Patent Offense: Wayans's Hip-Hop Line

"I've had this conversation with my students a lot," he says. "But I tell them that . . . not everyone is going to be as open-minded as myself."

NiaOnline, an African American-focused Web site, recently conducted an unscientific poll about Wayans's efforts. In the poll, 84 percent of respondents say there's "no way" that Wayans should be allowed to own rights to the word. Ten percent say, "Why not," and the remainder say, "I don't know."

"I would hope it would be used in an instructive way," says Sheryl Huggins, Nia's editor in chief. "Until we know how he wants to use it, the jury's out."

Wayans's attorney, William H. Cox, did not respond to multiple inquiries left on his voice mail in New York. But his client's intentions are clearly spelled out in the application. Wayans wants a retail store "featuring clothing, books, music and general merchandise." He would go global, marketing his wares online. There would be drama, comedy, animation -- the Gap meets Comedy Central, all under the N-word.

Several civil rights organizations declined to comment on Wayans's effort.

"We are going to focus on more important issues," says NAACP spokesman John White. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the National Urban League aren't bothering to comment either.

"I'm not sure who would talk about that," says Urban League spokesman Ricky Clemons.

The NAACP, at least, was more aggressive three years ago, when David T. Chang, an Asian American, created the board game "Ghettopoly," which he says was inspired by rap lyrics. The organization picketed Urban Outfitters, one of the stores that sold it, and complained that the game depicted African Americans, Latinos and Jews in stereotype as pimps, prostitutes, crack addicts and money-gouging businessmen.

Urban Outfitters got rid of the game, and Chang was forced to sell only online. Deluged by threatening calls and negative e-mail, Chang unplugged his phone, pleading, in the end, "I'm not a racist person."