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[[Image:Côte de Granite Rose Brittany France.JPG|right|380px|thumb|Brittany has an expansive coastline]]
:''For other uses of the term, see [[Nigger (disambiguation)]]''
[[Image:Flag of Brittany.svg|160px|thumb|[[Flag of Brittany]] (Gwenn-ha-du)]]
The word '''nigger''' is a highly [[controversy|controversial]] term used in many countries, including the [[United States|US]], [[Canada]], [[Britain]], [[Australia]] and [[Russia]], to refer to individuals with dark skin, especially those of indigenous [[Africa|African]] descent who previously were racially classified by the now outdated term [[Negro]]. It was once the standard, casual [[English language|English]] term for [[Blacks|black]] people. Associated with the word traditionally have been an often casual contempt, an assumption of inherent inferiority, even of bestiality, making it extremely [[pejorative]].
[[Image:Bretagne_historique.png|250px|thumb|Historical province of Brittany]]
:''This article is about the historical kingdom, duchy and French province, as well as one of the Celtic nations. For the current French administrative ''région'' of Bretagne, see [[Bretagne]]. For other meanings, see [[Brittany (disambiguation)]].''
'''Brittany''' ([[Breton language|Breton]]: ''Breizh'' [[International Phonetic Alphabet|pronounced]] {{IPA|/bʁejs/}} ; [[French language|French]]: ''Bretagne'', [[International Phonetic Alphabet|pronounced]] {{IPAudio|fr-Bretagne.ogg|/bʁətaɲ/}}; [[Gallo language|Gallo]]: ''Bertaèyn'') is a former independent [[kingdom]] and [[duchy]], and a [[Provinces of France|province of France]]. Brittany is one of the six [[Celtic Nations]]. It is also, more generally, the name of the cultural area whose limits correspond to the old province and independent duchy.
Historically, [[African American]]s have appropriated the slur, subverting it to a self-referential term that is often suggestive of familiarity, endearment or kinship. Many, however, always have rejected the term as [[racism|racist]] and dehumanizing. Generally, "nigger" is considered a highly offensive [[racial epithet]], especially when used by non-blacks. ''See'' the Wiktionary entry ''[[Wiktionary:Nigger|Nigger]]'' for more relating to this.
The historical province of Brittany was split between two modern-day ''[[région]]s'' of [[France]]. 80% of Brittany has become the ''région'' of [[Bretagne]], while the remaining 20% of Brittany ([[Loire-Atlantique]] ''[[département]]'' with its ''[[préfecture]]'' [[Nantes]], one of the former capitals of the duchy of Brittany) has been grouped with other historical provinces ([[Anjou]], [[Maine (province of France)|Maine]], and so on) to create the ''région'' of [[Pays-de-la-Loire]] (that is "lands of the [[Loire River|Loire]]"). For the reasons behind the splitting-up of Brittany, and the current debate around a reunification, see the [[Bretagne]] article.
==Origins==
The origin of the word "nigger" is in the ''[[Latin]]'' "niger," meaning "black." The word, as "niger," entered into ''[[Spanish language|Spanish]]'' and ''[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]''. ''Early [[Modern French]]'' obtained it from ''Portuguese'' where it became "nègre" and "negro," respectively. English acquired the word from ''[[French language|French]],'' which was manifested in earlier English variants, such as "negar," "neegar," "neger," and "niggor." "Neger" is a current word in [[German language|German]] (where it is today considered a pejorative term), as well as [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and Scandinavian languages.
Brittany occupies a large [[peninsula]] in the northwest of France, lying between the [[English Channel]] to the north and the [[Bay of Biscay]] to the south. Its land area is 34,034 [[1 E10 m²|km²]] (13,137 sq. mi). The region is divided into five departments: to the west is [[Finistere]], [[Côtes-d'Armor]] lies to the North, [[Ille-et-Vilaine]] is in the north-east, [[Loire-Atlantique]] is to the south-east and [[Morbihan]] lies in the middle.
The word is thought to have come into its current form via the Southern U.S. pronunciation of "negro," which yielded phonetic mistranscriptions as "nigra." For much of its history, until the early [[20th Century]] in America, "nigger" was used, primarily by whites, as [[vulgar]] synonym for blacks. The term was a standard one throughout the United States, but particularly commonplace in the slaveholding South. Historically, many whites used the word casually, even dismissively. For most blacks, the term always has been associated with [[white supremacy]], racism, violence and oppression.
In January [[2005]] the population of Brittany was estimated at 4,271,000 inhabitants. 72% of these live in the Bretagne ''région'', while 28% of these live in the Pays-de-la-Loire ''région''. At the [[1999]] census, the largest metropolitan areas were [[Nantes]] (711,120 inhabitants), [[Rennes]] (521,188 inhabitants), and [[Brest, France|Brest]] (303,484 inhabitants).
==Modern meanings==
"Nigger" is almost always pejorative or suspect when used by nonblacks in America, or those without dark skin. Several American English dictionaries have labeled it as a vulgarism, and the term may also refer to anyone whom, in the opinion of the speaker, is inferior. This use of "nigger" to refer to a person who is considered backwards, despised or powerless, regardless of race, is evident in [[John Lennon]]'s song "Woman is the Nigger of the World."
