Guilty or Innocent of Using the N Word
Encyclopedia
Guilty or Innocent of Using the N Word is a 2006 documentary directed by British
director, Bhavna Malkani, in Warsaw
, capital of Poland
.
The documentary explores questions and issues surrounding the word "nigger
" that many feel constrained to discuss, as is often categorized as a taboo
word. The twenty-eight-minute film investigates the word chronologically, discussing the history of the word from its origins all the way to hip hop
's influence on the acceptance and commercialization of the term.
Guest appearances in the documentary include M-1
of Dead Prez
, Grouchy Greg, CEO of allhiphop.com, Philadelphia rapper The Last Emperor, hip-hop producer/rapper Marchitect and others.
The documentary was filmed in London
, England
; New York City
, New York; Newark, Delaware
, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, USA. Guilty or Innocent of Using the N Word won the London Film Convention Award at the Portobello Film Festival
in 2006 and Best Short Documentary at New York's 5th Annual H20 Odyssey International Hip-hop awards in 2007. The documentary was also short listed to win Best Film at the 5th Buffalo Film Festival in October 2007.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
director, Bhavna Malkani, in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, capital of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
The documentary explores questions and issues surrounding the word "nigger
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
" that many feel constrained to discuss, as is often categorized as a taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
word. The twenty-eight-minute film investigates the word chronologically, discussing the history of the word from its origins all the way to hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
's influence on the acceptance and commercialization of the term.
Guest appearances in the documentary include M-1
M-1 (rapper)
Mutulu Olugbala also known by his stage name M-1 is a rapper, activist and author known for his work as one half of the political hip hop duo Dead Prez along with his friend stic.man...
of Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
, Grouchy Greg, CEO of allhiphop.com, Philadelphia rapper The Last Emperor, hip-hop producer/rapper Marchitect and others.
The documentary was filmed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York; Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA. Guilty or Innocent of Using the N Word won the London Film Convention Award at the Portobello Film Festival
Portobello Film Festival
The Portobello Film Festival is an independent international film festival based in London, which annually premiers over 700 new films, including features, shorts, documentaries, music films and animation. Additionally, workshops and talks with top film directors are also featured. Admission to...
in 2006 and Best Short Documentary at New York's 5th Annual H20 Odyssey International Hip-hop awards in 2007. The documentary was also short listed to win Best Film at the 5th Buffalo Film Festival in October 2007.