Toulmin Outline Claim: Black people hate the term nigger.
Reason: Nigger is a term depicting excessive discrimination.Grounds: The term “nigger” was established as a derogative name given to black people by the early 1800s, and had remained a principal term of white racism in the 21st century (African-American Registry).Rebuttal: The term nigger functions as a “noun”. It comes from the French word negre, from Spanish negro- which means “black” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
)Defense: Yes it is a noun, but a “derogative” name. It is used to denote a member of a socially “disadvantaged” class of people (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). In recorded history, the term was widely considered a “racial slur” (African-American Registry).Assumption: All black people hate to be discriminated.
Backing: To the black people the term has caused them too much hatred, disgust, exploitation, and intimidation to keep them in their place within the society (African-American Registry). The term was so powerful that it was able to ignite conflict between the blacks and the whites (Smith, 2006, p. 125).Rebuttal: Black people treated the word “nigger” as a discriminating term rather than a collective noun.
Blacks were just over-reacting.Defense: Perhaps, but “nigger” including other related terms such as: blacks, coon, tom, savage, etc. are also known as “racial slurs” which many racial and ethnic groups have become victims (African-American Registry). The term had been passed across ages in literatures, films, music, speeches, media, writings, etc.
distorting African-Americans’ status in the society. It is reasonable that black people will react to the use of the term. IntroductionThe black people considered the word nigger very irritating. But other people who have no definite knowledge of this sentiment unintentionally use it to refer to black people.
It is of significant importance to give these people an idea whether they would continue using the term or not. This is a general claim, “black people hate the term nigger because they hate to be discriminated”. Or other way of saying, “since the term nigger is a term depicting excessive discrimination, black people hate it”. It is of significant importance to give people an understanding of this particular claim to avoid misunderstanding with the blacks.
Discussion of the claimWhy do black people hate the term nigger? Black people hate the term nigger because it is for them a term depicting “excessive discrimination”. There were two uses of the term recorded in history. First, the term “nigger” was established as a derogative name given to black people by the early 1800s, and had remained a principal term of white racism in the 21st century (African-American Registry). Second, the term nigger functions as a “noun”.
It comes from the French word negre, from Spanish negro- which means “black” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.) The first use of the term is definitely the main reason why the blacks hate it. The second uses of the term was the basis of those who are still using it. Many writers in the past have unintentionally used the term to distinguish between the black and white people of particular regions.
Their published works have contributed to its widespread use. This definition is also added – “nigger is used to denote a member of a socially disadvantaged class of people (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)”. But the sentiments of the black people says that yes it is a noun, but a “derogative” name – which is totally unacceptable for them. In recorded history, the term was widely considered a “racial slur”, a weapon of discrimination (African-American Registry).
Black people hate to be discriminated. Further, every individual has to be respected regardless of skin color or race. Excessive use of the term against the black people has caused them too much hatred, disgust, exploitation, and intimidation to keep them in their place within the society (African-American Registry). The term was so powerful that it was able to ignite conflict between the blacks and the whites (Smith, 125).
Others may say that black people treated the word “nigger” as a discriminating term rather than a collective noun and that the blacks were just over-reacting. Perhaps there is the presence of an over-reaction, but it is totally acceptable. Because “nigger” including other related terms such as: blacks, coon, tom, savage, etc. are also known as “racial slurs” which many racial and ethnic groups have become victims (African-American Registry).
The term had been passed across ages in literatures, films, music, speeches, media, writings, etc. distorting African-Americans’ status in the society. The term was not used as a noun, but rather a funny term, a degrading term associated with excessive discriminating and oppressing act. If somehow the term was used without such associations, it would have been acceptable for the blacks.
What I mean is that it is reasonable that black people will react to the use of the term. It has ignited racial conflicts. Many members of the black and white population died. Aside from it, it has also lowered the integrity of the society, and of the economy of the state.
We can’t afford to repeat this kind of experience again, so we should stop using the term.ConclusionBlack people really hate the word nigger because it discriminates them from other people in the society. The meaning of the term has evolved. First, it means black, and then later it denotes a member of a socially disadvantaged class of people, a disparaging term, and a racial slur.
The word nigger has an associated history of oppression. In due respect to the black people who have negative sentiments due to the association of the term with the history of oppression against them, we should really avoid using it. In this way, we can help the black people ease the sentiments of the past. In our contemporary world, it is too hard to determine the differences between the minority and the majority groups.
The contemporary society is already diversified, where different people of different skin colors or of cultures live. Everybody must have their share of promoting respect and understanding between one another to avoid igniting conflicts that had cost too many lives in the past. Reference: “nigger.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 27 March 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.
com/dictionary/nigger> Smith, A. “Household Words”. Minnesotta: University of Minnesotta Press. 2006 “The History of the Word Nigger.
” African-American Registy Webpage. African-American Registry Online. 27 March 2009 <http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/2420/Nigger_the_word_a_brief_history>