==History==
Previously used by blacks in only intra-ethnic settings, "nigger" as a socially acceptable term of kinship or endearment has become increasingly common among African American youth. For example: "What's up, my nigga?" would be acceptable when spoken by one African American to another. The commercialization and subsequent proliferation of [[hip-hop]] culture internationally, for better or worse, has returned the term to broader public use across ethnicities in much the same way it is used in the young African American community, and as an artifact of hip-hop culture.
:''Main articles: [[History of Brittany]] and [[Prehistory of Brittany]]
[[Image:Carnac megalith alignment 3.jpg|thumb|220px|The [[megalith|megalithic]] alignments at [[Carnac]] testify to the organisation of the prehistoric population of Brittany]]
[[Image:Château de Vitré Place St-Yves.JPG|thumb|220px|Fortress of [[Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine|Vitré]], on the Brittany Marches]]
Problems with this use of "nigger" are illustrated in the comedy-drama movie ''[[Gridlock'd]]'' ([[1997 in film|1997]]), which features the use of the word in its affectionate sense by a white character (played by [[Tim Roth]]). He is close enough to his black friend (played by [[Tupac Shakur]]) for it to go unremarked. But later he uses it when there are other blacks around whom he does not know so well, causing a dramatic reaction.
Human habitation in the area now called Brittany goes back to the late [[Paleolithic]], or Epi-Palaeolithic, period. Megaliths erected in the 5th of the [[Veneti (Gaul)|Veneti]], [[Osismii]], [[Namneti]], [[Coriosolitithe]] area in the [[Iron Age]].
In [[56 BC]] the area was conquered by the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] under [[Julius Caesar]]. The Romans called the district ''[[Armorica]]'' (a [[Latin]]isation of a Celtic word meaning "coastal region"), within the larger province of ''[[Gallia Lugdunensis]]''. The modern ''[[département in France|département]]'' of [[Côtes-d'Armor]] has taken up the ancient name. After the collapse of the Roman empire, Britons, or [[Celts]] from [[Great Britain]], displaced by the Saxon colonisation of what became [[England]], settled in Brittany, and it is from this period its present names date. It is believed that the Breton language is the result of this immigration rather than a continuation of [[Gaulish]].
Among whites, some use it casually, as an [[archaism]], to refer to African Americans; but most are rural, from poor areas of cities, and/or born before the [[1950s]]. "Nigger" also persists in use as a racial slur among nonblacks across ethnic and class boundaries.
An excruciating [[Normans|Norman]] siege of [[Dinan]] (seen on the [[Bayeux Tapestry]]) influenced chief male ancestors of the late [[House of Stuart]], also an important maternal line to the present [[Duke of Norfolk]], to relocate to [[Great Britain]]. Bretons also accompanied the [[Norman conquest of England]], emigrating mostly to what became [[Richmondshire]] (in Yorkshire).
==Uses of word==
===Usage=Sights==
Brittany is famous for its [[megalith]]ic monuments, which are scattered over the [[peninsula]], the largest alignments are near [[Carnac]]. The purpose of these monuments is still unknown, and many local people are reluctant to entertain speculation on the subject. The words ''[[dolmen]]'' (from "daol" table and "maen" stone) and ''[[menhir]]'' (from "maen" stone and "hir" high) come from the Breton language, even though they are hardly used in Breton.
Brittany is also known for its [[calvary|calvaries]], elaborately carved sculptures of crucifixion scenes, to be found in churchyards of villages and small towns, especially in Western Brittany.
In the United States, "nigger" was freely, if sometimes fraughtly, used by both Whites and Blacks until the [[American Civil Rights Movement|Civil Rights Era]] of the [[1960s]], when it became unacceptable in public discourse. A striking usage is in a televised report from the [[Birmingham, Alabama]] police actions, where Dr. Martin Luther King's protesters were countered with dogs and fire hoses. A white, female citizen from another Alabama county was interviewed. Visibly upset, she said, "It's not right. We don't treat niggers like that here." In such locations, the term, "nigger," is less noteworthy than the political shift. "Nigger" was, for generations of Whites, the childhood term for African Americans in America, though most used "Negro" or "Colored." Among White Southerners of the generation comprising the 1960s, learning not to use the term was an act of deliberate contrition, or at least etiquette.
Significant urban centres include:
Today, the implications of [[racism]] are so strong that use of "nigger" in most situations is a social [[taboo]] in English-speaking countries. Many American magazines and newspapers will not even print "nigger" in full, instead using "n*gg*r," "n——," or simply "the N-word." A ''[[Washington Post]]'' article on [[Strom Thurmond]]'s [[1948]] candidacy for [[President of the United States]] went so far as to replace "nigger" with the [[periphrasis]] "the less-refined word for Black people."
* [[Nantes]] / Naoned
In [[Australia]], the word is now rarely used in polite speech by urban whites in any context. It has, however, seen common use in rural or semi-frontier districts, although the usage was British colonial, e.g., applying generically to dark-skinned people of any origin (c.v. Rudyard Kipling). This has led to controversy, since [[Australian Aborigines]] have started to take the term strongly to heart, in both the pejorative and inclusive senses. See below under [[Nigger (word)#Place names|Place names]].
