The "N" Word
 

Recent situation in the Atlanta area that I wanted to get your opinions on....Two African American 4th or 5th graders were fighting. During the fight the "n" word was exchanged between the two. A white teacher broke up the fight and also used the 'n' word. According to the teacher she used the word in the context of a lesson on it's inappropriateness. Question: Is it ever appropriate for non-African Americans to use that word? Did the teacher do the right thing? How should the school system disipline her (if at all?)

You know, this story reminds me of the boy who cried wolf one too many times...when he really needed help, no one cared to listen, cuz he had been crying the same old thing over and over before...

Not only is it inappropriate for Non-African Americans to use the word, the word (nor variations of the word, such as "nigga") should even be in the vocabularies of African Americans. Just the sound of the word makes me cringe, no matter who the speaker is. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif

Mizzkez, I agree.

Disco, mizzkes, AKAtude.....y'all didn't answer all of the questions!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif Com'on...help a sista out!! How do you think the school system should handle this situation? Thank you! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

As it was said earlier, no one should use the "N" word. It is a slanderous term, and even though it is often used by the African American community, it still isn't right...

To answer one of the questions: No, I think that anyone that isn't African American should not use this term. How would a Caucasian feel if we walked around saying "cracker"? A Hispanic feel if we said "wetbacks"? These terms are degrading and slanderous, and they should not be used-PERIOD.

Now, if she used this term when explaining the incident to school officials/parents, that is one thing (used as a direct quote), but to call a student the "N" word (and the child is only in the 4th/5th grade; I feel there is NO EXCUSE.

I think that the teacher should be placed on suspension...this definitely should be written up on her files, because if this term was used DIRECTLY to the children, then that can be viewed as her being racist.

How did the parents of the children feel about her and the situation??

Classy_Diva5

I need more information before making a comment-did the teacher say "you nigger," or something like that, or did she say "it's not right to use the word 'nigger' to another person, etc." My earlier post was meant to point out that it gets tiring to hear us jumping up and down about these types of incidents, yet we fail to address and CORRECT the injustices in our community. I am fatigued at the notion that all our problems are somebody else's fault and that some white school teacher using the word 'nigger' is the downfall of our people. Especially when the n****s down the way from my house are selling crack to somebody's mama.

Yet another incident....
 

I performed a search before starting this as a new thread, so I hope this fits in well enough here, and that since it is an older thread it still gets some play.

I received this email today. I am not certain if it is true, or not, but even if its not----the situation even as a hypothetical should spark debate. Is this a fair ruling? (I think not) Have we as African American's done this to ourselves? Can we expect anymore of the J-Lo's of the world (and the student in this case) if WE tell the world "nigga" is okay?

Here is the email I received:
WHITE STUDENT LET OFF FOR USING 'N' WORD AGAINST BLACK TEACHER

Judge says 'nigga' not the same as 'nigger'
by Davey D
(Mar. 18, 2002) *A major WACK Award goes out to those who insist and continue to use the N word. Whether you spell it NIGGER or NIGGA, you still get the WACK Award. Weekend before last, the ridiculous logic of using this word came back to haunt us.

A San Jose, California judge allowed a white student who committed a hate crime against his black female teacher off the hook. His defense reasoned successfully that the white guy did not commit a hate crime when he vandalized school property because he spelled the N word N-I-G-G-A and not N-I-G-G-E-R. Yep, the white guy used the "friendly" version of the word and got away with it. Dude wrote 'Thanks Nigga' and had an arrow pointed to the teacher's name.

