Thread by @itstherapcritic

So, it has come to my attention that Nostalgia Critic said "nigga" in his Ernest Saves Christmas review.

And honestly, I'm more annoyed at the fact that it was used in a bad joke than anything.

Remember: EVERYTHING is about context, so let's put it in context:

In the film, Santa Claus goes to jail, and the camera seems to be focusing on some black dudes mean-mugging him.

It cuts back to Santa, as Nostalgia Critic dubs over, "Wazzup, my niggas?"

This... isn't funny.

Actually, as I rewatched the clip, there's a white dude AND a black dude featured prominently mean-mugging Santa, so it doesn't even work in a sense of "Santa is COMPLETELY surrounded by black guys!"

And even so, what is the punchline supposed to be?

Cause without his commentary, the scene plays like, "Santa is afraid of these criminals"

Which one could see as making sense

But NC's joke changes the context, because now, in his eyes, the scene is, "Santa is uncomfortable around black people!"

And, well... why would he specifically think that?

Why does NC think, in a jail scene, Santa Claus would start talking black slang in order to fit in?

I mean... white people are in jail too. They're literally in the shot NC showed. So, why the "my nigga"?

My theory is: he's a white dude who's never really had to think about racial issues in a real way.

(This is from '09, btw, so please don't go getting on his case now.)

But I bring it up to make a point: I don't care about white people using the "n-word", I care about the context they use it in.

And this context is ultimately clumsy and not really funny to anyone other than white people who ALSO haven't engaged in conversations about race.

Oh, and let's do a contrast!

Rush Hour: there's a scene where Jackie Chan walks into a bar, and does the exact same joke: "Wazzup, my nigga!?" he says to a black dude.

But see, the context is different:

Jackie Chan isn't a guy who delivers toys to children of all ethnicities: he's a Chinese cop, limited by Chinese culture, who thinks that this is the proper way to talk to black people.

Because of that cultural divide and misunderstanding, there comes the humor.

But whenEVER there's a scene in a movie where the white guy tries to be "done with the brothers", the affectation they put on is just SO corny, and oblivious to the fact that we DON'T wanna hear a member of a privileged group making a mockery of a minority's language.

And I get it: "He's a fish out of water! He just doesn't get it!"

But that works with a Chinese man who's probably never met a black guy before, not a grown-ass white dude who at this point should know better.