* [[Rennes]] / Roazhon
* [[Brest, France|Brest]] / Brest
* [[Lorient]] / an Oriant
* [[Quimper]] / Kemper
* [[Vannes]] / Gwened
* [[Redon, Ille-et-Vilaine|Redon]] / Redon
* [[Saint-Brieuc]] / Sant-Brieg
* [[Saint-Nazaire]] / Sant-Nazer
[[Image:Saintmalo.jpg|thumb|220px|The walled city of [[Saint-Malo]] was a former stronghold of corsaires]]
===Literary uses===
The walled city of [[Saint-Malo]] (Sant-Maloù), a popular tourist attraction, is also an important [[seaport|port]] linking Brittany with [[England]] and the [[Channel Islands]]. It also was the birthplace of the acclaimed author [[François-René de Chateaubriand|Chateaubriand]] and explorer [[Jacques Cartier]]. The town of [[Roscoff]] (Rosko) is served by [[ferry]] links with England and [[Ireland]].
"Nigger" has a long history of causing controversy in literature. [[Carl Van Vechten]], a White photographer and writer famous as a promoter of the Harlem Renaissance, caused a great controversy by titling his novel ''[[Nigger Heaven]]'', in [[1926]]. The controversy centered on the use of the word "nigger" in the title and fueled the sales of the hit novel. Of the controversy, [[Langston Hughes]] wrote:
The island of [[Île d'Ouessant|Ushant]] (Breton: ''Enez Eusa'', French: ''Ouessant'') is the north-westernmost point of Brittany and France, and marks the entrance of the English Channel. Other islands off the coast of Brittany include:
<blockquote>No book could possibly be as bad as ''Nigger Heaven'' has been painted. And no book has ever been better advertised by those who wished to damn it. Because it was declared obscene, everybody wanted to read it, and I'll venture to say that more Negroes bought it than ever purchased a book by a Negro author. Then, as now, the use of the word "nigger" by a White was a flashpoint for debates about the relationship between African American culture and its White patrons.</blockquote>
*[[Bréhat]] / enez Vriad
*[[Batz]] / enez Vaz
*[[Molène]] / Molenez
*[[Sein]] / enez Sun
*[[Glénan islands]] / inizi Glenan
*[[Groix]] / enez Groe
*[[Belle Île]] / ar Gerveur
*[[Houat]] / Houad
*[[Hoëdic]] / Edig
*[[Île-aux-Moines]] / Enizenac'h
*[[Île d'Arz]] / an Arzh
==Language==
The famous controversy over [[Mark Twain]]'s novel ''[[Adventures of Huckleberry Finn]]'' ([[1885]]), a classic frequently taught in American schools, revolves largely around the novel's 215 uses of the word, ''nigger,'' referring to Jim, Huck's raft-mate.
[[Image:Road signs bilingual Breton in Quimper.jpg|thumb|Bilingual road signs can be seen in traditional Breton-speaking areas]]
[[Image:BlasonBRETAGNE.jpg|100px|thumb|Traditional coat of arms]]
[[French language|French]], the only [[official language]] of the French Republic, is today spoken throughout Brittany. The two [[regional language]]s have no official status with regards to the state, although they are supported by the regional authorities within the strict constitutional limits: [[Breton language|Breton]], strongest in the west but to be seen all over Brittany, is a [[Celtic language]] most closely related to [[Cornish language|Cornish]] (Breton has in fact slightly more in common with Cornish than Welsh), and [[Gallo language|Gallo]], which is spoken in the east, is one of the [[Oïl languages]].
Slaves often pandered to racist assumptions about blacks by using "nigger" to their advantage as a typical, self-deprecatory artifice of [[Uncle Tom|Tomming]]. Implicit in so doing was the unspoken reminder that a presumed inherently morally or intellectually inferior person or subhuman -- in essence, a "nigger" -- could not reasonably be held responsible for work performed incorrectly, an "accidental" fire in the kitchen, or any other similar infraction. It was a means of deflecting responsibility in the hope of escaping the wrath of an overseer or master. The use of "nigger" as a self-referential term was also a way to avoid suspicion and put whites at ease. A slave who referred to himself or another black as a "nigger" presumably accepted the subordinate role that was his unfortunate lot and, therefore, posed no threat to white authority.
From the very beginning of its history and despite the end of the independence of Brittany, Breton remained the language of the entire population of western Brittany, if not bishops and French administrators or officers. French laws and economic pressure led people to abandon their language to the one of the ruler, but until the 1960s, Breton was spoken and understood by the majority of the western inhabitants. Since the beginning of the 20th century, it has been very efficiently fought by the French administration and educational system (''"It is forbidden to spit on the ground and to speak Breton"'') in the process of promoting [[French language|French]] as the sole language of the country.
An example of this historical use in American English occurs in [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s [[short story]] ''[[The Gold Bug]]'' ([[1843]]). The narrator and a White character in the story use "negro" to refer to a Black servant, Jupiter, while Jupiter himself uses nigger:
<blockquote>"De bug, Massa Will! --de goole bug!" cried the negro, drawing back in dismay --"what for mus tote de bug way up de tree? --d[am]n if I do!"</blockquote>
Breton was traditionally spoken in the west (the "[[Breizh-Izel]]" or "[[Basse-Bretagne]]"), and Gallo in the east (the "pays Gallo" or "[[Haute-Bretagne]]"). The dividing line stretched from Plouha on the north coast to a point to the south-west of Vannes. French had, however, long been the main language of the towns. The Breton-speaking area formerly covered territory much further east than its current distribution.
