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| '''''Nigga''''' is a term used in ] that began as an ] form of the word '']'' (which is derived from the ] word '']'', meaning ''black'', which in turn comes from ] ''niger''.) | '''''Nigga''''' is a term used in ] that began as an ] form of the word '']'' (which is derived from the ] word '']'', meaning ''black'', which in turn comes from ] ''niger''.) | ||
| == Use in language == | |||
| Like the term ''nigger'', many people continue to see the word ''nigga'' as ] and its use both in and outside African-American communities remains highly controversial. The ], a civil rights group, condemns use of both ''nigga'' and ''nigger'' <ref name=Metro/> and bought the rights to the website ''nigger.com'' to prevent online exploitation of the term. <ref name=ENQ/> | |||
| Some African-Americans express considerable offense when referred to as a ''nigga'' by white people, but not if they are called the same by other African-Americans, or by some other minority. <ref name=Metro/> In this case, the term may be seen as a symbol of ] <ref name=ENQ2>Kevin Aldridge. White people calling other white people nigga is often seen as a sign of fraternity as well, but should closely moderated as it can be taken as an insult by others who overhear it being spoken. , ''The Cincinnati Enquirer'', ], ]. </ref>, and its use outside a ] an unwelcome ]. Critics have derided this as a ]. <ref name=ENQ/> | |||
| == Cultural influence == | == Cultural influence == | ||
Revision as of 04:44, 28 October 2006
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Nigger. (Discuss) |
Nigga is a term used in African-American Vernacular English that began as an eye dialect form of the word nigger (which is derived from the Spanish word negro, meaning black, which in turn comes from Latin niger.)
Use in language
Like the term nigger, many people continue to see the word nigga as pejorative and its use both in and outside African-American communities remains highly controversial. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a civil rights group, condemns use of both nigga and nigger and bought the rights to the website nigger.com to prevent online exploitation of the term.
Some African-Americans express considerable offense when referred to as a nigga by white people, but not if they are called the same by other African-Americans, or by some other minority. In this case, the term may be seen as a symbol of fraternity , and its use outside a defined social group an unwelcome cultural appropriation. Critics have derided this as a double standard.
Cultural influence
The use of the term may be due to the overwhelming popularity of hip hop music in modern American culture. Such music often features songs that feature the word nigga prominently. Examples include: 50 Cent and The Notorious B.I.G.'s song, Realest Niggas, The Geto Boys' Real Nigga Shit, Ice Cube's The Wrong Nigga To Fuck With, Snoop Doggy Dogg's For All My Niggaz And Bitches, Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz and Ice Cube's Real Nigga Roll Call, Onyx's Bitchasniguz, Tupac Shakur's Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard's album Nigga Please.
Shakur defined the term NIGGA as an acronym: "Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished" in the lyrics to his song Words of Wisdom, on his 1991 album 2Pacalypse Now. In 1995, two Houston, Texas men filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the words "Naturally Intelligent God Gifted Africans", and its acronym. The application was rejected, as were numerous subsequent applications for variations of the word nigga. Most recently, comedian Marlon Wayans twice failed in an attempt to trademark a brand name called Nigga, "featuring clothing, books, music and general merchandise".
References
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Metrowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
ENQwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - Kevin Aldridge. White people calling other white people nigga is often seen as a sign of fraternity as well, but should closely moderated as it can be taken as an insult by others who overhear it being spoken. Slurs often adopted by those they insult, The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 5, 2001.
- ^ Darryl Fears. Patent offense: Wayans’s hip-hop line, The Washington Post, March 15, 2006.