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From "nappy-headed hos" to the N-word, there is an ongoing debate over who can use demeaning, racially tinged language and who cannot. And hip-hop music is finding itself squarely in the crosshairs.

DiversityInc readers are speaking out on the subject. Here's what some of them had to say:

As a black man, I don't use [the N-word]. I believe if you don't want to be called the N-word, then you shouldn't use it to refer to your own people either. I came up in an era when the N-word was used to describe a "lesser" black person, even when used by other black people. I don't feel that blacks or whites should use this word, period.

—Willie J. Butler

While I think it is good for black Americans to do self-analysis on many, many issues, I don't think black people per se are responsible for what came out of Imus' mouth. Imus and company are responsible for themselves, speaking of responsibility! I hope to remember if I ever get caught doing something wrong to say "rap music made me do it"—do you think that will keep me out of jail?

—Gigi Jones

It's time for the N-Word to be buried. There are many offenders and all should change course and not continue to use the N-Word, period. Hip hop is particularly offensive to me personally but, more importantly, it glorifies derogatory language and defames black people in general and black women in particular. We have too many young people that are addicted to this music and act it out in their daily lives, dress, speech, etc. We can and should have better things to emulate. Hip hop can survive without all of the negatives ... the movement has added another level of negative perceptions about black people in general and black youth in particular. Imus should have been fired because he didn't use good judgment, regardless of his personal feelings, but more importantly, we should stop giving others the fodder to make the comments in the first place. It will be easier, at this point, to separate the true feelings of the individuals that offend and take away easy avenues of escape

from personal responsibility! Let's clean our house so that we don't contribute to the dirt on the floor.

—Larry Suarez

I'm so glad that this is an ongoing subject. I have for a long time been bothered when I see ladies dancing off of music that is so degrading to who and what they are as human beings. When I was younger, what made me love music and study music was the way it flowed and the lyrics were positive but rhymed and the ladies were address as Sisters and Queens, not B and H ... What made me stop clubbing was the way music was played and I watched the reactions that reflected from it.

—Laticia Taylor

Personally, I never listen to rap music of any kind. The times I have heard it has been on someone else's car radio that was blaring. Some of the words you can't understand and the ones you do hear are negative, degrading and to me shows no creativity. It is long overdue for the rap stars to clean up their act. Yes, the firing of Imus is considered [a] double standard, but what outraged me more was that he personally directed his attack on women he did not know of or about. He had no clue of where they were in their life ...  He needed to go and so do the rap stars. Enough is enough. Life is hard as it is without everyone putting each other down and see who can call the next person the worst name. All this shows is the irresponsibility on behalf of the music/media world. I don't believe the majority of people like rap; it is the minority and it is time for the majority to speak up.

—Beverly Cottom

I concur all people living in this world should not use words to defame black women or women in general. I do not agree with placing blame on rappers only because countless other types entertainers and non-entertainers say or do things offensive to women.  For instance, some standup comics use raunchy rude jokes, some motion picture movies portray women in a bad light, and not to forget pornos!!! 

I say if we are going to talk about improving race relations in America we need to start with a honesty dialogue and an open mind.

—Carroll Clarke

I am a 40-year-old white male who was brought up in a small southern Ohio farming town. There was not a large black community there, but everyone seemed to get along growing up. We [were] taught from a very young age that the N-word was a hateful word and should not be used ... I cringe when I hear the N-word in the songs or the violence that some of the songs promote. I would think that there is enough other material in life that all of this negativity and promiscuity has to be spread in the music. 

—Elmer Woods

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