<blockquote>"If you are afraid, Jup, a great big negro like you, to take hold of a harmless little dead beetle, why you can carry it up by this string -- but, if you do not take it up with you in some way, I shall be under the necessity of breaking your head with this shovel."</blockquote>
In the Middle Ages, Gallo expanded into formerly Breton-speaking areas. Now restricted to a much reduced territory in the east of Brittany, Gallo finds itself under pressure from the dominant Francophone culture. It is also felt by some to be threatened by the Breton [[language revival]] which is gaining ground in territories that were never part of the main Breton-speaking area.
<blockquote>"What de matter now, massa?" said Jup, evidently shamed into compliance; "always want for to raise fuss wid old nigger. Was only funnin' anyhow. Me feered de bug! what I keer for de bug?" Here he took cautiously hold of the extreme end of the string, and, maintaining the insect as far from his person as circumstances would permit, prepared to ascend the tree.</blockquote>
Privately funded ''Diwan'' ("Seed") schools, where classes are taught in Breton by the immersion method, play an important part in the revival of the Breton language. The issue of whether they should be funded by the State has long been, and remains, controversial. Some bilingual classes are also provided in ordinary schools.
A popular children's rhyme once contained the word ''nigger'' for ''[[tiger]]'' ''See:'' [[Eenie Meenie]].
Despite the resistance of French administration, bilingual (Breton and French) road signs may be seen in some areas, especially in the traditional Breton-speaking area. Signage in Gallo is much rarer.
[[Agatha Christie]]'s novel, ''Ten Little Indians'', originally appeared as ''Ten Little Niggers''.
A large influx of English-speaking immigrants and [[second-home]] owners in some villages sometimes adds to linguistic diversity.
Among the classic novels of [[Joseph Conrad]] is ''[[The Nigger of the 'Narcissus']]'' (1897).
==Music==
===''Nigger'' in popular culture===
{{Main|Music of Brittany}}
Some of the musicians for which Brittany is known are: the most famous, [[Alan Stivell]], but also [[Denez Prigent]], les frères Guichen, Carré Manchot, Ar Re Yaouank, Sonerien Du, Loened Fall, [[Yann Tiersen]], etc.
==Religion==
At one time, the word "nigger" was used freely in branding and packing of consumer commodities in the U.S. and England. There were brands such as Nigger Hair Tobacco, Niggerhead Oysters and other canned goods. [[Brazil nut]]s casually were referred to as "nigger toes." As times changed, so did labeling practices. The tobacco brand became "Bigger Hare," and the canned goods brand became "Negro Head." Eventually, such names disappeared from the marketplace altogether.
[[Image:Bretagne Finistere StJeanTrolimon 11032.jpg|thumb|Sculpted "calvaries" can be found in many villages]]
The first Christian missionaries came to the region from [[Ireland]] and [[Great Britain]]. With more than 300 "[[saint]]s" (only a few recognized by the Catholic Church), the region is strongly [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]]. Since the nineteenth century at least, Brittany has been known as one of the most devoutly Catholic regions in France, in contrast to many other more secularised areas. The proportion of students attending Catholic private schools is the highest in France. As in other Celtic regions, the legacy of [[Celtic Christianity]] has left a rich tradition of local saints and monastic communities, often commemorated in place names beginning ''Lan'', ''Lam'', ''Plou'' or ''Lok''. The [[patron saint]] of Brittany is Santez Anna [[Saint Anne]], the Virgin's mother. But the most famous saint is Saint [[Ivo of Kermartin]] ('saint Yves' in French, 'sant Erwan' in Breton), a [[13th century|13th-century]] priest who devoted his life to the poor.
The comedian and activist [[Dick Gregory]] used the word as the title of his best-selling [[autobiography]] in [[1964]]. In [[1967]], [[Muhammad Ali]] explained his refusal to be drafted to serve in the [[Vietnam War]] by saying, "I got nothing against no [[Viet Cong]]. No [[Vietnam]]ese ever called me nigger," implying that white Americans had, and that he was offended by the racist use of the word, as well as by the oppression associated with it. In [[1972]], [[John Lennon]] released a song, "Woman is the Nigger of the World", implying that as Black people were discriminated against in some countries so were women globally. [[Pierre Vallières]], a founding member of the [[FLQ]] [[terrorist]] group, wrote a book in 1968 called ''Les Nègres blancs de l'Amérique'', comparing the alleged oppression of [[French-Canadians]] to that of blacks in the southern United States. When it was translated into English, it was published under the title ''White Niggers of America''.
Once a year, believers go on a "pardon", the saint's [[feast day]] of the [[parish]]. It often begins with a procession followed by a mass in honour of the saint. There is always a pagan side, with some food and craft stalls. The three most famous pardons are:
Comedian [[Lenny Bruce]] used the word repeatedly in a comedy routine, suggesting that the more it was used and heard, the less power it would have.
* from Sainte-Anne d'Auray/Santez-Anna-Wened, where a poor farmer in the 17th century assured the saint give him the order to build a chapel in her honour.
* from Tréguier/Landreger, in honour of St Yves, the patron saint of the judges, advocates, and any profession involved in justice.
