Many people ask me why do I use the name Mooncricket. They tell me that it is a racial bad word like the "N" word.

Before I get into the story how I got the name and why I use it I'll break down the true meaning.

Revised 01/24/2008 original written October 29th 2005.

THE "N" WORD.

This is old news to just remind those kids and parents with kids about these two words. I had to bring this up again because yesterday I was in the grocery store and these two African American kids of the age of 10 or 12 or so kept acting like they were gangsta talk, using the word nigga over and over. This was in Richmond, CA. I look at the people in line behind them who happen to be an old white couple probably in their 60's or 70's.

I was thinking to my self that they may be confused of why these young kids were using that word and I wondered to my self if the old couple ever used that word back during them racist times. Well not to say that the times racist are 100% over but I speak for my own family. My own Aunty who grew up in North Carolina who is in her 60's uses the "N" word. She is black and she yells at her grand children and calls them little niggers. I sometimes tell her that she shouldn't be saying that and she just says that is what they are because they always in trouble. Now to hear your own family member say that makes me wonder about people today. Why do families of color use these words among themselves as if it is now slang?

This is old news but just a reminder for those who still go by the Webster Dictionary.

Recently I checked and I don't see this word in the current dictionary but this is what they did a while back but I think they got rid of it completely.

NAACP wins on "nigger" in dictionary

A Small Victory...A Giant Step (Thanks NAACP)

There has been a change in Webster's Dictionary. Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), recently gave a speech at Virginia Tech.

Everyone was informed that a landmark decision was made last week with the people at Merriam-Webster Dictionary. They have recognized the error of their ways.

So, beginning with the next edition, the word nigger will no longer be synonymous with African-Americans. It shall be duly noted that it's a racial slur and not what African-Americans themselves are. Along with this, all racial and religious slurs will finally be indicated for what they really are - cruel and evil slurs too often used to degrade people.

Please share this information with others.

This change should serve notice to people, corporations, etc., that when individuals stick together to right a wrong, a change is going to come. This wasn't just a victory for African-Americans, but for everyone.

Now if we can only get some of our young black men to stop using it so freely...then we will truly win. Pass it along so we make sure that we all know the deal....

If you look under the word "white" you will get about 65 positive affiliations such as "pure" "clean" etc, and about 3 or so negative ones. If you look up the word "black" it has about 90 NEGATIVE connotations such as "dark" "dirty" etc and like 5 positive ones.

This is not in any blatant way racist, BUT if you look at the underlying meaning and what these words represent and who people associate with which word.

But at least one word has been fixed....

Folks need to stop calling them selves Niggas.

1. Nigger

A word that everyone else is afraid to define except in utter seriousness, for fear of being branded a racist, in total IGNORANCE of the colloquial usage of the word, its characterization in popular culture, and the populations of people it is used most by.

2. Nigger

A crude, disparaging term for Africans and African-Americans. Some believe it was originally only used to describe Nigerians (miss pronunciation of "Niger") while some believe it was a slang variant of "Negro".

Main Entry: nig·ger

Pronunciation: 'ni-g&r

Function: noun

Etymology: alteration of earlier neger, from Middle French negre, from Spanish or Portuguese negro, from negro black, from Latin Niger

1 usually offensive, see usage paragraph below: a black person

2 usually offensive see usage paragraph below: a member of any dark-skinned race

3: a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons

Usage Nigger in senses 1 and 2 can be found in the works of such writers of the past as Joseph Conrad, Mark Twain, and Charles Dickens, but it now ranks as perhaps the most offensive and inflammatory racial slur in English. Its use by and among blacks is not always intended or taken as offensive, but except in sense 3, it is otherwise a word expressive of racial hatred and bigotry.

1. Nigga

Nigga is a word that evolved from the derogative term "nigger". Tupac best defined the distinction between the two.


NIGGER- a black man with a slavery chain around his neck.

NIGGA- a black man with a gold chain on his neck.

