It is absolutely silly, and unproductive to have a funeral for the word “n*gger” when the actions continue– Eban Thomas on Nas’ “Project Roaches”
(AllHipHop News) For centuries the word n*gger and its derivatives have been a point of contention amongst minority groups and White Americans. After Los Angeles Clippers player Matt Barnes sent out a tweet using the term, ESPN’s loquacious First Take host Skip Bayless wrote an editorial on ESPN.com announcing his stance on the N-word: he wants it dead.
During Wednesday’s (November 13th) contest between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Matt Barnes was ejected for getting into a physical altercation with Serge Ibaka after Ibaka shoved Barnes’ teammate Blake Griffin. In response to his ejection, Barnes declared he will no longer defend his teammates and used some choice language (blurred out the N-word):
This was not the first occurrence of the N-word being used by athletes and thusly publicized this year. White Philadelphia Eagles’ Riley Cooper was caught on camera saying he will “fight every n*gger here”. Miami Dolphins’ Richie Incognito called fellow teammate Johnathan Martin the N-word through text messages and Warren Sapp has even stated that Incognito once called him a n*gger.
According to the opinionated Skip Bayless, the constant use of the N-word by celebrities, particularly rappers, may have a damaging affect on the psyche of young Americans:
God help us if today’s rampant use of the N-word – by rappers and athletes and movie-makers black and white – is subliminally signaling to white kids that it’s somehow OK to view black people in remotely the same way many of this country’s forefathers did: as subhumans mostly suited for enslaving and serving a superior race.
Bayless ended his lengthy editorial with one simple request: “I wish the N-word would die.”
This was not the first time someone has tried to kill the N-word. In 2007, members of the NAACP held a “funeral” for the N-word.