Patti Smith – Rock n Roll Nigger (4:52)

SpiritOfYetaxa wrote:

Nigger

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BlackRoseKilla wrote:

All you people keep saying is how wrong it is for a white woman to say the word nigger. And when black artists use it in their songs (especially regarding hip-hop) to acknowledge another black person (or even themselves) it's fine, because, you know, they're really just offending themselves? If you really think it's wrong for a white woman to say the word "nigger". because someone might be offended by it, than you should probably think that it's just as wrong for anyone to say it, regardless of the race or sex.

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zarqu0n wrote:

"By being a white woman using that word all she is doing is saying that its ok for white people to use this word." I was always under the impression that it was offensive in general, regardless of the race of the person who says it.

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y_lorentz wrote:

I have grown up on Patti Smith, I have always loved her music. But this song will NEVER sit well with me. You can apply as much intellectualised privileged bullsh*t to it as you want, it will not change a thing for me. When a white woman (and on top of everything who is also supposed to be a role model) uses this word, she can never understand what it can feel like to have this word used against you. I'm so glad to see SoapMagic's comments because there is a whole lot of ignorance being sported on here. When someone who is historically from the group of oppressors decides that its ok to use a word that has been used against the oppressed, they have no right to make that decision and no place using that word. By being a white woman using that word all she is doing is saying that its ok for white people to use this word. Its not.

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bicknor wrote:

Actually, I used to know some West Indians quite well, and at parties, at least, they sometimes quite cheerfully called each other 'nigger'. Dont forget, the term was also applied , in the 1800s at least, frequently to describe natives of the Indian sub continent. Anyways, 'sticks and stones' etc.

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SoapMagic wrote:

That said, you can still enjoy problematic media AS LONG AS YOU ALLOW OTHER OPINIONS ON IT.

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SoapMagic wrote:

The point of the song is irrelevant. A white woman cannot change the meaning of a word used to oppress black people for hundreds of years. If you think that we live in a post-racial society, then you need to get your privileged head out of your ass. I'm not saying that Patti intended to be racist, but the song is still problematic. "Nigger" is still offensive to many black people, and invalidating their opinions because the song is ~arty~ and ~~**poetic**~~ is highly disrespectful.

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uncle-bman wrote:

Oh, hell yes!

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fraac wrote:

NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER!

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bicknor wrote:

Watch out, there may be a rock and roll honky about! And a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet........................

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ABoyForPele wrote:

Decades ago and it still causes stir. That's when you know a song is no longer a song, but has bobbed into the estuary of music existing with art.

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hoarmouth wrote:

Anyone who finds racism in this song is missing the abstract half of the brain.

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corky64 wrote:

Great track....<3

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PartySanCTG wrote:

Alright. I'll take back what I said too, it was pretty clueless of me.

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jane_eyre07 wrote:

I wasn't talking about you Chris lol. I was talking about people in general who don't understand what Patti was trying to do and just outright condemn her for being racist or something.

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PartySanCTG wrote:

I didn't condemn it...

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jane_eyre07 wrote:

Well said scottdoesntknow. I get so frustrated with people who condemn this song without truly understanding its lyrical context. Patti is a poet of genius proportions and chooses her words with serious dexterity. If people can't understand the meaning behind her words then they should just keep their ignorant comments to themselves.

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scottdoesntknow wrote:

The intent with this song was pretty obviously subversive; the "outside of society" lyrics speak for themselves. It's kind of like an anthem for everyone who is ostracized by society, and the word "nigger" is the idiomatic poster child for ostracized groups of people.

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