* from Locronan/Lokorn, in honour of St Ronan, with a ''troménie'' (a procession, 12 km-long) and numerous people in traditional costume,
In Brittany, there is a very old [[pilgrimage]] called the ''Tro Breizh'' (tour of Brittany), where the pilgrims walk around Brittany from the grave of one founder saint to another. The seven founder saints of Brittany are:
* St [[Pol Aurelian]], at Saint-Pol-de-Leon/Kastell-Paol,
Comedian [[Richard Pryor]], whose albums included ''[[That Nigger's Crazy]]'' and ''[[Bicentennial Nigger]]'', vowed to never use the word again after a trip to [[Africa]] in the [[1980s]]. Commenting that he never saw any niggers while in Africa, Pryor said he realized that niggers were figments of white people's imaginations.
* St [[Saint Tudwal|Tudual]] (''sant Tudwal''), at Tréguier/Landreger,
* St Brieuc, at Saint-Brieuc/S-Brieg,
* St Malo, at Saint-Malo/S-Maloù,
* St [[Samson of Dol]], at Dol,
* St Patern, at Vannes/Gwened
* St Corentin (''sant Kaourintin''), at Quimper/Kemper
Historically, the pilgrimage was made in one go (a total distance of around 600 km). Nowadays, however, pilgrims complete the circuit over the course of several years. In 2002, the Tro-Breizh included a special pilgrimage to [[Wales]], symbolically making the reverse journey of the Welshmen Sant Paol, Sant Brieg, and Sant Samzun. Whoever does not make the pilgrimage at least once in his lifetime will be condemned to make it after his death, advancing only by the length of his coffin each 7 year.
In [[1988]], the album ''[[Straight Outta Compton]]'' was released by the [[hip hop]] group [[N.W.A.]] ("Niggaz With Attitude"). Although they abbreviated it in all official contexts, their self-referential use of the word caused a great deal of controversy in America over the language and lyrics of [[hip hop]]. Today, the word is used nearly universally among black rappers in casual contexts.
Some old pagan traditions and customs from the old Celtic religion have also been preserved in Brittany. The most powerful folk figure is the [[Ankou]] or the "Reaper of Death" because even [[Jesus]] and the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] obey him. He is a skeleton wrapped in a shroud with the Breton flat hat. He makes his journeys by night carrying an upturned scythe which he throws before him to reap his harvest. Sometimes he is on foot but mostly he travels in a cart, the Karrig an Ankou, drawn by two oxen and a lean horse. Two servants dressed in the same shroud and hat as the Ankou pile the dead into the cart, and to hear it creaking at night means you have little time left to live.
While today commonly accepted on records by black rappers, the word "nigga" has traditionally been considered off-limits to white hip-hop performers. The [[Beastie Boys]] were once forced off-stage after using the word in a non-hostile context to refer to their audience. [[Eminem]], on the other hand, who has not hesitated to use homophobic and sexist slurs, refuses to use the word "nigga" in his songs.
==Gastronomy==
Black American comedian [[Chris Rock]]'s [[1996]] television special ''[[Bring the Pain]]'' and [[1997]] [[album]] ''[[Roll with the New]]'' included a segment known as "[[Niggas vs Black People]]", which used the former word to describe a self-destructive segment within the black community. Rock cast "niggas" as "low-expectation-havin'" individuals -- proud to be ignorant, violent, and on welfare [http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1325461]. The controversy of this piece, which played upon racist stereotypes of black people, was such that it led Rock to cease performing it.
Although some white [[wine]] is produced near the [[Loire River|Loire]], the traditional drinks of Brittany are:
* [[cider]] ([[Breton language|Breton]]: ''chistr'') - Brittany is the second largest cider-producing region in France;
* a sort of [[mead]] made from wild honey called ''[[chouchen]]'';
* an apple [[eau de vie]] called ''lambig''.
Some [[beer]]s are also now produced. Historically Brittany was a beer producing region, however, due to import of wine from other regions of France, beer drinking and production slowly came to an end in the early to mid 20th century. In the 1970s, due to a regional comeback, new beer breweries started to open. Around twenty breweries are now open.
Conversely, white American comedian [[George Carlin]] performs a short routine, part of his repertoire concerning the use and context of words, and the fact that some people's uses of words trouble us because we think they're being racist, wherein he closes with, "We don't mind when Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy uses it. Why? Because we know they're not racists. They're Niggers!"
[[Whisky]] is also being produced, and there is a small handful of distilleries that produce excellent whiskies. Another recent drink is the ''[[kir]] Breton'' ([[Creme de cassis|crème de cassis]] and cider) which may be served as an [[apéritif]].
Very thin, wide [[pancakes]] made from [[buckwheat]] flour are eaten with ham, eggs and other savoury fillings. They are usually called ''[[galette]]s'' (Breton ''galetes''), except in the western parts of Brittany where they are called ''[[crêpe]]s'' (Breton ''krampouezh''). Thin crêpes made from wheat flour are eaten for [[dessert]]. Other [[pastry|pastries]], such as ''[[kouign amann]]'' ("butter cake" in Breton) made from bread dough, butter and sugar, or ''[[far (breton)|far]]'', a sort of sweet [[Yorkshire pudding]], or ''[[clafoutis]]'' with prunes, are traditional.
