Ni**er

I was kind of disappointed that Nas decided not to entitle his latest album Nigger the way he originally intended it to be released. It reminded me of just how unready we are as a people to confront our most terrible mistakes in judgement and our most cowardly acts of general evil.

Mass evil is kind of how I like to view those historic moments. The moments that haunt, tingle and remind. Of how fucking stupid we all can be. The way we can sway a mass of people against another. For reasons so unjust and simply created by ignorance, and uncomfort from a lack of courage to communicate.

It's easier to silence someone then to let them be heard. Because you might be meant to listen to the truth. We can only change if we're willing to accept our past.

When a people is swayed into an irrational frame of thought. And believes they are right. That's when all goes wrong.

I can't even begin to express how inspired I am that Nas even considered entitling his new record as such. It's being bold.

My favorite quote ever, the one I have tattooed on my right shoulder, is "Freedom lies in being bold." Spoken by Robert Frost.

I'm a writer. Words are my home. The infinite good ones, and the 'black sheep' of them. We can't escape racism. Segregation. Separation. Categorization. Cataloging. Labeling. We won't be able to escape these truths if we're not willing to confront them together. We have to be able to start a dialog between all people. The dream?

Who does the word nigger truly make look foolish? Those it was used to label or those who used it to label? Does it say something deeper about the kind of people that invented it? Maybe it better represents the people who created it. Maybe it says something about the fear of the unknown.


So Nas understands the truth. But he is born to understand the truth. White people, and all the 'other' different people that stand on the other side of the fence ignore the truth for the presumed facts. They use the word in secret. And I happen to think secret hatreds breed obvious stupidity. And worst, they build hidden divisions. Some times the divisions aren't that hidden at all, but stare at us, blatantly in our face. Like Katrina.

Because people are unwilling to talk to one another.

I believe all black people have the world in check. All people that have suffered through an atrocity have the right to carry the burden of their fore bearers and should be allowed to play teacher. Not victim. But teacher.

That they themselves hold the keys to the kingdom. That they have infinite power. Just like everyone else.

The word is pointless. The word is a weapon. The word is their cause.

Nas should have used the title he wished to. I'm not sure what was the final stroke that pressured him into a position of rethinking his gut thought. Some times an artist's most brilliant strokes are those that come most naturally. Though he decided not to use the title in the end, I think his point was already made. As the media reinforces the simple fact that Nas even considered the title Nigger. We all know they ran with that story. Regardless. The title will stick.

Just like the real world, even though the album is now nameless, untitled, the hidden label gravitates to a level of accuracy that more closely pinpoints all of our ignorance. Our fear to confront. All of OUR FEARS.

In a way, his new album will permanently be entitled what he originally wished. And we better wisen up to it.

There is strength in the communication that occurs between two people. When two people can discuss anything, no matter the subject, or the opinion, it shows the dream that they simply wish to understand one another, and hopefully what brought both of those people to stand side-by-side. Inevitably we don't want to erase our past. To erase our mistakes would be to teach our children nothing about what evil truths they must attempt to avoid. My child will never understand the hatred of the word nigger unless I can freely speak to him. That ALL of OUR American freedom was founded through the trials of these one people. And the word represents what should be the future of freedom for all people. That our history must guide us towards the dream.

I have no idea who I will vote for in this coming election. Obama on the basis of his plans for the economy, troop withdrawals, and our energy crisis may prove that he's not the best man for candidacy. His lack of experience?

But I have another reason to vote for him. Which is not being spoken so freely or widely, or being casted in any manner that signifies the importance of voting with an historic mindset of change. That maybe Obama being voted in on the simple basis of his cultural heritage is exactly what this twisted country needs. That maybe this country deserves to be steered by a black man right now. That maybe we all need to repent for our sins. That maybe we all need to face the 'truths' and 'history' of our country's greatest moments of ignorance.

But I doubt any rednecked hick, fumbling for another Pabst, with cocaine caked around his nose, while keeping his Confederate flag tucked secretly beneath his pick-up's passenger seat, will ever confront racial inequality. Especially when he's our acting President.

Time heals all wounds? A conversation will get us there quicker.

Who's got the courage to speak?