Mr. President Have Pity on the Wigger-Man

Wigger - "a slang birthed in American culture that is defined as a white person who emulates phrases, mannerisms, and fashions stereotypically associated with urban African Americans; especially in relation to Hip hop lifestyle. The term is a portmanteau combining the words white and nigger (or wannabe and nigger), and it has historically been used in a derogatory manner. The term wigger is generally used to describe a young, white mimicker of certain affectations of hip hop and thug culture..." - Wikipedia

Have you ever been called this term? Is it because you listen to hip hop? Or is it because your wardrobe consists mainly of clothing put out by famous rappers? Is it because you speak in a certain way associated with black Americans? Do you breakdance? Perhaps you have been called a wigger only because of adopting one of these traits or lifestyles.

But what happens if you grew up in the culture but just happen to have white coloured skin? Are you still a wigger? Or is that term reserved for inauthentic white people who emulate the lifestyle without growing up on the wrong side of the tracks?

Personally, I think it is all a tempest in a teapot. Who cares, we live in a free country don't we? If white guys from middle class suburbia want to act all gangsta then let them. They may seem foolish but it doesn't mean you have to hate them. If you are authentic, then teach them rather than shun them. Tell them about the history. Give them a list of albums, mix tapes, books or websites that will aid in their hip hop education. Make them your brother.

But you may ask why I think you should be so magnanimous? Why should you, a straight-up nigga, waste your time on a smart ass honky who is just another wannabe? The reason is simple, they are your bread and butter. Do you think all the great hip hop artists and groups out there became rich selling only to African Americans. Did Ice Cube, Run DMC, 50 Cent or Dr. Dre make their millions selling their wares to the aproximate thirteen per cent of the population that is African American?

According to US Census Bureau in 2002 (http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-541.pdf) 36 million African Americans live in the United States. If we want to break it down further into the population that actually buy hip hop mercandise you can see how this population shrinks to under 20 million (eliminating children, the upper middle ages and the elderly). White Americans consist of more than 60 per cent (194.8 million in 2002) of the population of the US. It is plain to see that the abundance of money flowing into the hands of black artists is originating in a large part from the pockets of this group.

So take pity on that rebel from the suburbs whose only cultural identification is a black one. It's not like it is a unique thing in the history of American culture. It is just the latest incarnation:

"In many ways the phenomenon of white people adopting "black" mannerisms, slang, and cool attitude has repeated itself in every generation since slavery was abolished. It has been documented in the United States, United Kingdom and other white-majority countries. It has been seen in the blackface musician of the 1800s; the White Negro of the 1920s and 1930s; the Zoot suiter of the 1930s and 1940s; the hipster of the 1940s; the beatnik and rock and roller of the 1950s; and the mod of the 1960s..." - Wikipedia

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