I just saw the N-word discussion between @michaeledyson and Russell Simmons @unclerush regarding @nas defending @gwynethpaltrow
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
Tuesday night, writer and academic Michael Eric Dyson appeared on MSNBC’s “The Ed Show,” where he talked with music mogul Russell Simmons about Gwyneth Paltrow’s use of the N-word earlier this month in a tweet. Dyson and Simmons ultimately took the position that the N-word is acceptable for use in society, but with one very important limitation: the user must be black. Moreover, according to Simmons, said black individual must have a direct bloodline to a slave in order to drop “ni**a” (or some variant) into a conversation. Riiiiiiight. Simmons failed to offer any insight as to how someone’s bloodline would be verified.
In the case of the Paltrow kerfuffle, Gwyneth was given a “pass” by rapper Nas and consequently by Simmons, but Dyson asserted that it’s never any black person’s place to give a white person a pass for using the N-word. Dyson’s final pronouncement? “I would suggest to all white people, here’s an iron-clad law that will help you at all points. Here’s when you can say the word: Never.”
Roland Martin, columnist, talk show host, and CNN contributor, was less than pleased with Dyson and Simmons’ contention that N-word is OK for blacks but not for anyone else. For Martin, the N-word is never acceptable. Not for me, not for thee, not for anyone.
What followed was a very spirited debate between Martin and Dyson:
I found the rationale by @michaeledyson & @unclerush in saying it's OK for Blacks to use the N-word to take the venom out UTTER NONSENSE
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
If Jay-Z and Kanye West make a song call "Niggas in Paris," it's dumb for anyone to get offended when someone white says it in a reference
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
When Black people tell white people, none of you can and should use the word, then it's in a song, no wonder folks are confused!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
This ridiculous "we can-you can't" argument is sophomorish, unnecessary and ridiculous.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
I don't want to hear any crap about "down" white people or a "hood pass." I want to see @michaeledyson @unclerush & others evolve on this!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@rolandsmartin @unclerush I didn't give a hood pass to anyone! You must watch our segment last night and see for yourself!
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) June 13, 2012
Frankly, it's pure laziness when people refuse to change their thinking in using the word. Surely an educated person can stop using it.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@rolandsmartin @unclerush I don't infantilize white folk as if they're not grown enough not to know they can't use the word. Black folk can
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) June 13, 2012
@rolandsmartin @unclerush and do, with admittedly complicated and mixed results! The answer isn't to ban everyone; the answer is to
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) June 13, 2012
@rolandsmartin @unclerush understand history and culture, context and application. That's more difficult, but also more rewarding.
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) June 13, 2012
By the way, all of those Blacks who fled to Paris to escape Jim Crow, did it so they WOULDN'T be called the N-word! How 'bout that history?
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@McNastyland now that is pure ignorance. Black folks didn't pay in blood, sweat and tears to be able to use the N-word. FOOLISH!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@MichaelEDyson @unclerush Let me just go there: why can't you call someone "brother' instead of the N-word? What's wrong with sister?
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@rolandsmartin @unclerush Can? Sure. Should? No equally so. As for brother/sister, that's fine. Just doesn't carry signifying intimacy of
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) June 13, 2012
@rolandsmartin @unclerush of other terms, especially thise used in formerly venemous ways by white society. The pleasure of reversal.
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) June 13, 2012
Did I use to use it? Yes. Do I now? No. Was it easy to eliminate from my vocabulary? It's called making a grown man decision!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@MichaelEDyson @unclerush I watched the segment. And both of you should have said, "Let's get rid of the word COMPLETELY." No justification!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@MichaelEDyson @unclerush I don't see you as an N-word. You are a BLACK man. I see ancestral pride in brothers, not a filthy description
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@rolandsmartin @unclerush Beautiful. As I see you. But "black" was just as bad as N word for many black folk 50 yrs ago. Language bends too.
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) June 13, 2012
@MichaelEDyson @unclerush Why can't you say, "my man" instead of the N-word? Is it really that hard? No, it's not.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@MichaelEDyson @unclerush Man, please! Who finds "pleasure" in using the N-word? That's a ridiculous line of thought.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
@MichaelEDyson @unclerush Maybe this discussion shows that when we get so much education we lose our minds.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
If I see a group of young Black boys acting a fool, I say, "why those boys acting a fool?" Not, "look at them N-words acting a fool" Got it?
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
So on this N-word topic, I'm done. Carry on at your leisure.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 13, 2012
And that’s all he wrote. But we have a feeling this is one controversy that won’t disappear anytime soon.
So what do you think? Who’s on the right side of this argument?
Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/06/13/roland-martin-and-michael-eric-dyson-butt-heads-over-the-n-word/