Bitch Bad, Nigga Good?

Bitch and Nigga, two words that if you go back in time and heard these words used you would've gasped in shock at who ever said it. Now a days you can turn on a television or walk down any street in a predominately black neighborhood and hear these words more times than you can count. So when did these words become so widely accepted that you hear it at least once a day and not even think twice about it?

Now apparently these words have different meaning depending on how it is used, and whom it is used for. Examples; A male and a female are having a conversation. The Male get angry at the women and calls her a bitch. Female gets angry and slaps him. This used to be the normal reaction to being called a bitch. Lets take another situation; A song comes on the radio and the females starts singing and calling herself a Bad Bitch, and the song is a male singing about how he wants a Bad Bitch. So now this Female has not only labeled herself a bitch, but also pretty much accepted being called a bitch. The question here is what is the difference? Is it the emotion behind it, out of anger it is disrespectful or regular nonchalant speak it is ok. Is that what makes all the difference in the meaning of a word? The tone or context in which it is used?

The same kind of double standard goes for the word Nigga. For the most part we all know the basic history or the word. It never was meant to be a "term of endearment" or a word used to embrace your friends. The word was used as a way to degrade African-Americans, a way to dehumanize us so they could treat us as bad and not feel guilty. You see they weren't being unfair to other humans they were being unfair to Niggers. It's ok because they are only Niggers. Militaries have done it for years (towel heads, chinks) this way they dehumanize the victims they are about to kill. So in their minds it's not as bad. But I digress, what I am trying to get at is why is ok for two black people to call each other Nigga, but then take offense when someone of a different race uses it? If the word has truly evolved and the meaning has changed, why can't a white person come up to a black person and say "what's up my Nigga?" They didn't mean it in a negative or disrespectful way, they used it just as you would use it toward another black friend. So why take offense? Is it because in your mind you still attach that negative history with the word? If that is the case why is it still not offensive if another black person says it?

Should there be these double standards on words like these? Should they be always bad and degrading or can we accept the change that has come with time. Should we just keep both meanings and use with caution? I am not taking a side at this moment just trying to provoke some thoughts and see what you guys think. Leave a comment and let me know how you feel.

Check out Lupe Fiasco take on the double meanings of Bitch very interesting listen to the lyrics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3m3t_PxiUI

Peace,

Koda K.