Under no circumstance do I condone any man laying hands on a woman; as far as I am concerned, it is a cowardly act. And should it happen, and should the victim happen to have a brother who issues his own brand of street justice, then one might say the abuser had it coming.

This scenario is actually depicted in a raw and disturbing video now making its way around the Internet. It’s call “Why You Should Never Put Hands On Someone's Sister …”

This video is disturbing in many respect: All parties involved are black, and as the vengeful brother drops blows on the abuser of his sister, he uses the epithet “n**ger” numerous times.

There is far more going on here than just a brother taking up for his sister. It is also a lesson in the true intent and the dual-sidedness of the n-word.

As the brother hovers staunchly and remorseless, with all power balled up in his hands, over the helpless, curled-up soul, he spits the term at the abuser from hard, tightened lips, daring him to move outside of his mete. The abuser takes the beating and dares not make a move shy of the brother’s approval -- he stays in his place.

This scene is a perfect metaphor of white America’s intent in the term and the desired reaction of black America -- to stay in its place, wounded and defenseless.

Furthermore, the n-word wasn’t being used endearingly but derogatorily and from a vicinity of hate. An acceptable notion exists in the black community that not only is it okay to use the word as a “term of endearment,” but as an insult as well.

Now, if proponents of the term say it has no power, that they’ve changed its meaning, that anyone of any race can be called a “n**ger,” then how can the term still be used as a term of hate or degradation ONLY toward an African-American?

If one becomes angered with a non-black person, we do not blurt out the n-word to insult them. Some other profanity may be used, but not the n-word. But as soon as one becomes angered with another black person, we spit-fire the n-word at them as an offense.

Even though the term is sometimes used as an endearing term, it can be and is invoked at will to administer its crippling and true meaning.

A psychosis exists about the n-word that the black community, in general, completely denies, misses or is blinded to. The ravages of centuries of brutal mistreatment at the hands of whites—through slavery, Jim Crow segregation and lynch mobs—still has a powerful psychological effect on black people.

Isn’t it ironic how many contemporary blacks use and/or condone use of the n-word in this 21st century -- a word that was handed to them by a racist 18th century institutionalized system?

Before we were humanized, white folks categorized black folks centuries ago as the n-word, and to this very day, many blacks have failed to deviate from their so-called appointed place and entitlement of being so categorized.

A metamorphous is required.

We, as a community, must allow the unhealthy, hindering, and destructive aspects of our past to die and establish healthy, progressive, and constructive mentalities to successfully live in the now. It’s hard and scary to think of dying, to think of burying something we have so long lived with.

We often think that, because we have lived with a thing for so long, that it’s right and normal. To the contrary, that very thing we’ve been living with could be the primary factor holding us back from reaching our maximum potential. Think about that addiction to smoking, an abusive lover, and acceptance of less-than-ideal circumstances.

Just because it’s “the way it’s always been,” doesn’t mean it’s “the way it’s gotta be.”
***
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause Inc. and author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word.
 

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