Tila Tequila and the N-Word

Tila Tequila became famous for being a MySpace model and somehow turned that into a reality TV career. I had forgotten about her when this news story came out:

Here are her tweets, which seem to get progressively worse:

What disturbed me about these tweets weren’t what was being said, but the fact that forty plus people liked each of them.

Originally, I wasn’t going to comment on any of this because I didn’t want to give Tila Tequila another second of press. However, then I had a conversation with an Asian American producer—who shall go unnamed—who used the N-word at least ten times in a thirty minute meeting.

The first time it happened I was hoping he was making a point, the next time I was hoping he was being ironic, but by the last time all I could do is wonder what is wrong with everyone.

I started searching around online wondering if Tila and the producer were the only two Asian Americans who used the N-word. I went to Yahoo Answers! to see if there were any questions about this.

And of course there was:

Can Asians use the N word?

can Asians use the N word?
a lot of you folks say no, but here in NYC most seem to mind at all. (at least the ones I’ve encountered) growing up I’ve been hanging out with a lot Hispanic & Black folks. a few had told me that they don’t care if Asians use that word. they told me that “I don’t care if you a Hispanic or Asian, you still a N****.” I even have a friend that grew up during the 60’s that told me the same ****.

And if we can use that word, then why do you folks continue to promote that word?
And you can’t say you don’t cause ya use it it your songs/movies.
Gandhi said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” in other words, lead by example. most folks look up to celebrities & imitate what they do & say. i.e. back in the days no guy would rock the color pink, then when Cameron start rocking it, what happens. everybody & their mother start rocking pink.

And how are we suppose to recite the songs if we can’t use that word? or repeat the lyrics to a friend who haven’t heard the song yet? like this?

“N-word, what up, what up, what up
you never met a n-word on some wild ****.
wanna school the streets
better come & get a scholarship
cold hearted criminals who I get my dollas with
same ones, when **** goes wrong I bust my hollow tips with.
n-word think the merking me, crackers think they jerking me.
married to the streets everyday is my anniversary.
here’s my presentation, n-word spark that weed up.” – Styles P

this is just my 2-cents so don’t start going wildin out on me or get so vulgar.

Update: aite so all ya is saying that, we can’t basically use the word & that it’s only for you folks to say it then why ya don’t have problems when Latinos say it? & if it should only stay in your culture but yet again it’s okay for ya to go ahead & use any asian words & even get in to our culture. (I’m not saying everyone) to me race died along time ago & don’t really mean anything. it’s all about what class you’re in.

If you actually made it through that whole question, congratulations! You have a better attention span than I did. I had to force myself to do it for the sake of this article. But if you did, you would notice that this person used the same argument as Tila. Maybe Tila isn’t as crazy as I thought she was.

Never mind. The person asking the question and Tila are both wrong. I feel that as a public service I will answer settle this once and for all.

Ready? Do you have a pen and paper handy? Tila, are you listening?

It is NEVER okay to use the N-word. Ever. Just because you hear it in a song, doesn’t mean you can repeat it out loud. I know it’s tough but if you can’t handle it, may I suggest audiobooks? I LOVE Audible.

Follow me at @ksakai1.