Since the coining of the phrase "The N-Word" (see below), some television broadcasters have added the word "nigger" retroactively to their lists of taboo words, thereby [[censorship|censoring]] movies and television programs from the past in which the word is used, no matter its context or the effect on the program. For example, television broadcasts of the movie ''[[Die Hard with a Vengeance]]'' which originally featured a character being forced to carry a sign saying "I hate niggers" around [[Harlem]], are altered so that the sign now says "I hate everybody" which is not offensive - but, critics argue, renders the scene far less effective. The comedy series ''[[All in the Family]]'', perhaps due to its classic status, is rarely censored even though the "N-word" is used frequently. On the other hand, [[Mel Brooks]]' anti-racism comedy, ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'' is rarely shown on American commercial television anymore due to the pervasive use of the word (though, like ''All in the Family'', the movie's serious intent was to call attention to the issues of racism through satire; a fact discussed at length by Brooks when the film's 30th anniversary edition DVD was released in 2004).
Surrounded by the sea, Brittany offers a wide range of fresh sea food and fish, especially [[mussel]]s and [[oyster]]s. Among the sea food specialities is [[cotriade]].
[[Howard Stern]] played a song on a TV or radio show called [[Nigger Claus]].
==Climate==
Black comedian [[Dave Chapelle]] did two sketches exploring the use of ''nigger''. In his TV show's first season he presented a blind black white supremacist who used the word profusely; in one ocassion white rap fans felt honored by his calling them “niggers.” In the introduction for this sketch, the white narrator at first says “the n-word” to finish with, “Nigger. There. I said it.” In his second season, he parodied 50's-style family sitcoms with the "Niggar Family" sketch featuring a white couple and son with the surname Niggar.
Since Brittany is on the west coast of France, it has a warm temperate climate. Rainfall occurs regularly - which has helped keep its countryside green and wooded - but sunny, cloudless days are also common.
In the summer months, Brittany can reach temperatures of about 30 degrees [[Celsius]], but is still comfortable compared to parts of France south of the [[Loire River]]. It generally has a moderate climate during both [http://www.discover-brittany.info/pics/climatesummer.gif summer] and [http://www.discover-brittany.info/pics/climatewinter.gif winter], and rain is not uncomfortably common or rare.
===Names of places and things===
Because the word was freely used for many years, there are many official place-names containing the word "nigger." Examples include [[Nigger Bill Canyon]], [[Nigger Hollow]], and [[Niggertown Marsh]]. In 1967, the [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] changed the word nigger to Negro in 143 specific place names, but use of the word has not been completely eliminated.
The most popular summer resorts are on the south coast ([[La Baule-Escoublac|La Baule]], [[Belle Île]], [[Gulf of Morbihan]]), although the wilder and more exposed north coast also attracts summer tourists.
In April [[2003]], there was a stir in [[Australia]] over the naming of part of a stadium in [[Toowoomba, Queensland|Toowoomba]] "E.S. Nigger Brown Stand." "Nigger Brown" was the nickname of Toowoomba's first international rugby player. [[Edward Stanley Brown]] had a particularly fair complexion and hence was given the nickname "Nigger," in a similar way that a tall person might be called "Shorty." He also used the [[shoe polish]] brand "Nigger Brown." The stand was named in the [[1960s]]. As in the United States some decades ago, the word was used casually by whites, with little thought given to it. Brown himself was happy with the nickname; in fact it is written on his [[tomb stone|tombstone]]. A growing black consciousness among Australia's aboriginal population has meant the term increasingly has become an offensive one, particularly when uttered by whites; however, just as in the U.S., some younger blacks have appropriated the term for self-referential use.
==Transport==
Australian civil rights activist [[Stephen Hagan]] took the local council responsible to court over the use of the word. Hagan lost the court case at the district and state level, and the High Court ruled that the matter was not of federal jurisdiction. The Federal Government cited the High Court ruling on a lack of federal jurisdiction as its legal justification for continued inaction. (Hagan has also tried changing other "racial names" such as the Coon brand of cheese.)
There are several airports in Brittany serving destinations in France and England. [[TGV]] train services link the région with cities such as [[Paris]], [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], and [[Lille]] in France. In addition there are ferry services that take passengers, vehicles and freight to Ireland, England and the Channel Islands.
==Trivia about Brittany==
==Avoiding offense==
* The Breton national anthem [[Bro Goz ma Zadoù|Bro Gozh ma Zadoù]] is set to the same tune as the [[Wales|Welsh]] and [[Cornwall|Cornish]] anthems.
* A number of [[Breton]] independence groups exist and they enjoy increasing, but minority, support in [[election]]s.
==="The N-Word"===
The [[euphemism|euphemistic]] term "the N-word" became a part of the American lexicon during the racially polarizing trial of [[O.J. Simpson]], a retired [[African American]] football player charged with – and ultimately acquitted of – a widely publicized double murder. One of the prosecution's key witnesses was [[Los Angeles]] police detective [[Mark Fuhrman]], who initially denied using racial slurs, but whose prolific and derogatory use of the word "nigger" on a tape recording brought his credibility into question. According to Fuhrman he was using the word in a fictional story he was writing.
