the amt of cis/natBlack people who have said that they don't care or don't mind if transBlack people use the N word is like ... idk. i don't want to make anyone uncomfortable or overstep any boundaries. it's simultaneously "just a word" and also highly important to a lot of people, the way it's "just hair", but black hair has such a historical significance. there's natBlack people who don't see any significance to their hair and will happily buzz it all off on a whim, but to so many others that hair and expressing oneself through it is a huge part of their identity and culture. as kind of an outsider i can only think of the N word in a similar fashion
(side note, look up the history of black hair and hairstyles if u can. huge stuff)
i guess i don't know much about how the N word differs from (other) slurs, i don't know much about racial slurs in general besides "you don't say them, ever". but the N word has culture to it and it's a culture I've wanted to be a part of for years and haven't really been given any chance to. (not talking about saying the N word specifically, just being part of Black culture)
my general thoughts behind saying slurs, any of them, is that you don't do it in front of people who you don't know if they're ok with hearing it or not, or how they like it to be spoken. you certainly don't Call other people slurs (unless they've explicitly said, yeah, im cool with that - like calling your gay friend the F slur). some people are ok with hearing the R word but not being called it, some Like to be called it, some get hugely triggered by hearing it or seeing it. it's a consent issue
something clicked on my head some time ago that was like, the N word is the only word that ciswhite people (or non-black ppl) aren't allowed to say, at all, ever. white people get to say so much horrible shit, Except that. they hold so much power, Except here. that's part of why it's so scary when they Do say it, they're breaking that unspoken rule and now you don't know if you're safe or not. i can't really coherently cover all my thoughts or whatever on This niche but yeah
& that's why i haven't said it (to anyone but myself in private) , i don't want to overstep or be racist or break any rules. i want to be respectful and respected. i want, if i do say it ever, for it to be a friendly sharing of culture and language - one I'm welcome to be part of instead of imposing myself on
so i guess. my question becomes whether or not my tumblr audience thinks it's ok for a transBlack person to say the N word, whether they're ok with reading it casually, whether or not my blog is an ok place to be saying it, etc? i don't wanna ask for "a pass" cuz that feels omega ick to me, but like, yeah. will i be called out for being racist asf if i start saying it publicly? (with slur tw tags for those who don't like it)
no poll, discuss in comments