No, I mean the "N" word historically hasn't always been meant as an insult, although it certainly is now.

 

... such as?

Perhaps we're shopping in different stores, but I don't really see the marketing of racial slurs in any of the mainstream areas where I shop. And aside from what appears to be a misunderstanding on your part with the Wolverine figure, you haven't provided any real examples either, so it's difficult to understand your question.

 

Maybe he misunderstood the meaning of "Cracker Jacks"?

 

honky cyclops lol

 

I'd always read that gaijin literally meant foreign barbarian, although it wasn't always used with that specific meaning in this day and age. Could be wrong, though, I know more Maori than I do Japanese  

 

All etymological debate aside, EVERYBODY IN JAPAN CALLED WOLVERINE 'GAIJIN!' That's what's on the packaging because that's what he was called. You don't freak out because the Black Lighting figure is racially titled, that's his name.

Actually, I don't think they made a Black Lighting one. Probably for the best, it's a pretty racist name.


And also,

 

Yeah, Black Vulcan (from the Multiculture Pals) suffered the same stigma.

In his pants.

 

What I thought when I read "Gaijin Wolverine" was "this doesn't make sense".
If someone just say "gaijin", that word is like a collective noun. So to me it sounds strange.

I don't know if "gaijin" is a slur. It depends on how it's said in what context. Though it does sound inpolite, same as when someone says "ten-in" (shop assistant) instead of "ten-in san".

*disclaimer*
I am Japanese but this is only my personal impression.

 

Yes it has, how ever the Latin root word of it "Niger" (note only one "G" in it) just means black, and most of the time you see it come up is as some Romans Cognomen. So to sum up two "G"'s bad one "G" good.

 

Am I the only one that finds it slightly amusing that afew people in here are throwing around other ethnic slurs without worry, and then go the "N" word afraid to say it.

 

I guess it shows the level at which these other slurs actually affect people. The 'N' word has a really neg connotation, especially when used as a white person.
If some one called me a cracker I would be less offended than I would expect a black guy/gal being called by the n word.

 

"Well, why don't we just call you WhiteFish!"

 

They did make a Black Lightning figure.

 

You could possibly say that it's always been racist to varying degrees, certainly always racial, but it wasn't always a deliberate insult.

 

True, it was never an insult to a group of people (namely Africans) because they were never even seen as 'real' people. But that being said it was never a term of endearment, black people were seen as inferiors. Now the N-word is a reminder of a bad time in the world's history when every race was looked down upon by Europeans / whites / Christians.

 

I dunno, a lot of rappers really seem to love that word.

 

Hmm....

I have thought about that and understand it to be somewhat of a double standard. I would think many Black people feel strongly against the use of it in most rap tunes.
That being said they also say bitch and hoe to speak about women, so take anything with a grain of salt...

 

Yup and a lot of rap vids feature busty women shakin' their junk in bra tops and daisy dukes.It's because that's what sells records.

On a another side I hear that that's a black man's way to take back the word and make it something positive.Although it is hypocritical for a white guy to be labled racist using the same word in the same context.

Personally I don't know ANY black person who'd let someone call him/her a ****** and let them live.And White or Black doesn't matter.

I recall an old saying "It's not what they call you,it's what you answer to"

 

I can see that, but you can't be positive about a word when "I'm gonna kill you" comes right after it, in most rap music. Personally I think the word just needs to be dropped out of the language. There is no real good reason for it. Only thing would be to remember it in historical context. I'm hispanic, and I think most of the Hispanic "slurs" are pretty funny. Especially "spic" and "Wetback". Although "Beaner" is my favorite.

 

The only time I ever felt soemtihng humorous about the use of the N word was in "Blazing Saddles".