One thing about me, I love words. Growing up, if I needed to know what something meant, my mother would say, “Look it up!” The dictionary’s right over there.” Being such an inquisitive child, caused me to appreciate the dictionary and thesaurus.
Bitch – by definition – is “1. the female dog or some other carnivorous mammals. 2. often offensive; a lewd or immoral woman. 3. something that is extremely difficult, objectionable or unpleasant. 4. complaint,” (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary).
Nigga – by definition – well, of course, I could not Google a credible source and I wonder why? I was able to Google a credible source for the definition of “Nigger,” – “1. offensive; used as an insulting and contemptuous term for a black person. 2. offensive; used an insulting and contemptuous term for a member of any dark-skinned race. 3. now often offensive; a member of a class or group of people who are systematically subjected to discrimination and unfair treatment,” (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary). “Nigga” is rumored to be the improper pronunciation of nigger, which supposedly started back with the United States’ slave owners in the south, using their southern dialect.
Clearly, “bitch” and “nigga” are words never meant to be positive. Then came the opposing definitions.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not giving a history lesson. These are MY facts based on what I’ve witnessed. 😉
As a teenager, I would watch many of the Blaxploitation films. You can find a shortlist here. Within these movies, the word nigga was bounced around as a negative and barely as a positive with a negative undertone. The word bitch was negative based on the definitions above and when referencing or conversing with a prostitute. At any rate, as we fast forward through the 1970s, both words were still, for the part, negatives.
The 1990s, when rap became a force to be reckoned with, “bitch” and “nigga” were tossed around as replacement words for women and men. A perfect example is the song heard here by famed rapper, Snoop Dog. Society had become less rigid with values so while the words were bleeped on the radio, they weren’t bleed on the explicit album. Rap music became mainstream and other races were comfortable using both negative words as positives. Rap did not start using “bitch” and “nigga” as terms of endearment. I will not blame rap for that because it’s simply not true. However, because rap used both words as if they were non-profane, society had a shift and young people started replacing positive words like sister, brother, homie, and friend with “bitch” and “nigga.”
Now in the 2000s, you can’t read a social media post nor go into your local mall without hearing some young adult call the person they are with, “bitch” or “nigga,” regardless of race. Both words have become so NORMAL, they have cross-gendered. Before, “bitch” was female-referenced and “nigga” was male-referenced. Now-a-days, men can be bitches and woman can be niggas or vice versa. I cringe when I hear either word yelled while inside of a store or if I read a social media convo between friends. It’s saddening that society has decided to lower its standards so much so that demeaning words are publicly ok to scream. Listen to rappers E40 and Too Short scream, “Bitch.”
While these words are being socially accepted, they are also causing social unrest of sorts. A man can’t call a woman a “bitch.” Oh no! Yet women call each other “bitch” and it’s a-o-k. A non-Black person is not allowed to use “nigga” within earshot of a Black person. OH NO! Yet, Black people call each other “The N Word” as an affectionate and negative name daily! Other races do as well, again, just not in the presence of Black people. Yes, other races call each other, “nigga.” These are such confusing situations!
As a Black person, I don’t like non-Blacks nor Blacks using the word nigga. I feel, if you are Black and you say “nigga” like it’s going of style, you have no RIGHT nor reason to tell a non-Black person they are not allowed to do the same in your presence. What you have done is GIVE THEM the right to use it in your face and behind your back. I feel comfortable being able to tell a non-Black person, “I don’t use The N Word as it is quite offensive. So do not use it in reference to me or in my presence.”
As a woman, I don’t allow men to call me a bitch, so why would I allow a woman to call me one? Same rule applies with “bitch” and is does with “nigga.” I feel, if you are a woman and you call other women “bitches” like it’s going out of style, you have no RIGHT nor reason to tell a man he can’t call you the same in your presence. What you have done is GIVE HIM the right to use it in your face and behind your back.
I’ve had this debate with friends and boyfriends over the years. None of them have been able to change my mind. I just can’t use either word with a positive connotation. Should I use either, just know, I’m one UPSET “Mutha-Shut-YMouth,” and it won’t be a pretty scene. I applaud the efforts put forth to redefine and reclaim both words in a positive light. I truly do!! It just doesn’t seem to be going as planned.
Writing Waves 