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
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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?
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