word, merely as a faux-naif pretext to annoy people.

I don't think there's any more that needs to be said on the topic, frankly. One would have to have been raised in a cave to not be able to figure out the dynamic surrounding this matter, here.

To me, it's a simple matter of respect. I use the ****** to convey respect. Not hard to do or understand.

then your friend came along to console you and said:

"Sorry to hear what happened. There's no need to call you a ******* **** and a total ********.

I've never thought of you as a ******* **** and a total ********. Why would anyone call you that?"

(Imagine whatever insults you'd find offensive).

That's just rubbing salt into the wounds. You'd probably avoid that person next time you needed a sympathetic ear.

So, it's less about limiting freedom of speech and more about putting yourself into someone else's shoes.

well put1

to simply not say any version of the word under any circumstances, beyond calling it 'the n-word.'

Some African-Americans are deeply affected by the word, and even in cases when it's not meant in a racist manner, such as simply talking about the word or quoting someone who used it, it's not the place of those who aren't African-American to decide that someone shouldn't be offended by the use.

The same goes for African-Americans using the -a word amongst each other. Whether or not that's appropriate is for them to decide, not for those who aren't African-American, and it certainly doesn't give other races justification to use the word as well.

Another concern is, as has been pointed out already, for some people quoting the use of the word is just a sneaky way for them to get to use the word, the same reason some people are obsessed with wanting to use the -a version or some are now turning to words like 'thug' for their stealth racism.

But I'm not African-American myself, I only stop here from time to time and lurk, so that's just my idea and not a authoritative answer

"no" -

Why it would ever want to use a word with such a loaded history?

To me - it's that simple.

Even younger black Americans who might have ONLY heard it in their peer group need to be aware that those of us born about prior to 1980 had it directed AT us by non peer members.

So - I always wonder . . .

What's the glamour and mystique of the N word? Why do white folks feel so threatened and left out if they can't use it?

The only white person I give a pass to is George Carlin and he said it because he wanted to show that words are only words and it is the person using the word that is the problem. But he RARELY said the word.

But that word belongs in a group of words



c _ _ t

is another one, unless you live in UK where it is used often for a different meaning.


NO reason for a white person to ever type the word, either.

Too many students had failed to read it for discussion that day, so I decided that it was short enough to read aloud so we wouldn't lose the day's discussion. But only when I got to that word did I recall that it appears several times in the story as part of a character's name. When I came to it the first time I apologized and said that as awkward as it was, I couldn't make myself say the word out loud in class, so every time I came to it I just waved my hand in place of the word and kept reading.

It probably seemed ridiculous to some of the students in the class, but at least I was sending the signal that the word isn't used in polite company these days.

I also asked my students to call Jim only Jim in Huck Finn. We all know what he is called in the novel and why, and we all know the novel's point is to decry slavery, but we do not need to actually say that word among ourselves. The word needs to feel awkward and unfamiliar, not comfortably familiar.

themselves in casual conversastion sometimes on a daily basis but, that is their prerogative and their right. I would never presume to include myself in that jargon and I am very close friends with some of them and to varying degrees with all my co-workers.

Age and generational differences seems to come in play here as I myself have asked in this group about how young white/black people seem to have no regard for the historical context of the word and I wonder if the historical context of absolute hurt this word has caused their forefathers has been lost as this younger generation seem to use it with no regard and I have seen it used interchangeably with the word: homie ...
and it seems to also mean: family to some degree
... as in the phrase ... "my n*gg*" when they are definitely referring to a member of their family relation of blood kin.

Become FB friends with preteens and teens for a window into the future. It is an eye-opening experience.

My advice to you: THERE IS NO NEED TO EVER USE THE WORD.

since I work on a college campus...

And although some black teenagers and early 20-somethings may use it frequently, I've observed that it's something most people "grow out of" eventually...

My question is is can I ask people who are using the n word "correctly" to not say it in front of my children?

I have put people out of my house (my Brother-in-Law, who I love deeply, being one of them) for using the word.

I demand (politely) that the word is not used in front of my children. A few unfortunate souls (my kids non black friends) used the word in my home. But it only happened once. My response was broadcast to their entire community. That was many years ago. No one has been foolish enough to go there again.

Last edited Thu Mar 26, 2015, 03:31 PM - Edit history (1)

NEVER be used except where it is pointing out the hate from whence that word was born. NO ONE needs to use such a hate filled word and in my world it NEVER conveys love, respect or bonding of racial affiliation. Period.