People of Niger or Nigger

[Olukoso]

Why did you hurt him so bad?
We've being friends since childhood
Why is he covered in his blood?
A word uttered made me so mad
Why are you painted in red?
Equal in blood as we were bred

The WHITE ass called me nigger
You mean nigga from french negre?
The WHITE mess called me nigger
You mean niggar from spanish negro?
The WHITE man called me nigger
Oh! you mean nigger from latin NIGER?

I thought you were both born in NIGER
But he is WHITE and I am black = NIGER
I'm WHITE, why aren't you proud as NIGER
Before Boats, our fore-fathers were niggers

Those beached bodies bring laughter
And Oxford's "nigger" are people of Niger
Anybody/colour can call me nigger
You have just attacked a white nigger

Inspired by the freedom of a six years old boy, who is innocent enough to call me "NIGER" to his father's embarrassment, though I felt so proud enough to ask for his name with a pat on the back.

Inspired by the freedom of a six years old white boy, who is innocent enough to call me "NIGER" to his father's embarrassment, though I felt so proud enough to ask for his name with a pat.

Dedicated to my nigger; Ruben Agboola

[Olukoso]

Someone sent this to my box and I believe it will do more good, if it's posted hear.

Originally Posted by Thomas Perdue

a very interesting text...I've often wondered where the term came from. I noticed the similarity to the Spanish negro, negra when I was studying in highschool. I wasn't sure if that was where the English word originated or not...

To determine whether one should be offended by the word or not, one must take into consideration how the word is meant. In most cases, it is meant to be offensive. However, some non-racist people use it. I personally think this shows a lack of education in a person.

Everyone should know that the term is used for an offense. It's mainly used by racist people. That can't make it into an offense but still... And if the term came from the Spanish negro, there can't possible be a white nigger, can there? Negro or negra meaning black...

I'm not sure where the word came from but your text has risen the question for me... My dad uses the word sometimes. I always take it offensively (and I'm white). I just can't put up with racism... And practically my whole family is racist! Or they fit into my deffinition of racist, not that they would admit to it...
Nice text and welcome to the bay.

T.

Thanks for your comment. You have my agreement on your comment with ignorance in association with racism. The word actually originated from the latin "nigri/niger" which planely means black. The word nigger originated from badly pronounced latin niger "black" by the ancient english. It has been in usage since the ancient time when colours were named. It doesn't have much to do with slavery as widely believed. I've never met a white man who is offended by been called white.
Niger is just a colour which is widely known as black. If you are a good observer, you would have noticed that the term black is not only used for african blacks in modern age. Black is now used for every coloured people or mixed bred like halfcasts. If nigger means black then they are all niggers. The words niger can also be used as the people of niger [a river that links west africa to the rest of the world] in africa. My country Nigeria was named after that river, and if you check oxford dictionary, you will find out that Nigger was actually described as the people of Niger. With the advent of colonialism, a lot of white people were born close that river. That makes them the white nigger, in accordance to the oxford dictionary, because they are people of the Niger.
Your contribution is well appreciated.

Originally Posted by Thomas Perdue

---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the expansion of the explanation on that. I was kind of wondering where you were from. I noticed in your intro on that you mentioned that you checked the "English" dictionary so I thought that English was probably not your native language.

I've often joked with my dad about that. When he uses the word, I would tell him that he's miss pronouncing it... "It's pronounced 'Niger' which means just black, it's a country in Africa". I've never been able to stand racism... It's not that my dad is racist. I mean, he doesn't have any problem with people other races. He doesn't approve of inter-racial relationships (I consider that being racist, it's more than an acknowledgement of the different races). And of course he does use the word "niger" to refer to just any black person. If it is to be used as an insult, then I suppose that that could be somewhat acceptable. But not in a racist way. To be used like "whitetrash". But still, I really wouldn't approve of it's usage... It's just what is meant by it. Even though the word itself only means that a person is black, what is implied by using it is racism. No one usually would use that word unless they are racist. Negro would be more acceptable. What people think of a particular word can sometimes change it's meaning over time. I believe now that it means more than calling a person "black". There is an insult lied within it's usage... How do you feel about that?

You're welcome for the comment,
T.

