If I understand the scenario correctly, several prominent Black ‘leaders’ are suggesting a national boycott of the music platform Spotify to protest the racist rants of a conservative podcaster.
The subject of the racist roach hunt is conservative podcaster Joe Rogan, whose Right-Wing views have spanned from the ridiculous to the racist.
Since Black folks are not among his audience, his incendiary views were generally unknown in our community.
However, that changed last week when several podcasts highlighting his repeated references to tribal members as ‘niggers’ (n-word) surfaced.
Obviously, Rogan uses the racist epithet as frequently as Snoop Doggy Dud does when praying to his god.
Fueling the flames of protest was an announcement by renowned singer India Arie who demanded Spotify remove her songs from rotation on the station in light of Rogan’s racist rants.
Arie, who was also upset at Rogan’s misinformed and ridiculous utterings about COVID-19, said she decided to have her catalog removed after learning he had used the epithet—‘nigger,’ (not n-word)–on 71 different podcast episodes.
I assume Arie, nor most angry African Americans, would not be upset if Rogan had referred to us as ‘n-words’ instead of ‘niggers.’
Or had he simply quoted a rapper or members of the Negrocracy—including African American politicians, preachers, or poverty pimps.
In response to the growing backlash, Spotify CEO Daniel Elk issued the usual meaningless (PC) apology, saying Rogan’s comments were ‘hurtful and didn’t reflect the company’s ‘values,’ which essentially is about making money.
Elk refused, however, to give in to demands to have Rogan fired.
Said Elk, “While some might want us to pursue a different path, I believe that more speech on more issues can be highly effective in improving the status quo and enhancing the conversation altogether.”
In a Twitter statement, he went on to say, “There are no words I can say to adequately convey how deeply sorry for the controversy (which) continues to impact us.”
Hmmm. In other words, Spotify’s hierarchy is sorry the podcasts are under public scrutiny.
But not sorry enough to remove the controversial podcast from the air because it is among the network’s most profitable.
In fact, a rival network has offered Rogan $100 million to leave Spotify and join them. I assume that the offer didn’t come from BET or Disney. But then again, you never know.
I had not intended to write about this controversy this week. I was halfway through a column on the importance of Black History Month when I happened to tune into a discussion about Rogan on Tory Lowe’s radio show Monday.
I made an immediate U-turn, recalling my shock and disappointment when his producer recently referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as a ‘nigger.’
The dichotomy of the two scenarios begged for a response.
Two quick points:
A ‘boycott’ against Spotify would end the same way as the one called by Mo’Nique against Netflix a few years ago.
If you recall, the foul-mouthed comedian, whose vocabulary consisted of two words—bitch (b-word) and nigger (n-word) —called for a boycott because the platform was paying comedian Chris Rock more for a special than they offered her.
She said the network disrespected her.
I think four people joined her boycott. And they were relatives.
Or, to localize an example, remember our boycott of Beauty Island, the Asian-owned cosmetic (beauty) supply store on Fond du Lac Avenue?
The boycott was called after reports of a pregnant Black woman being assaulted by the Asian owner who accused her of stealing something–probably a wig or weave.
It should have been a commemorative example of Black Power, a situation in which tribal unity was exhibited.
Instead, it failed because some Neckbones felt stronger about Korean hair than Black empowerment or justice.
I remember being on the picket line in front of the store with Teju and other activists when a Black woman almost drove us over to get to the store. She made it known that horsehair was more important than righteousness.
By the way, the Neckbone called us a ‘bunch of niggers’ (not n-words) as she struggled to remove her two-ton butt outta her small, garbage-littered car.
Despite our protestations, others followed the Neckbone’s example. Eventually, the protest died a painful death, and the owners of Beauty Island laughed all of the way to their suburban bank.
Boycotts are the most effective protest vehicle available to African Americans. But they must be well-coordinated and accepted throughout the village to be effective.
The Montgomery Boycott is the clear-cut example of that paradigm.
Sadly, I can’t remember any successful local effort.
My second point—in case you haven’t figured it out yet—is about the disingenuous, dichotomous word—‘nigger’ (not n-word).
Friends and followers of this column know of my disdain for the adjective/noun. I only use it to clarify or condemn—as is the case now.
And that goes for the ridiculous term ‘n-word’ as well.
A couple of years ago, the publisher revealed several of her peers were disturbed that I didn’t use the term ‘n-word’ as a substitute for nigger. So, I started using it sarcastically in conjunction with the epithet.
My subsequent disdain of the term ‘n-word’ is based on the phrase’s hypocrisy.
And, like I said, had Rogan used the term ‘n-word’ instead of nigger, would you be upset?
But my bottom line is no one should use the epithet because that’s precisely what it is.
Moreover, how many Black folks upset over Rogan’s use of the offensive word use it themselves?
I get it—there is a general consensus that only Black folks can use the word, even though its origins are blatantly derogatory.
It originally implied we were savages, illiterate, uncivilized animals. Whites used it to justify slavery.
‘Nigger’ (n-word) was generally the last thing Black victims of lynchings and burnings heard before they died.
And ironically, it can still be used by tribal members as a denigrating reference.
Like the appellation bitch (b-word), it can be used affectionally and as an insult by its Hue-man source.
Nonetheless, years ago, someone came up with the seemingly brilliant idea of Black folks claiming ownership of the word. Under this paradigm (and when not used in a derogatory sense) nigger, or nigga, was redefined as a word of endearment, comradery, brotherhood.
Under this paradigm, Whites, even liberals, and spouses of Black men and women are forbidden from using the word. Or thinking about it.
That tactic is beyond ridiculous. It has confused Whites on both sides of the philosophical fence.
Young, untainted Whites, the only hope for an end to racism, are told they can’t recite lyrics of rap songs or refer to their Black friends as ‘niggers’ even if it’s spelled nigga.
Moreover, as several Whites have informed me, it fuels their assumption that we are a dysfunctional and confused people.
Some Whites laugh at our self-defamation and denigration.
They recognize we are the only ethnicity on earth to refer to ourselves with a term rooted in bigotry and oppression.
No matter how you look at it, our acceptance of the word is our link to a slave mentality; inferiority and illiteracy.
Black South Africans don’t call themselves Kaffas. Nigerians don’t refer to their mothers as coons. Ghanaians don’t call their ancestors spades.
Have you ever heard an Asian refer to his brethren as a chink or slant eye? Did Tonto call his tribal members ‘injuns?’
In fact, Native Americans’ disdain for racist epithets sparked their protest over the Washington NFL team calling itself ‘Redskins.’
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but our strategy has not worked.
We don’t own the epithet, as illuminated by the fact that a county judge once said it was a ‘fighting’ word.
Whites can still motivate a response when they use it, implying they continue to control the word. And our reactions to it.
I can almost guarantee a fight if a White calls a Black man a nigger, versus the n-word.
Hell, my column last week illuminated that fact.
As I noted, Theodore Edgecomb is facing 40 years in prison because he punched a White attorney for calling him a nigger.
It’s still an offensive word, as it will always be.
Equally important, I firmly believe as long as we look in the mirror and see a nigger, we will be chained to its origins, to slavery, racial hatred, and White Supremacy.
Imagine our future if we told our children that when they see their reflection, it is of a prince or princess, a descendent of greatness, creators of math, science, and medicine—of God’s chosen.
I can’t control your use of the word, but I don’t allow tribal members to use it in my home.
My late mother, a reverend, taught me that the original Hebrews were Hue-men. Thus, Jesus/Yeshua was Black. Was (is) He a nigger?
I rest my case.
Hotep.