* Another famous Breton is the girl [[Bécassine]] (http://www.wnsstamps.ch/stamps/FR053.05/fr.html), a character from a strip cartoon.
Members of the media reporting on and discussing his testimony started using the term "the N-word" instead of repeating the actual word, presumably as a way to avoid offending audiences (and advertisers). The euphemism was quickly adopted by Americans as a generally non-offensive way to refer, for whatever reasons, to one of the most generally offensive words in [[American English]].
* Legendary road bicycle racer [[Bernard Hinault]] was born in the town of Yffiniac in Brittany.
The euphemism is most often used in constructions like: "He called me the N-word" or "I can't believe she said the N-word." (This form mimics other euphemisms for offensive words such as "the F-word" for ''[[fuck]]'', the less common "the S-word" for ''[[shit]]'', and other on-the-fly formations for other words generally regarded as offensive.)
* [[Henry VII of England|King Henry VII]] spent quite some time living in Brittany ([[1471]] - [[1485]]).
===Near-[[homophone]]s===
"Nigra," which is the way "Negro" is pronounced by some people in the [[American South]], was considered by some to be a more polite way to refer to a black person. Because of its similarity to "nigger," however, it generally is detested by blacks and is no longer acceptable.
The words [[niggardly]] ("miserly") and snigger ("to laugh derisively") do not refer either to Black people or to characteristics or behavior attributed to Black people, nor do they have any etymological connection with the word nigger. Many people are ignorant of this, however, and so refuse to use these words and take offense to their usage. David Howard, a white city official in [[Washington, D.C.]], was briefly [[fired|driven from his job]] in January [[1999]] when he used ''niggardly'' in a fiscal sense while talking with African American colleagues, who protested his use of the word.
Similar words appear, as Latin for "black", in some biological names of animals and plants and in some names of parts of the human body, e.g. [[Hyoscamus niger]], [[substantia nigra]], [[linea nigra]].
The name of the [[Niger River]] in [[Africa]] has a different origin.
===[[Historical revisionism|Revisionist usage]]===
In the United Kingdom the word was in common use throughout the first half of the twentieth century to denote a shade of dark brown. "Nigger" was famously the name of a [[Labrador Retriever|Black Labrador]] belonging to the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[Second World War]] [[war-hero|hero]] [[Wing Commander]] [[Guy Gibson]]. The dog died before the [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|617 Squadron]]'s [[1943]] raid on the [[Ruhr area|Ruhr dams]] (the "[[Operation Chastise|Dam Busters raid]]"), and "Nigger" was adopted as the radio code word signaling the destruction of the Möhne dam. Because of the modern connotations of the name, the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[television]] broadcaster [[ITV]] now tries to reduce offence by cutting some scenes including the dog when it broadcasts the [[film]] ''[[The Dam Busters (movie)|Dam Busters]]''. This has been condemned by some as "[[historical revisionism|revisionist]]", although the edited version apparently produced fewer complaints than a previous uncensored broadcast. However, this scene has probably been viewed more times than any other part of the movie. It was worked into the background of the infamous hotel-room sequence in the [[Pink Floyd]] movie ''[[Pink Floyd The Wall (film)|The Wall]]'', during which the word ''nigger'' can be plainly heard coming from the television.
[[Rudyard Kipling]]'s [[Just So Stories|Just So Story]] "How the Leopard Got His Spots" tells of how an [[Ethiopian]] and a [[leopard]], who are originally sand-colored, decide to paint themselves for camouflage when hunting in dense tropical forest. The story originally included a scene in which the leopard, who now has spots, asks the Ethiopian why he doesn't want spots as well. The Ethiopian's original reply, "Oh, plain black's best for a nigger," has been changed in many modern editions to read, "Oh, plain black's best for me."
===''"Nigger"'' versus ''"nigga"'': the new revisionism ===
A common argument among some young African Americans and other youth centers around the pronunciation of "nigger" as ''nigga''. The vernacular pronunciation of the word, they believe, renders the word harmless. In an interview in the [[documentary]] ''[[Tupac: Resurrection]]'' , [[Tupac Shakur]] expresses this view: "''Niggers'' was the ones on the rope, hanging off the thing; ''Niggas'' is the one with gold ropes, hanging out at clubs. [sic]" ''Nigga'', youth contend, is simply a synonym for accepted slang words such as ''[[dude]]'' and ''[[guy]]''. Such use of ''nigga'' is heavily dependent on context. It could be an insult to say, "Hey, you niggas" (grammatically analogous to "Hey, you guys"), but saying, "What up, my niggas?" would be perfectly acceptable. In the first example, the use of "you guys," is similar to "you people," a phrase often seen as off-putting when used by whites to refer to blacks. The second example is in the African-American tradition of using the word to express kinship or affection.
Many feel ''nigga'' is simply "nigger" pronounced with a southern accent, the spelling a phonetic representation of the word as it always has been pronounced in [[African American Vernacular English]]. There is no difference, they argue, between the two words. Both words are also pronounced the same in most dialects of standard English.
It is worth noting that, while "nigger" has been "reclaimed" by many [[young]] African Americans, many youth and older African Americans still consider the term offensive and inappropriate in most, if not all, contexts. There is also a marked class difference in African-American use of the term. The more highly educated, the higher one's socioeconomic status, regardless of age, the less likely one is to use the term self-referentially, if at all.
