Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
Tue Feb 10, 2015, 12:08 PM Feb 2015

REALLY?!?! Azealia Banks: When I say... [View all]

During an interview with QutQ's Xorje Olivares on Sirius XM, Azealia Banks discussed her abundant use of the word "f----t" and why she's not going to stop using it. "When I use the word 'f----t,' it comes from a feminist point of view," she told the radio host.

When Olivares asked Banks to define the slur, she replied, "The word 'f----t' came to me from my mother. And it was never a thing about a guy being gay. It was always just a man who hates women. You can be gay or straight. You can be a straight f----t… F----s are men who want to bring women down, fuck with their heads, control them."

She then took issue with the bias she notices in white gay men:

"I definitely think a lot of the time with the 'white gay media' – especially with female artists – in order for you to seem successful or seem feminine you have to desire their approval. I feel like a lot of times gay men can be way more misogynistic than even straight men. Even how they come to you picking at your hair, telling you you're fat, telling you all this other shit. Telling you how to be a woman. What the fuck do you know about being a woman?"

"You called me a b---h, I'll call you a f----t," she later added. "What's the difference?"

Banks, who is bisexual, doesn't think she's being homophobic:

"To be homophobic would imply that I'm, like, 'I can't sit next to a gay man cuz Imma catch the gay, but I already caught the gay. I feel like when I use the word 'f----t,' it comes from, like, a feminist point of view, not a homophobic point of view. It's really just kinda like you feel attacked as a woman."

http://jezebel.com/azealia-banks-when-i-say-faggot-i-mean-it-in-a-femini-1684908272?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow




So, a couple things here...just went through my mind.

1. I use the 'b' word and I'm a woman. I catch hell here all the time. One of my favorite tee shirts ends with "and to you it's Ms. 'B'. I don't have a problem with that word. I use for men, women and the toaster. I DON'T EVER use it HERE...let me make that clear. I would never use it around anyone that doesn't like it. I do understand words can hurt--

2. Ms. Banks says she's bisexual. Would using this slur fall into the same category as black people using the 'n' word. I know all black people don't use and many don't like it. My dad hates it and slaps my brothers when he hears them use it. I have one brother who never uses it and hates it as well. My sister uses it a lot. I never use it--but I'm white..lol. I have gay relatives and I've never heard any of them use that word. I have heard an older one use the 'q' word.

I believe Ms. Banks is wrong in what she said...thoughts?

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
*facepalm* She's an idiot Prism Feb 2015 #1
I'm torn TexasProgresive Feb 2015 #2
Sigh. Another famous (why?) person for young folks to NOT look up to. CurtEastPoint Feb 2015 #3
She's a dumbass. HappyMe Feb 2015 #4
How stupid can she get? She is falling into the South Park mindset. Rex Feb 2015 #5
I have always hated South Park, but... Orrex Feb 2015 #10
Well then they are the ones that pushed it off onto the masses and made it a household standard. Rex Feb 2015 #13
We said that as kids about everything. Desert805 Feb 2015 #15
I don't think common meaning can be redifined just because she misuses the word. cyberswede Feb 2015 #6
Wow. She's, um...kinda stupid. Iggo Feb 2015 #7
I totally defer to the GLTB community on this JustAnotherGen Feb 2015 #8
Ivory soap bars @ my Moms' house. irisblue Feb 2015 #28
Oh my! JustAnotherGen Feb 2015 #29
Wasn't Ms Banks recently complaining about Iggy Azalea's "cultural appropriation?" Orrex Feb 2015 #9
Yes, and she had a lot of cheerleaders here melman Feb 2015 #16
I noticed that. Orrex Feb 2015 #17
Oh shit, I thought this WAS about Iggy Azalea. Dr. Strange Feb 2015 #20
She was great with The Stooges. Orrex Feb 2015 #30
Which one was she? Shemp? Dr. Strange Feb 2015 #32
Gummo, I think. Orrex Feb 2015 #33
SMH Mr Dixon Feb 2015 #11
Keeping it classy. nt TeamPooka Feb 2015 #12
She is a straight up bigot. Behind the Aegis Feb 2015 #14
+1 agree with everything you've said Veruca Salt Feb 2015 #18
+1 one_voice Feb 2015 #22
100% agree with you! Sissyk Feb 2015 #25
Well said! JustAnotherGen Feb 2015 #26
+1, totally agree tammywammy Feb 2015 #31
This is the second time this person has come to my attention treestar Feb 2015 #19
Her debut album came out about 3 months ago to generally positive critical reviews, hughee99 Feb 2015 #24
"Catch the gay?" cwydro Feb 2015 #21
How is being a bigot okay just because someone is coming from "a feminist point of view"? hughee99 Feb 2015 #23
It's a big pile of convoluted crap. HappyMe Feb 2015 #35
I agree with this too. one_voice Feb 2015 #36
To me, if she has a reason, and it's tat for tit when any gay man slurs her, I'm okay with it, ancianita Feb 2015 #27
I don't want to assume anything here... one_voice Feb 2015 #37
Thanks for not assuming. But I think your conclusion shows a misunderstanding. If you focus on... ancianita Feb 2015 #38
I still disagree... one_voice Feb 2015 #39
I hear you. I'm not committed to my position, but will support women I disagree with. ancianita Feb 2015 #40
Considering her fan base is (was?) largely gay, she's really shooting herself in the foot. Metric System Feb 2015 #34
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»REALLY?!?! Azealia Banks...