Wigger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wigger (alternatively spelled wigga, whigger or whigga) is a slang term for a white person who emulates mannerisms, slangs and fashions stereotypically associated with urban African Americans; especially in relation to hip hop culture.[1]
The term is a portmanteau combining the words white and nigger, and it has 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. The word is considered offensive by some because of its similarity to nigger, and because it reflects stereotypical notions about urban blacks.
The phenomenon of white people adopting stereotypical black mannerisms, slang, and apparel has appeared in several generations since slavery was abolished in the western world. The concept has been documented in the United States, United Kingdom and other white-majority countries. An early form of this was the white negro in the jazz and swing music scenes of the 1920s and 1930s; as examined in the Norman Mailer essay, "The White Negro: Superficial Reflections on the Hipster"." It was later seen in 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.
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References in popular culture
- In his song "The Way I Am", Eminem lashes out at the "cocky Caucasians who think I'm some wigger who just tries to be black 'cause I talk with an accent and grab on my balls."
- Chicago rapper Marz, of Croatian descent, is a self-proclaimed wigger. One of his common lyrical sayings is "I'm a wigger with an attitude", and he has an Internet-released single called "Wigger Crown", which features lyrics such as: "If 50 Cent can go after Jigga and Nas/ I'ma go after the wigger crown/ y'all gone feel me now".
- On various music-sharing networks, such as Bearshare, Kazaa, LimeWire, ect., there is a song misattributed to "Weird Al" Yankovic called "I'm a Wigga".
- British rap songstress Lady Sovereign has sung a song called "I'm a Whigga". However, this is not the same one being misattributed to "Weird Al" Yankovic.
- Hardcore/thrash crossover band M.O.D. has a song called "Whigga".
- American rock critic Lester Bangs used the term "white nigger" as a dysphemism for punk rocker. He described himself as the "last of the white niggers".[1]
- The Song, Pretty Fly (for a White Guy), by The Offspring details how a wigger tries too hard.
- Wigger (1995) ISBN 1-55152-020-6 is a novel by Lawrence Ytzhak Braithwaite set in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It explores the class struggle, poverty, prostitution, exploitation of youth, desolation and absence of solidarity in a period of new negrophilia.
See also
- Chav
- Cultural appropriation
- Ganguro
- Wapanese
- Hip hop music
- Gangsta rap
- Uncle Tom
- Racism
- Twinkie
- Honkie
External links
References
- ^ Bernstein, Nell: "Goin' Gangsta, Choosin' Cholita", Signs of Life in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers, 5th ed. 605
