REUTERS

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City symbolically banned use of the word nigger on Wednesday, 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. The Laugh Factory club where Richards performed has since banned comedians from using the word there and the former "Seinfeld" television star has apologized.

"The Michael Richards incident really brought it to another level. It has forced people to express their outrage. Many people had been seething quietly," Comrie said. Comrie also asked TV network Black Entertainment Television to stop using the word in its shows. Representatives of BET did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Grammy spokesman said he doubted the academy's 11,000 voting members would support any measure that might censor artists. "They are not going to be supportive of something that excludes someone simply because they are using a word that is offensive," said Ron Roecker, vice president of communication for the Recording Academy.

The city resolution calling for the moratorium traces the etymology of the word from the Latin "niger," meaning black, to its first documented written use in 1786 as a term slave masters used to label their African slaves.

Use of the word by blacks exploded with the rise of rap music in recent years, and some black comedians like Chris Rock continue to use it in their routines.

"What, is there a fine? Am I going to get a ticket?" Rock mocked in a Reuters interview when asked about the City Council move. "Do judges say, '10 years, nigger!"' Rock said politicians were trying to divert attention from real problems: "Enough real bad things happen in this city to worry about how I am going to use the word."

It's called a typo, Andre. People do make them from time to time.

What is the typo referring to, just so I understand. The personal/private comment? Your original post?

Maybe, if you stop attacking me because I want to put my voice into the matter, we'll have a rather simple discussion. He asked a question, I responded with one of my own. If you choose to answer it, fine, but don't get on me because I decide to be a part of a discussion.

No, we can't have a simple discussion with you because it always has to go there. He asked a question, you imediately pull out the racist card and start being very combative. Now how is that suppose to be simple discussion when you come at someone like that? And now you wanna cry wolf? Sorry, that isn't going to work with me, not this time. I'm sick and tired of having to go through this with you every damn time a thread like this gets started.

Maybe, if you stop attacking me because I want to put my voice into the matter, we'll have a rather simple discussion. He asked a question, I responded with one of my own. If you choose to answer it, fine, but don't get on me because I decide to be a part of a discussion.

When you become "part of a discussion," you are accountable for your opinions. I have some issues with how you've approached this right from the get-go. So if you say something I find objectionable, I will "get on [you]" for it. You want to be able to say anything and everything you want about what others say, but you want everyone to leave what you say alone because... what? You don't like it?

well lets see, you quoted what you said and then you also said:

and then you also proceeded to say:

You quoted his post, used the word you so more than likely you were directing it at him. That doesn't sound like a general question. And of course no one wants to answer your questions, because you attack everyone and just beat them over the head.

I quote his post because it was in direct response to his comment. Also, the you was more intended to be a general you. Would you have rather I said, "Why do all white people feel that they want to have the right to use the n-word? Why do they feel the need to say it?" knowing full well, that if I had you'd've gotten on me for generalizing?

It's fine to be offended by the word, to be uncomfortable with the use of the word. But for Christ's sake, don't say, "I can use it. You can't. Why do you want to use the word so damn bad? Nanny nanny boo boo." It's just a copout for what the REAL issue with this word is...black people(as a whole) have to take a stand and stop using the word if we expect for no one else to use it. Otherwise, the argument has no merit, IMO. If no one else has the right to say it, then we shouldn't say it either.

For the record, I agree with you completely. I hate when my community uses it. It was originally an attempt to diminish it's power and it's failed miserably. At the same time, it's definitely not going to stop the white community from using it, nor will it stop them from finding something negative about the black community.

My problem with the question is that it then comes off as if someone who is not black so desperately wants the right to say it. Why do you want to be allowed to say it? Hell, why do you want to say it so damn badly?

See, I don't think my question at all comes off that way. I personally never say that word and get upset with my friends that do use it. Again, like I said in my previous posts, I wish the word would just go away altogether - I think it perpetuates hate and doesn't help society as a whole move forward.

I still think its a legitimate question though...

I don't get this. I haven't really discussed the whole racist thing here at SON but the whole white community isn't racist! Yes, some are but not every single person out there is.

I quote his post because it was in direct response to his comment. Also, the you was more intended to be a general you. Would you have rather I said, "Why do all white people feel that they want to have the right to use the n-word? Why do they feel the need to say it?" knowing full well, that if I had you'd've gotten on me for generalizing?

But he wasn't talking about white people wanting to use it. He was pointing out how frequent it is used in the black community, moreso than white people use it (but then you might have accused him of him denying that white people use the word and being in denial that the US has a problem with race) so he wanted to know would they be excluded from the ban or be included. Thats all, nothing more, nothing less. No need to start up the same tired mess because (as if it hasn't been learned) it gets us NOWHERE and the board always ends up in a fight. Its just not needed right now.

When you become "part of a discussion," you are accountable for your opinions. I have some issues with how you've approached this right from the get-go. So if you say something I find objectionable, I will "get on [you]" for it. You want to be able to say anything and everything you want about what others say, but you want everyone to leave what you say alone because... what? You don't like it?

I am fully aware that I am accountable for my opinions. I'm not asking anyone to leave what I say alone. I think it's great for the discussion. You can totally get on something that I said because I'll easily clarify and explain further. It's a totally different can of worms when you decide to insult my character, that's not to say that I haven't done it myself because I have. I am sure you've seen how the discussion can actually be civilized and mature when there's no personal attacking involved.

No, we can't have a simple discussion with you because it always has to go there. He asked a question, you imediately pull out the racist card and start being very combative. Now how is that suppose to be simple discussion when you come at someone like that? And now you wanna cry wolf? Sorry, that isn't going to work with me, not this time. I'm sick and tired of having to go through this with you every damn time a thread like this gets started.

If you don't want to go through it, you can either close the thread or use the ignore button. Simple as that. I'm not making you read the thread.

See, I don't think my question at all comes off that way. I personally never say that word and get upset with my friends that do use it. Again, like I said in my previous posts, I wish the word would just go away altogether - I think it perpetuates hate and doesn't help society as a whole move forward.

I still think its a legitimate question though...

The word, unfortunately, is just a small speck in the overall bigger picture of the problems of the current state of race relations.

So... will there be a fine for using the word?

This thread? Deja Vu x 1000.

I don't get this. I haven't really discussed the whole racist thing here at SON but the whole white community isn't racist! Yes, some are but not every single person out there is.

No one said the whole white community was racist. There's a benefit from racism, which is something completely different.

So... will there be a fine for using the word?

No. It's just symbolic.

I am fully aware that I am accountable for my opinions. I'm not asking anyone to leave what I say alone. I think it's great for the discussion. You can totally get on something that I said because I'll easily clarify and explain further. It's a totally different can of worms when you decide to insult my character, that's not to say that I haven't done it myself because I have. I am sure you've seen how the discussion can actually be civilized and mature when there's no personal attacking involved.

You say you will explain and clarify, but you haven't yet. I haven't insulted your character; I have pointed out my observations from what you've posted. If you find something insulting in there, well, only you can change that. Not me.

You say you will explain and clarify, but you haven't yet. I haven't insulted your character; I have pointed out my observations from what you've posted. If you find something insulting in there, well, only you can change that. Not me.

Well, tell me what exactly do you want me to explain and clarify, and I will do so to the best of my abilities. Instead, all you do is just !@#$%^&*] at me because I decided to post my opinion, naturally nothing's going to get explained.

If this post doesn't get back on the topic at hand, it will be closed.