What Is A "Thug"?

Since using the "N-word" to describe a black is off the table, people who like to use the word in a demeaning manner just looked for a replacement word. And apparently, that replacement word is "thug", because it's only being used to describe black people or to reference so-called gangs. The question is: what is a thug?

Let's look at it.

The word "thug" comes from "thag", an Indian-Hindi word that means one of these robbers. The British in India gave the name thug to a member of a gang of thieves and murderers. It is said that a thug would pretend to be friendly with a traveler, offer to share the journey, and when the opportunity seemed safe, the thug (as it were) would kill and rob his traveling companion. During the 19th century, it is said that thugs made travel dangerous, so the British government imprisoned most of them, making them less of a threat over a few years. Nonetheless, the word thug has lasted and has evolved and taken on a broader meaning.

Now, let's break down the above description. This is important because ALL words have significance; and we attach words to people, places, and situations based on the meaning of those words. And if you don't know the meaning of a word you're throwing around to describe someone else, you're a menace to society.

The word thug comes from thag, an Indian-Hindi word that means 'one of these robbers'.

Ahhhh. Now it's beginning to make sense. To be called a thug is to be considered no more than a robber and a thief. The general consensus among many would probably be "black people ARE robbers and thieves." Ah-hem... so is Bernie Madoff.

The British in India gave the name thug to a 'member of a gang' of 'thieves and murderers'.

Member of a gang...hummm...that sounds familiar. Anytime you want to isolate a group of young black or Hispanic males who are standing in front of their houses talking about last night's game, just call them a gang. That way you can go into their neighborhood (under false pretenses) and round them up, toss them into prison, and move on to the next poverty-stricken neighborhood. The truth of exposure is so simple.

Just because three or four black or Hispanic men stand together to have a conversation doesn't make them a gang. However, apparently, when you see a group of five or six police nearby, that IS a violent gang; and they will kick and beat an unarmed man to death when they think no one is watching. It's the act of a true thug.  You disagree?

Some say you shouldn't run from police. Well, the jury is still out on that one. Based on what we're seeing unfold and personal experience, that decision should be made by the person fleeing and whether they feel threatened. On the other hand, people DO flee from police to avoid going to jail on trumped-up charges...again, because of animal-like treatment. And yes...most incarcerated black men are victims of being railroaded. So, if you have never been in the situation, just shut up and don't try to analyze police encounters, and what the murdered or severely beaten victim should or should not have done, because you sound like an idiot.

For the record, wild dogs attack you because that's what they do, not because you stand still and don't run. Just because you don't run from police doesn't mean they won't beat you if that's what they do.

...the British government imprisoned most of them, making them less of a threat over a few years.

Wow. This is so enlightening and sheds amazing light on blacks being characterized as thugs. In Mississippi alone 95% of black males are imprisoned, most are railroaded. As a result of that, you have broken homes with single mothers left to raise the children alone. Then the system criticizes the fathers, calling them "deadbeat" dads. Hello! What are you talking about? How can you lock a man up for 10 years and then call him a deadbeat dad who doesn't take care of his family? This is priceless. One critic said:

"We have a band of robbers, murderers and hypocrites running all our city governments. Their police murder the citizens they are paid to protect. And then police and their officials coordinate a story to cover for each other."

Police, dressed in swat gear, riding in armored vehicles, and brandishing high-powered artillery have every indication of going to "war". (Remember the so-called "war on drugs"?)  The great land of opportunity has unveiled itself as the place to go if you want to die unnaturally.

What was once a quiet, hushed reality that happened to people of color, behind the wall of injustice, is now revealed to the world. And even with police murders captured on video, some still look for a law somewhere on the dusty books of bigotry, to excuse taking a life. Remember the Rodney King beating captured on video? And that was over two decades ago!
By the way, society knows that it's unfair to group ALL police into one rotten basket. Just like it's unfair to target people based on color and gender. Nevertheless, the good police officers have to prove that they are not like the ones caught on tape behaving like a pack of ravenous wolves. 

So, again...who and what is a thug?

A thug wears 3-piece suits and works on Wall Street or is elected officials walking the halls of state government. A thug wears uniforms and carries badges and guns. A thug works at the neighborhood grocer or supervises an assembly line. There may be a thug or two coaching and teaching in your schools or working at your bank. Thugs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ethnicities. They live and breath in your upscale or downtrodden neighborhoods. Most likely, a thug sits beside you on the church pew.

No. There's no need to ban another word from usage. Just KNOW the meaning of the word you loosely call someone else and understand that you are most likely the same thing.

Copyright © 2015 by Peggy Hatchet James