know that is what they are supposed to look like! Black people for some reason think we are supposed to have light skin and “good hair” like this is natural for a non-mixed black person.
The way we promote exotic black people shows that we don’t like the way we look. I see beautiful dark women everyday, but black people themselves like to promote Beyonce and Halle Berry as the black beauty standard. Do Asian people only show women with big eyes? Do white people only show women with tan skin?
Black people constantly show no self respect. It’s not surprising to me that others would choose to be disrespectful to us. I mean we have these rappers to thank for taking the sting out of the n-word right? See. This is a perfect case of promoting and engaging in ignorance coming back to bite us on the butt.
I predict that one day, white rappers will take over hip hop just like they took over rock and roll. They will say the n-word, and then people on the street will start calling you the n-word. Many are bursting at the seams to say it without being labeled racist.
This can be much simpler than you make it seem. The point of tweeting is to include everyone into that group we consider close friends. If you want to exclude yourself from that group quit reading Gwen’s tweet. very very simple. She is cool…..and sadly you’re not.
@truthteller
actually, i know asians who have mothers who tell them to get their eyes done and get their skin lightened.
dark asian girls are not always viewed nicely among asians.
also, unless you speak tagalog, mandarin, korean, etc you wouldn’t know if they make fun of them. but i once referred to lucy liu as pretty and this filipina was like no, she looks too chinky – uh, that’s cuz of the eyes.
i understand your point but others do dislike their features.
@omfg – I understand what you are saying, but Asians don’t really ridicule each other in public about their natural features in front of non-Asians like black people do. Asian people may secretly not like their eyes, but they don’t only show big eyed women. They don’t constantly put down people with small eyes. Also there are Asians who are pale, and there are Asians who are dark. They choose to promote the light ones as the epitome of beauty. I don’t think this is the same thing in our community. While some Asian people do naturally have white skin without bleaching, most black people don’t look like Beyonce or Halle Berry unless they are mixed to some level. Black people are naturally different shades of brown and black, but yellow and beige? No. You are probably mixed to some degree.
I guess what I’m saying is that yes, many people have problems with the way that they look, but they try to hide that from outside groups.
@my_reply “The way we promote exotic black people shows that we don’t like the way we look”
whats an “exotic” black person?
@Gennatay – To me, an exotic black person is a black person that has features not found in the average non-mixed black person. Beyonce, Halle Berry, and many African Americans are considered exotic and beautiful because they have lighter skin which is usually found in mixed black people. Halle Berry has less kinky hair that is not typical for the average non-mixed black person especially of West African descent. Beyonce has a narrow nose which is less typical in non-mixed West African black people. Tyra Banks and her green eyes are exotic. To me, they are exotic in the way that Kim Kardashian and Angelina Jolie don’t look like typical white woman or an Asian woman with large green eyes.
Black people are the most genetically diverse people in the world and you will find a variety of nose sizes, skin tones, hair textures, and lip sizes, but many times black women are considered beautiful when they look like dark skinned white women. Most African Americans look that way because they are mixed to some degree. To me, when you promote those women over less exotic black women, you are saying that being all black is not beautiful.
The term exotic is relative to the person. All black people are considered exotic to non-black people. But in your group, you know can also tell when someone is exotic.
Beyonce has had her nose surgically manipulated. Check out her earlier photos. So she DID have a typical “African-American” nose. She is a lighter shade of brown, but she also has had some skin “lightening” done as well. She has allowed herself to become “white” washed.
Hold up, My_Reply!
- Halle Berry is biracial, which explains her ‘less kinky hair’.
- On one hand, you say that ‘lighter skin’ is usually found in ‘mixed Black people’, but then on the other, you say that Black people are the most genetically diverse.
Who exactly are you talking about when you use the term ‘Black people’?
@reiki – I mentioned that Halle’s hair texture is not usually found in non-mixed people of West African descent. When I say black people, I am using the African American view of black. When I want to talk about black people who are not mixed, I say non-mixed.
But the genetic diversity found in African Americans is not the same genetic diversity I am talking about that can be found in non-mixed black people say from a country in su-Saharan Africa. In Africa, many people from different parts of Africa have different physical features. African Americans have very varied appearances because they come from different parts of Africa ( mostly West), but also because many of them are mixed with white or Native American.
Beyonce’s light skin would not be found on a typical non-mixed black person. She is light because she is mixed not because of the genetic diversity of black people.
Agreed.
Her best friends (the Uncle Jay to her kids) whom she called ‘n***a’ do not seem to have a problem with her, I am not sure why I should. In fact, the men most affected by the word seem to have decided not to even bother offering support in silence, but actively defend her. I think everyone else harping on this should just give it up. If it annoys you so much, stop supporting Jay Z and Kanye, the ones that created this situation in the first place. We know for most black people that is never going to happen so ………..
Blah blk ppl use This word all Day, everyday so Why cant others?? Next
Thank you! I don’t care if Romney said the word. What is the difference. There isn’t any. Jay Z is rich and stupid and so is Romeny. If I were Gwen I’d tweet….”niggas can kiss my pretty white azz.”
WOW…what do you all stand for? Yet as soon as someone call gays that dreaded derogatory name, the world stops revolving.
Well I hope when your YT friends or boss call you ladies that you smile and keep it moving!
SMDH
I do not support JAy Z, Kanye ,Beyonce or the Dream and I never will!
As soon as these YT people they worship remind them who they really are again..don’t come running back to N****!
WOW, just WOW anything to show your stan loyalty to Jay Z and Beyonce
They (Jay Z, Kanye West, The Dream, Russell Simmons) don’t have a problem being called the n-word so I wish all of them the best. As I have never used the word and no white/black/Asian/etc person has ever heard me use the word, I don’t expect them to direct that word at me or even mention it around me. If they do, I will take the appropriate action. The same cannot be said for Kanye or Jay Z or any of the other idiots mentioned in the article.
I don’t know about you, but I am done getting upset on behalf of someone else. They love and welcome her use of the word and you are pissed? Okay then.
@DUMB DOWNED GENERATION
the problem is that black people have kept this word alive and well. the word is no longer taboo because black people so freely use it.
it makes no sense for a black person to refer to another black person as a *igga. no sense at all, but we do it.
the life that this word has nowadays is due to our behavior and low standards.
if jay z and beyonce like calling each other and other blacks that word and they have a relationship with a white person who they don’t mind using it, let them.
it’s rich when black people have no problem denigrating each other and have problems when a white person does it. their denigration is not worse than a black person’s. a black person shouldn’t get a free pass to denigrate another black person. in fact, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard.
but whatevs…
I suggest this white woman find herself a more educated set of black friends. The bottom of the barrel set will turn on you in a heartbeat for pointing out the contradictions in the their reasoning. Her career must be flat-lining because I cannot recall her hanging around ninjas (yeah I do use the word…but only to describe the ignorant folks of the race) when she was in her prime.