And I replied with this;

I believe the word has been created to stay to the end of time, irrespective of whether it remains offensive or acceptable for it true meaning.
I originally used white trash in the composition of the poem but I realised that the inclusion might give a negative effect of my stance on the poem. So I used another word to reduce the effect without destroying the intended phrase.
If you read the poem again, you will find out that when the offended person was using racial phrases, he was being reprimanded with racial statements [in question format] until he used proper white man. Then, he was told that nigger is just niger which is just black. It was just like I was telling him to stop being racial until he used the right phrase to get the right explanatory statement in question format. The poem was written to bring people together instead of tearing them apart. The word became offensive because the ancient english are far more knowledgible than their black co-habitants of that time. In modern age, the black is now been given the chance of equal education which, I believe, to have destroyed the inferiority of begin black.

"There is only one race
and that is human race"

I believe, it is time to put the mistake of the past with the past and take a step forward to eliminate the unnecessary racial tensions for the sake of those like that six year old boy, the coming generation of equal one race.

[Olukoso]

Originally Posted by CharlesBoyo

Caesar, beware the Ides of March!

Poor guy wasn't careful enuf.

What's up folks? Good morning all....have fun and the best of the day!

A Game of Chess
By
Saheed Olakunle Giwa
[ALABI OMO BABA ALA AGO]

You be surprised, just try it.
I play just
With no common moves.
This Ceasar live AYE ^i
For I've lived from the bigini of AYE ^i
But I don't make dirty moves

In the word of Julius Canus
Why are you so sad?
Everyone wonders
Whether our souls are immortal
But I shall know the answer very soon
The common live time is too short

I'll die knowing that I'm I pawn ahead
And I'll be back to win another day

Free your mind
Material riches is nothing
Compared to peaceful mind enrichment
From the soil you come to being
And you will go back like the bean
For beans is what we are.
I'll die laughing
People we are free

It's AYAYAY time.
Power to the people
for the ultimate freedom
in unity of one human race.
THE SUN XIX ALPHA

[Olukoso]

I may live or die
by
Saheed Ola' Giwa

Let this be my legacy
That when it finally happen
Let no wrong finger be pointed either way
In common blood we remain the same
Let nobody or pastors be attacked
Remember all human are the same

For this NUCLEAR protection
Is clearly leading to destruction
Leave your mind clear for ideas
Never lock yourself to past ideas
Only one love in togetherness
Could bring AYE lasting peace
Inconsistent history remain in pieces
Consistency in history bring just peace

Let no blood be wasted for me
Nobody deserve to die in another's hand
You need empathy to move ahead
And nobody holy pass the other
And nobody is above common good
Only common understanding can bring order

AYAYAY

[Olukoso]

For clarification
by
Saheed Ola' Giwa

In Islam "Ashaheed" means the witness
I didn't read koran and bible to critise
I used "might" to say I don't know
Let us worship Allah with peaceful breathes
Islam is a religion of peace as Christains
Mohammed lived for common peace
It's time for brothers to embrace
As one blood

I am Ashaheed as predicted
I witness for peace in unity
I am not against any believes
Black give black and white give white
For one common blooded human
Religions can keep believes

But let us put the past with the past
Common stance for one human race
That was just suggestion for common good
I live for people with common voice
I wusubillai mina shetani rugim
Rubilli sidni Imani
Good give me wisdom as solomon.

[Olukoso]

Clark Kents
By
Saheed Giwa

Clear law in ark kent for AYAYAY PLAY
Common law for people common freedom
People are rule by right initiative
Equal common people in common blood

Watayo ayo o
Wadanwo ayo

Equal people in common equal democracies
For we all live for clear democracies
Where people are ruled in clear order
In police order of luo luo luo luo

Aye eyo ayo ayo
Watayo ayo o
Wandanwo ayo o
Watayo ayo o

Divided u will fall
Together we raise together
As common equal royals
We are all kings in righteousness

Aye eyo ayo ayo
Watayo ayo o
Wandanwo ayo o
Ay ay ay ay

We all play to all decisions
In common blood lies the solution
We are all in greenwich mean time
When police check all in righteousness
We are all equal as greenwich mean gods

[Olukoso]

Stand together
By
Saheed Ola' Giwa

If you love my woman
I'll love your woman
Together will we love
Our woman

If you play my man
I'll play your man
Just earth and sky
If you fuck my woman
I'll fuck your woman
Fair game together

If you love my man
I'll love your man
Play equal fair game
Harmony in up and down
Walking and working fairly

If you twist my head
I'll twist your head
Dirty game bring destruction
'Aye' is 'just' vote for solution
I stand for unity not division

It is not about us
But for future generation
Our job to keep them safe
With open fair minds
My mind is not dirty
And I don't play dirty
Aye mean just vote
Equal votes is our power
I am for just man
I don't see in colour