2. Nigga

From one black man to another meaning to say; homie, brotha, etc.
N: (ethnic slur) offensive name for a Black person; "only a Black can call another Black a nigga" [syn: nigga, spade, coon, jigaboo, nigra]

From my research as a small kid this is what I found in a book I read.
Original dictionary term for Nigger before the slaves came to America
Nigger was a meaning for an uneducated person. Person of
IGNORANCE. The slaves received the name nigger because they were not allowed to go to school and be educated. Were not allowed to read. So nigger must of been the slang for the uneducated slaves. The original word before nigger was Mooncricket.

Al Sharpton Buried the "N" word as he announced last year. One year later does anyone remember or care? I guess it can't be officially buried until the President takes over the air waves like he usually does and announces the word to be buried.

NIGGA IS A DISRESPECT TO OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND FATHERS AND OUR HISTORY. br>MOONCRICKET?
When the ships came they said, "Here comes the Mooncricket's.

The Dictionary's definition.
Define Mooncricket

MOONCRICKET: Derogatory term for "colored people". Basically the same as saying Nigger

Dude...look at those mooncricket's in that back alley playing
NIGGA- common word used by black folks today and often used by other groups of many colors.

THE REAL MEANING OF MOONCRICKET:
MOONCRICKET: Run away slave under the moonlight. The use of the moon to see where they are going through out the night.
Mo.. Run away slave.



SO WHY I USE MOONCRICKET FOR MY NAME?
1986 I was given the name Mooncricket by racist folks when I was 12. Every time I went up for a lay up in 6th grade basket Ball they would yell out "Mooncricket!" I didn't know what they meant at first and then I flipped it to a comic character representing me what I went through as Nigger was commonly used in my face. As I went on my own after high school it was tuff to find work as an artist and even the regular 9 to 5 work. They profile you before they learn your skills. I would only get the labor jobs. A cook at Denny's working the late shift. I was the only cook for many people who ordered the $1.99 Grand slam. Working many warehouses and temp jobs. Concrete, scraping tar off rooftops in the hot sun. Working 15 hour days 6 to 7 days a week at a winery for 9.50 and hr. Driving forklifts blowing out my knees trying to load trucks on time. The list goes on.

I was a modern slave and I was never happy with my work, as my mind never sleeps with ideas and creativity for art, screenplays and filming. So it was my goal to sacrifice my life style save and get out. I then quite the 9 to 5 world in 2001 and from 2001 till 2007 I sacrificed my life style and living conditions as I worked on my film documentary "The Boy Connection" and work shooting Weddings, special events and learning the hard way of Hollywood business. I might have made my self feel crazy and others around me but my dedication to my art and freedom with the Guidance of the Lord and the Moon landed me in the right place. I can now say I am happy with what I do and I work 9 to 5 doing what many said I could never do. I can now say I love my job, as it is a part of me. I might not be 60% where I want to be as my goals are still in the works. "Mooncricket" I kept as a dance name to this day and then I formed Mooncricket Films LLC. So yes I'm a runaway Slave and I can say I am a Mooncricket.

Taking the negative and flip it to positive. You see Mooncricket is a lost word and is forgotten so I never tell anyone the meaning unless they ask.

Nigger- The meaning is very clear and no other object.

Mooncricket- Moon in the sky cricket that chirps at night. Name becoming a slang for runaway slaves.


1985: "Get that nigger" as they chased me with foxtails being thrown in my Afro. Once they go in they take all night as mom picks them out. But I'm still that mooncricket that runs at night that refuses to work for the man, who chooses to lead for him self and challenge the man where ever he stands.

Now tell me how Nigga is being used as a positive message and what does a 55 and up old black woman or man would have to say about the word nigga. This word was used among them selves during the time of the sixties but what do you think of the word used today. I ask this because when I'm at a b-boy jam or skate park and I hear a 9 year old kid, black, white, Asian, Hispanic say "nigga" in every sentence. Do they know what they are saying and why? I know but what do you think and how can you educate them from saying such words.

As a filmmaker my goal is to be recognized as a filmmaker and not to be labeled for the color of my skin but as a filmmaker. Not another Spike Lee but a filmmaker like any other white filmmaker that is not labeled for his skin but for his art.

Blessings

Mooncricket


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