New York bans ‘nigger’ slur: Eroding free speech in America? March 1, 2007
Posted by C.A.R.D in 10 years nigger!, African Americans, African-American, Albert Vann, banned, BET, Black, black comedians, Black Entertainment Television, Blacks, Citizens Against Racism and Discrimination, Eroding free speech, First amendment, Free Speech, Freedom of Speech, n word banned, New York bans 'nigger', New York City, New York City nigger, New York n word, Niger, nigga, nigger, nigger banned, nigger slur, NYC, NYC ban, rap, Recording Academy, Ron Roecker, The Laugh Factory.comments closed
Is it racist for New York City to single out one racial slur and turn a blind eye to all the others? Is this constitutional? Is this the first steps of eroding free speech in America? Well regardless of what critics have said, New York City has now officially banned the use of the word ‘nigger’ in a “symbolic gesture.” Newsday.com has published some notable quotes from people in regard to this story. One of these quotes is:
“People are using it out of context. People are also denigrating themselves by using the word and disrespecting their history, disrespecting the history of a people and a country and also putting themselves in a negative light that we need to correct.” _ Councilman Leroy Comrie, sponsor of the bill.
The featured article follows below:
New York City symbolically banned use of the word nigger today, the latest step in a campaign that hopes to expunge the most vile of racial slurs from hip hop music and television.
The City Council unanimously declared a moratorium that carries no penalty but aims to stop youth from casually using the word, considered by most Americans to be the most offensive in the English language.
The New York City measure follows similar resolutions this month by the New York state assembly and state senate, and supporters of the ban are taking their campaign to The Recording Academy, asking it not to nominate musicians for Grammy awards if they use the word in their lyrics.
Many rap artists and young New Yorkers toss the word around as a term of endearment or as a substitute for black, angering some black leaders who consider those who use it as ignorant of the word’s hate-filled history in slavery and segregation.
“This could be the beginning of a movement,” councilman Albert Vann said.
Councilman Leroy Comrie, a sponsor of the moratorium, said the campaign against the word has gained strength since comedian Michael Richards spewed it in a racially charged tirade in Los Angeles.
Nigeria cracks down on illegal aliens February 25, 2007
Posted by C.A.R.D in Africa, African, Cameroon, Citizens Against Racism and Discrimination, deportations, Ghana, illegal immigration, Niger, Nigeria, Racism, Racist, Togo, voter fraud.comments closed
Interestly, Nigeria has begun to crack down on illegal immigrants, however, there are no calls of racism, in contrast to how the subject of racism has dominated U.S. discussions on the topic of illegal immigration.
Nigeria is cracking down on “illegal aliens” from neighbouring countries whom the authorities call a “nuisance”. Niger and Chad seem to have been singled out in the clampdown with thousands of their nationals packed into lorries and taken to the border.
People from Ghana, Togo, Cameroon and other West African countries have also been removed from at least eight major cities across the country.
Politicians are accused of importing “ghost voters” ahead of April polls.
“The truth is that it is because of the elections,” an immigration official who did not want to be named told the BBC News website.
“You know people from Niger speak Hausa which is the language of northern Nigeria and they are Muslims. Because of this cultural affinity, it’s easy for them to pretend to be Nigerians and vote in the elections,” the source said.
But the official reason given for the deportations is that the illegal aliens constitute a “public nuisance and security risk”.
Nigeria’s Interior Minister Olu Adeniji told the BBC that “only vagabonds and those engaged in armed robbery and other illegal acts” were being targeted in the immigration sweep, but did not give any figures.
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