==Combinations with other words==
Within American culture, following the word "nigger" with a second word connotes an extremely negative conception of that second word, usually playing to racist stereotypes. Thus, to call someone "nigger-rich" is to say that they unwisely spend their entire paycheck upon its reciept. To say someone is playing "nigger hockey" implies that they're cheating. While such phrases are used to describe people of any race, they are nonetheless considered as racist as using the work "nigger" by itself.
The term "[[wigger]]," or "whigger," refers to a young, white mimicker of certain affectations of hip-hop and [[thug]] culture. It is a [[portmanteau|portmanteau word]] of "white" and "nigger". The word is usually considered offensive because of its similarity to "nigger" and because it reflects unflattering, stereotypical notions about blacks.
Similarly, other portmanteaus formed from "nigger", also usually considered offensive, are used to describe other nonblacks who adopt certain, usually hip-hop, African American cultural affectations. These include combining "nigger" with another ethnic slur, "[[chink]]," (meaning of Chinese origin), to produce "chigger". (A [[chigger]] is also a type of [[mite]] and a type of [[flea]], pests whose bites cause intense itching); with "[[Korean]]", to produce "kigger"; and with "[[spic]], a slur for a nonwhite Latino, to produce "spigger". Also, when combined with "[[Turk]]" the two words form "Tigger".
There is, somewhat ironically, a predominantly Muslim minority group in Western [[China]] called [[Uighur]]s - which, to the untrained ear sounds very similar to "whiggers," a situation which may conceivably lead to confusion and discord as contacts between China and the U.S. increase, and the tiny American Uighur community continues to grow. There is also a slight risk of confusion with [[wig]] and [[Whig]].
==References==
"Nigger Heaven and the Harlem Renaissance." Robert F. Worth, ''African American Review''. Fall 1995. 29(3):461-473.
==Further reading==
*''Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word'', by [[Randall Kennedy]] (ISBN 0375421726)
==See also==
*[[ListBattle offor ethnic slursBrest]]
*[[:br:|Wikipedia in Breton]]
*[[Racism]]
*[[Bleimor (Breton Scouting organization)]]
*[[Taboo]]
*[[List of twin towns in the United Kingdom#Cornwall|Twinning/Jumelage between Breton and Cornish towns]]
*[[Profanity]] — with a discussion of how words can differ in meaning and offensiveness depending on who is using them.
*[[Wog]]
==External links==
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Brittany}}
*[http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/caricature/ "Nigger and Caricatures," Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, Ferris State University]
* [http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/ Brittany Press Agency]
* [http://www.webbreton.com/ Guide and Reference about Brittany]
* [http://brittany.france-province.net Over Brittany in pictures]
* [http://www.breizh.net/identity/ Personelezh Breizh e saozneg - Breton identity in English]
* [http://www.histoire-bretagne.com/ Istor Breizh- History of Brittany]
* [http://www.ofis-bzh.org Ofis ar brezhoneg - Office of the Breton Language]
* [http://www.antourtan.org/radio_fr.html Skingomz e Breizh - Brittany Radios]
* [http://www.chez.com/buan1/history_of_brittany.htm Istor Breizh e saozneg - History of Brittany in English]
* [http://www.brittany-bretagne.com/pg/dates.htm Deizoù Istor Breizh e saozneg - Dates of Brittany's History in English]
*[http://brittany.angloinfo.com/ AngloINFO Bretagne] residents' information in English
*[http://france-for-visitors.com/brittany/index.html Visiting Brittany]
*[http://poormansfortune.com/ Breton music in the USA] - In English
*[http://www.houseinbrittany.com/ Information & Accommodation in Brittany] - In English
*Self catering accommodation in Brittany: [http://www.brittanygite.co.uk]
*[http://www.bretonsdumonde.org/ Bretoned ar bed - Bretons du Monde]
* [http://www4.culture.fr/patrimoines/patrimoine_architectural_et_mobilier/sribzh/main.xsp?execute=parsed_query&query=region:|Bretagne|&tri=region&tri=dpt&tri=com&tri=adrstri&tri=lieu&tri=edif&tri=tico {{fr}} Cultural Heritage]
{{Celtic nations}}
[[Category:Brittany|*]]
[[category:Pejorative terms for people]] [[Category:Ethnic slurs]]
[[deaf:NiggerBretagne]]
[[ast:Bretaña]]
[[br:Breizh]]
[[cy:Llydaw]]
[[da:Bretagne]]
[[de:Bretagne]]
[[et:Bretagne]]
[[es:Bretaña]]
[[eo:Bretonio]]
[[eu:Bretainia]]
[[fr:Bretagne]]
[[ga:An Bhriotáin]]
[[gd:A' Bhreatainn Bheag]]
[[he:ברטאן]]
[[hr:Bretanja]]
[[it:Bretagna]]
[[kw:Breten Vyghan]]
[[la:Britannia minor]]
[[nl:Bretagne]]
[[ja:ブルターニュ地域圏]]
[[no:Bretagne]]
[[nrm:Brétangne]]
[[pl:Bretania]]
[[pt:Bretanha]]
[[ru:Бретань]]
[[sk:Bretónsko (región)]]
[[sl:Bretanja]]
[[sv:Bretagne]]
[[zh:布列塔尼]]
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