Is it A Crime?

The "N" word takes the stand in Howard Beach assault trial

Howard Beach has entered New York City's racial dynamic once again. In the mid-1980s the Queens community became a huge flashpoint of often supressed, or overlooked, racial tensions in the city, when a group of white youths , screaming "get out of our neighborhood niggers," chased a group of Black youths until one of the Blacks ran into oncoming traffic was struck and killed by a car. Several others were injured in a vicious baseball bat attack.

Fast forward to June 29, 2005, when a carload of white youths has a confrontation with a group of Blacks, ending with yet another Black, Glenn Moore, being struck by -- you guessed it -- a baseball bat, the weapon of choice in Howard Beach. This time, however, there were some major distinctions. One, the victim lived to testify; two, the primary white suspect, Nicholas Minucci, dressed from head-to-toe in the latest hip hop fashions and bling, says that he was only acting in self defense as he feared being robbed. And third, he added, that he said, "nigga," (not with an "r" at the end) he meant it as a friendly greeting -- not the way it was used by the previous Howard Beach mob.

At first (full disclosure I am Black) I thought maybe there's a point to this: Has the "N-word" come out of the closet and gone mainstream? Has the proverbial barn door been torn off its hinges thanks to its use and overuse by rappers' lyrics and speech? Wasn't it inevitable that the young, white, suburban masses (who are the largest purchasers of rap music after all) would eventually claim the word much as they have claimed "ill," "chillin'," and "mad"? After all, its got an "a" at the end now.

On second thought, hell no! The "a" at the end of the "N-word" does not serve as a prophylactic from the past and present pain and torment. We should be dropping the word, not inviting it into the parlor for tea. Richard Pryor, whose Grammy-winning comedy album was titled, "That Nigger's Crazy," came back from a cathartic visit to Africa proclaiming, "I didn't see any niggers in Africa." He wised up and announced he would no longer use the word.

There is also the issue of "licensing" white people and other non-Blacks to use it. Comedian Chris Rock, a frequent user of the N-word in his material, was once being interviewed by then NBC talk show host, Tom Synder. The Caucasian Synder asked, "Why can't I use the word?"

Rock replied "Why do you want to use it?"

An interesting question for white people: What exactly do you feel when you say it? Hip? Empowered? An equal partner to Blacks on the coolness playing field? Superior to Blacks? Less afraid? Is it an excuse to degrade and get away with it?

The stakes are high here for Minucci. If the jury believes that he did in fact use the "N-word" in an offensive way, then this becomes a hate crime, not just your usual beef. The years added to his jail sentence would be considerable. According to a recent New York Daily News article, during trial one day Minucci, "busied himself reading a Harvard Law School professor's treatise on use of the 'N-word.' Minucci, contends that he used a variation of the vile slur as a hip hop friendly greeting to Moore." The article continues that Minucci even testified that, "Me and my Black friends, we called each other niggas all the time. I'm no racist, this was no hate crime."

But on third thought, after closer analysis, I realized that there was another "N-word" alleged perpetrator Minucci used. He said that when he struck Moore with his bat he did it not only to protect himself, but he proclaimed proudly, "I did it to protect the neighborhood."

What a noble gesture, one that will no doubt resonate with lots of whites, even some on the jury. It only takes one juror to ignore the "N-word" in favor of self-preservation to flip the case to not guilty, whether or not there was an "a" or an "r" at the end of the word. Many whites, even some very decent ones, in their heart of hearts, see it as a righteous act to "protect our neighborhood from the Blacks." It can be done in subtle ways like the supposedly outlawed red-lining that many banks and other lenders practice to keep Blacks out of certain areas. Or "steering," where realtors steer Blacks only to areas where clusters of Blacks already live. Many decent folks feel they reap the benefits of such practices.

The not so decent folks will turn their eyes away when the bat is used to keep the Blacks out. A few will actually pick one up.

This neighborhood loyalty is not exclusive to whites. Many hard working Blacks fear the image of the young, hip-hop dressed, Black male in their midst as they struggle to preserve some peace in their own communities. Strangely, they are not nearly so fearful of the young, white male in similiar attire. They too may vote in favor of the alleged neighborhood hero.

When testifying on the witness stand, victim Moore said of the aluminum bat he was struck with, "I could see it shinning, you know glistening."

Ah yes, like the sword of a knight in shinning armor riding to the neighborhood's rescue.

But suppose Moore had been walking through the Howard Beach streets, minding his own business and the alleged perpetrator, Minucci, had called him a nigger and chased him. Suppose Moore hits Minucci with a bat, would Moore be convicted? Would the power of the word nigger and its historical significance be enough to claim self-defense? Would Moore defending his own body be of equal value to Minucci defending his own neighborhood in the jury's eyes? And what about in the court of public opinion?

Maybe this case should be called N versus N.