"Nappy" the other Black Only N word?

    Nappy that word has many different meanings to me and causes different reactions from me when used. When I hear the word nappy used in a derogatory manner it pisses me of just to be frank. I hate hearing children call each other nappy headed especially little girls. Its very hurtful and has been used for many generation as a insult to describe our hair.

     According to thefreedictionary.com the word nappy means Often Offensive Tightly curled or coiled. Used of hair. Its also what folks over in the UK call a diaper and we all know what a diaper is. Just in case you forgot let me refresh your memory. Diaper (nappy), underwear that allows one to defecate or urinate in a discreet manner. When diapers become soiled, they require changing; this process is often performed by a second person such as a parent or caregiver. Failure to change a diaper on a regular enough basis can result in diaper rash.

     So where did the word come from I mean who decided it was a good idea to call black folks hair nappy? While searching the web for new blogs to read I found a website and the article that sparked this blog post. In this article the author William Gordon Casselman educates us on the origins of the word nappy as follows. A number of words were brought to England during the 14th and 15th centuries by Dutch weavers who came to Britain to ply their trade. One of these words from Middle Dutch was noppich , ‘nappy’ an adjective referring to cloth that had a fiber-thick surface layer that could be trimmed down or teased up and cut even.  

     Late in the 18th century or early in the 19th century, Americans in the southern U.S. began to refer to negro slaves as nappy heads, comparing some tightly curled negroid hair to the nap on some cloth or fur. It was not a compliment. Beaver hats were said in early Victorian times to have a ‘fine, black nap.’  Then, as happened in history with many terms of abuse, those abused, the black slaves, took to using the word among themselves with affection, partly as a method of ‘taking back the hurt’ in the insult and partly out of the sheer exuberant play of language that all people share. There are 19th century letters from black mothers to distant daughters where the mother addresses her girl as “my sweet little nappy head.

     Now why is it when "other" people use the word nappy we become angry?  Has the word nappy become the other N word? Unfortunately in my book it has for some reason I feel another natural can call me nappy headed (depending on how she saying it). However someone with a relaxer can not call me nappy headed I don't care how she says it, its all rude to me. I will not tolerate a man calling me nappy headed either it just can not be used point blank. With all that being said I feel if I don't want certain people using it then I shouldn't say it either. Hey in a perfect world I would be a size 0 and Wale would be my husband. Since this is not a perfect world I can call my own hair nappy but you can't period point blank......in that order!

  

Resource: Click here to read the full article

William Gordon Casselman. "Etymology of the word Nappy"

http://www.billcasselman.com/wording_room/nappy.htm