Leading to parental fight a youth FB game? Well, I guess you are right...parental fights at youth sporting events aren't particularly shocking anymore either, whether they are over the use of the n-word or something else just as silly...
Philly WR Cooper racial slur and McCoy's reaction
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Leading to parental fight a youth FB game? Well, I guess you are right...parental fights at youth sporting events aren't particularly shocking anymore either, whether they are over the use of the n-word or something else just as silly...
Not at all. For example, queer was reappopriated by the LGBT (etc, etc, etc) community to make it more positive, but some use it and some refuse to because of it's history. Cracker is maybe another example, but I've really only seen that brought up to further some reverse racism argument, so I'm not really sure there are many white people that actually think it's derogatory, or if they're just using it to make an argument.
But my argument is that when a white person uses it there is no proper context. Now I get it completely, what Cooper said was bad. That was about as bad as you can use that word. But to suggest it would be a whole different thing if I started replacing "friend" with the "a" version is flat wrong. Or what if a white rapper used the word extensively in the same way a black rapper would. Do you think that would be well received?
You are totally oversimplifying the context when you say they are both simply used in a "colloquial" manner.
It's the same idea as if you were with your best buds and called one of them an a-hole, maybe during a wild game of Mario Kart Jeff shoots you with a blue shell on the last lap and you say "you are such an a-hole!" in a mostly joking but kind of really wanting to kill Jeff way. If you go up to a security guard somewhere and call him an a-hole he will probably take offense to it.
The difference being saying a-hole in a negative way to someone doesn't have the bonus effect of labeling you as anything other than maybe an a-hole yourself, it certainly doesn't flag you as a racist or anything like that. Now if you go around calling people n-words that's probably not the case, that's just the way it is because the word has a long standing history of being associated with racists and racism.
If it was news to him that it is going to be trouble if he uses that word in that way, then he has other problems also.
I'm sure he knew, you can't live in this country and not know, he obviously got caught up in the moment and didn't realize or care that there was a camera in his face. Which is why this is probably not as big of a deal as it seems it is going to be, unless the Eagles know something we don't.
N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton was released in 1988, right around the time Mr. Cooper would've been in diapers. They put a 'z' on it. Chappelle's Show was at it zenith at same time Cooper arrived in college. Guys in his generation have grown up in a world where the N-word seems to have lost some of its bite. For those under, say, 25....I'm curious if this is really that big a deal any more? I've always viewed it along the same lines as folks who can't carry on a conversation without a flurry of curse words - it just makes them look unintelligent. Dumb is a hard rap to shake.
If Mr Cooper catches touchdowns this year the media will get a "redemption story" second wind out of this. If he drops everything thrown to him they'll paint him as John Rocker II, and get a second wind out of this. ESPN, NBC, FoxSports...they all get to run more beer commercials. Commercials that rarely feature women frolicking in skimpy bikinis anymore. It doesn't feel like you win much without the bikini babes. But it does reminded you that your beer supply may be running low. I checked. It is.
So, thank you Mr. Cooper for reminding me that I need to buy more beer.
If Mr Cooper catches touchdowns this year the media will get a "redemption story" second wind out of this. If he drops everything thrown to him they'll paint him as John Rocker II, and get a second wind out of this. ESPN, NBC, FoxSports...they all get to run more beer commercials. Commercials that rarely feature women frolicking in skimpy bikinis anymore. It doesn't feel like you win much without the bikini babes. But it does reminded you that your beer supply may be running low. I checked. It is.
So, thank you Mr. Cooper for reminding me that I need to buy more beer.
You can't argue that there were a lot of white people that tried to maintain dominance over black people for a long, long, time after slavery ended through active things like violence and segregation, and to a lesser degree, passive things like derogatory terms. Things have clearly gotten better, but the Civil Rights Act was still only 50 years ago. Riley saying things like this just brings up the history of white people trying to maintain dominance over blacks, and while Riley probably didn't know exactly why he was using the word, that is how it comes off in my opinion. He sounded like he was still trying to hold onto that old idea that blacks are lesser than whites. Whether he meant it or not, that is how he came off to a lot of people.
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And again there is a distinction I am making. I said back in my first post on this topic that what Riley said is ugly because it is demonstrative of the usage of the word that made it the awful, untouchable word it is today. He used it the same way someone was using it in the 1920s, and that's bad.
What I'm saying is I can't understand the "that's our word and you can't use it" mentality. If it is an awful, unspeakable term that reminds us of a dark time in history, then don't say it. To me, it is that simple. But if you are going to use it in your day-to-day vocabulary, and if you are going to use it in a very colloquial matter, then don't act outraged if others use it in the same fashion (but, again, I don't think that Cooper used it in that fashion). Which gets me back to my question, are people mad because he used the word, or are they made at how he used the word?
Of course, and good point. But concussions still are no fun, even if the hitter gets fined.
Ok, I get what you're saying. I was just hopping back on to add something. But if you don't think Cooper used it colloquially, what are we even arguing about? :smile:
As someone raised in the South, I can attest that there are still a lot of scars from the Civil Rights movement and beyond. Black Men and Women that are approaching retirement age were Cooper's age during the middle of the movement. Churches were bombed, firehoses and dogs were unleashed, and I think families have a hard time forgetting that.
Sadly, to not get angry at a white man's use of the word could have a black man labeled as an "Uncle Tom". People like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson make a living as radicals that insinuate and perpetuate unecessary drama. Black youth are put under a lot of pressure to uphold racial pride, and the expression of this can be mislabled as sterotypes by other groups. I think this generation really wants to move on, but there are some that just wont let it go.
What's most troubling to me is that Black people have taken up a "light skin" v "dark skin" rivalry on social media and other outlets. How does anyone expect society to move forward when a fissure, although minor, like this happens? Either all races can drop it, or we can keep shooting ourselves in the foot and racism will continue. It can't be had both ways.
Sadly, to not get angry at a white man's use of the word could have a black man labeled as an "Uncle Tom". People like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson make a living as radicals that insinuate and perpetuate unecessary drama. Black youth are put under a lot of pressure to uphold racial pride, and the expression of this can be mislabled as sterotypes by other groups. I think this generation really wants to move on, but there are some that just wont let it go.
What's most troubling to me is that Black people have taken up a "light skin" v "dark skin" rivalry on social media and other outlets. How does anyone expect society to move forward when a fissure, although minor, like this happens? Either all races can drop it, or we can keep shooting ourselves in the foot and racism will continue. It can't be had both ways.
Really tired of hearing about this on sports radio. I understand what he said was wrong. He will suffer the consequences what ever they may be but as for the the players not accepting his apology shame on them. They need to get off there high horse its not like they have ever misspoke or made a mistake. The guy got boozed up and was upset.
its amazing its not like the guy harmed or killed someone it slipped out of his mouth. These are grown adults get over it and move on. This story has now been going on for 3 days it would be a blip story if the football season was going on.
its amazing its not like the guy harmed or killed someone it slipped out of his mouth. These are grown adults get over it and move on. This story has now been going on for 3 days it would be a blip story if the football season was going on.
Well, the Eagles say he's going to undergo "sensitivity training" - which is not intended to change Cooper's core attitudes and beliefs, but to show him how to act professionally and respectfully in a work environment. In other words, not how to think, but how to behave. He's still a racist, or stupid. Alcohol is a truth serum...
If you're just walking up to random groups of black people and trying to say it even in a positive manner in greeting someone then yeah, you'll probably run into problems.
Yeah, I think it is one of those words that is probably best if you just don't say it regardless of how you are trying to use it.
