the people formerly known as "niggers"

niggas and flies...

so i got this word and this work all stuck in my head and something wants to come out... it started with the clip from Bamboozled with the guy at audition. you know, the "niggas is a beautiful thang" dude. i wanna write something... something about that line, something about that word.

i really wish i had a copy of "the nice colored man" by ted joans, too.... ah. inspiration for this blog, for my blog name. when i find it i will post it.

so this is some... let's call it, research, for a piece. something to give you guys to think about...

much love, stokes.

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( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-UpHlB9no )

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NIGGER

I AM the nigger.
Singer of songs,
Dancer. . .
Softer than fluff of cotton. . .
Harder than dark earth
Roads beaten in the sun
By the bare feet of slaves. . .
Foam of teeth. . . breaking crash of laughter. . .
Red love of the blood of woman,
White love of the tumbling pickaninnies. . .
Lazy love of the banjo thrum. . .
Sweated and driven for the harvest-wage,
Loud laughter with hands like hams,
Fists toughened on the handles,
Smiling the slumber dreams of old jungles,
Crazy as the sun and dew and dripping, heaving life
of the jungle,
Brooding and muttering with memories of shackles:
I am the nigger.
Look at me.
I am the nigger.
- Carl Sandburg

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Ten little nigger boys went out to dine;

One choked his little self and then there were Nine.

Nine little nigger boys sat up very late;

One overslept himself and then there were Eight.

Eight little nigger boys travelling in Devon;

One said he'd stay there and then there were Seven.

Seven little nigger boys chopping up sticks;

One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.

Six little nigger boys playing with a hive;

A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.

Five little nigger boys going in for law;

One got into Chancery and then there were Four.

Four little nigger boys going out to sea;

A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.

Three little nigger boys walking in the Zoo;

A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.

Two little nigger boys sitting in the sun;

One got frizzled up and then there was One.

One little nigger boy left all alone;

He went out and hanged himself and then there were None.

-Agatha Christie
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Nigger, v. To wear out, spoil or destroy.
Niggerish, adj. Acting in an indolent and irresponsible manner.
Niggerlipping, v. Wetting the end of a cigarette while smoking it.
Niggerlover, n. Derogatory term aimed at whites lacking in the necessary loathing of blacks.
Nigger luck, n. Exceptionally good luck, emphasis on undeserved.
Nigger-flicker, n. A small knife or razor with one side heavily taped to preserve the user's fingers.
Nigger heaven, n. a designated place, usually the balcony, where blacks were forced to sit, for example, in an integrated movie theater or church.
Nigger knocker, n. axe handle or weapon made from an axe handle.
Nigger rich, adj, Deeply in debt but ostentatious.
Nigger shooter, n. A slingshot.
Nigger steak, n. a slice of liver or a cheap piece of meat.
Nigger stick, n. police officer's baton.
Nigger tip, n. leaving a small tip or no tip in a restaurant.
Nigger in the woodpile, n. a concealed motive or unknown factor affecting a situation in an adverse way.
Nigger work, n. Demeaning, menial tasks.5

( http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/caricature/ )

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" I was working on this piece,
'cause I was sitting there...
I realize that
when I was looking at it...
Niggas is a beautiful thing.
You know?

And so it came to me.
It just came to me, you know?

Waste away your life and linger
Sittin' at home
watchin' Jerry Springer
You do blackface
and a monkeyshine
And cut a "G" at the same time
'Cause niggas
is a beautiful thang
Niggas is a beautiful thang,
hit me
Niggas is a beautiful thang

Then the audience would be
gettin' in with that.

Then it get into a gospel thing.

Stand up
If you a nigga

'Cause, you know,
it's about keeping it real.

- from Spike Lee's "Bamboozled"

( http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/b/bamboozled-script-transcript-spike-lee.html )
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Nas- Be a Nigga Too

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhp3KWMEhJU&feature=related )

Nas- N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave & the Master)

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnhIUdEqvu4&feature=related )

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if this blog wasn't actin STANK, i would post the links... so you're gonna have to do some ole-fashioned c & p.

enjoy.

...

niggas is a beautiful thing.