Ignorant Man

I wrote this months ago, but my computer shut down for a while so I didn't post it...but here it is


I decided to address what may be the ugliest and most explosive word in the modern language. In the wake of Michael Richards' outburst and now the use of this word on MTV's the Real World, I think it's time for my opinion on the word. I've never had anyone call me that word, but I have heard it in my everyday life. In fact, we use it regularly in my house...my father, brother and I do. My mom doesn't think we should but we have silently out ruled her.
Honestly, the word and its history are shameful and up until a couple years ago I had never said it. Two Hispanic guys I went to high school with used the word all the time. They grew up in South Central, to them...even though they weren't black, it was a normal thing and although I knew it was offensive I understood why they used it. But one day it became too much for me and I asked that they not use it around me. I told them I didn't care if they used it, but I didn't care to hear it and well, they were respectful and I never heard it used again. But that was Ten years ago.
It's now 2006 and you would think that this word would be gone...that only ignorant or racist people would use it. But along time ago blacks took this damaging, hate-filled word and turned it into something usable and respectful. Really, I don't know how or why but you can hear this word blasting through radios or on telephone conversations and even just in passing. Black people will use this word outside the church to call out their "boy", but God forbid a white person use it. Why?
I know why, but that's not my real question, my real question is why does anyone have to use this word? It should be dead; it shouldn't be used by anyone for any reason. I include myself in this. Every time we as black people use this word we are slapping the memory of our ancestors in the face. We are lashing them with whips; we are making what they had to go through unimportant. We have freedoms are grandparents and great-grandparents could only dream of yet, we are taking them for granted and trying to seem cool or hip.
Ignorant Man...that's what it means. That's what the white slave traders thought of the Africans they stole and sold away. We came from a rich and intelligent land that housed library's and universities, but all they saw was ignorance...but now look at us...all we care about is the next rap artist, how our rims look, how much bling we can get on our person at once. Maybe we are what they said we are?
RESPECT YOURSELF, YOUR HISTORY, YOUR FUTURE AND STOP THIS...STOP OPPRESSING YOURSELVES AND YOUR PEOPLE.

DON'T BE IGNORANT MEN!