For those who are still shaking their heads in disbelief, here's what went down. A white student at a San Jose high school got upset with his African American teacher for suspending his white friend. In retaliation he spray paints a school wall with the teacher's name and the N word which was spelled N-I-G-G-A. The police were upset. The teacher was upset and the community was appalled. Dude goes on trial for this hate crime and his
defense attorney brings in some witness to testify to the judge that there's a difference between the two spellings of the N word. The judge listens and lets the white dude off and says no hate crime was committed and thus a dangerous precedent is set.
San Jose's Black Police officers association were extremely upset over the ruling. After all, they know all to well what this will lead to. Next time some cop pulls you over and hurls the N word he can get off saying he said N-I-G-G-A and not N-I-G-G-E-R. Should you be careful before you file a racial harassment suit against a coworker or an insensitive boss? After all, he or she may actually be using the 'NIGGA' spelling of the word. I couldn't help recalling the speech that Minister Farrakhan gave at the
most recent Hip Hop Summit in LA. He emphatically warned us, "If we keep putting something out there we will one day have to answer for it." This recent court interpretation of this hate crime and the use of the N word as proof. Think about it.

end of email

Also, has anyone checked out the book "Nigger: the strange history of an ugly word"? I think that is the title, I know for sure the first word is nigger. Its written by a black Harvard professor..of English,I think. He talks about Nigger's evolution and how because of rap and nigga, and black colloquialisms, the word nigger is no longer what it used to be....both in power and its ability to demean. I haven't read the book, but saw the author, the comic Monique, Tempest Bledsoe, and some rock star discussing it on Politically Incorrect. I'm thinking of buying the book, if only to see what exactly he has to say..

thoughts anyone????

Yeah, I would have to know what exactly that teacher said in order to make a judgement.
But I do wonder how would the media handle the situation if a black teacher had broken up a fight between 2 white kids who were calling each other "hunkies" or "poor white trash" and she used one of these words in the "context" of explaining to the children they were demeaning words.:cool:

"Nigger" is an amazing book that gives the history and usage of the word. It explains why blacks should be upset when hearing a non-black person saying the word. The basic gist is that the word signifies the brutal treatment of blacks and the use of the word by blacks removes the negativity that the word has long implied. When a white or non-black says nigger or nigga it reaffirms the negative connotation that history has developed. I highly recommend anyone to read it.

But my question is do other minorities get to address themselves or blacks with nigger/nigga?

This is part of the Ph.D. in me...
 

In some ways, the ressurection of this issue is one of personnal disdain to me , because I think the dayum word (if you can fathomly call it that...) is an abomination from Hell and should be nuclear annihilated and stricken from all hu(e)man existance.

And I also know that some my fellow brothas and sistahs are within there own "pace" for their pursuit or lack of an Afrikan Centered Perspective (or moreso the true ancestorial Afrikan utammawazo and if one has seen this word, then you know where my attempted Universal thought is trying to go--it's a telapathic thang). And I know, summa us havta still discuss this "word" for cathartic reasons...

So given how I view this MAAFA-ic blasephemy, IMHO, I truly feel, extremely strongly that Randall Kennedy, J.D.'s smut, I mean book, has now enable those racial terrorists to further pervert a psychotic concept that was only developed by the ramblings of criminal schizophrenics who genetically design this pornography back in the early 16th century--I had to make these aforementioned statements so I could call on those who have REALLY RESEARCHED OUR-stories!!!

The fact is--it don't matter if you livin' in an air conditioned house--it is STILL HOT when you in Hell livin' as the Damned... And that goes to say, that I don't care what version of this "word" is used, that folks who are continually using it for whateva reason are STILL WRONG!!! Negros and Caucasoids!!! And just like I am using the word "negro", my choice of word would be "Acunte'"--or KiSwahili for "cotton picker"...

I personally feel, with extreme prejudice, that some of the discussions I am hearing in the laity, academia and corporate culture are this IGNORANT CONCEPT entertaining the idea for distinctions of this "word" MUST stop!!! Stopped, because OUR inherent Afrikan cultural asili is closely tied to the Universe and the Spirit... And deep down, most of us here have ALWAYS felt a "connection" to our ancestorial past, present and future... And when one begins to pray about it, would we really want to be calling our Creator such a blasphemous name? Especially when were using such ignorance within our "temples" and homes? Then, my deductions would be, those who perpetually flattulate such "offal" are nothing more than idol worshiping Acunte'istic Devil worshippers and that to me is why I choose to remove the "word" from my reality and revulsed by such an evil concept...

And for Tahitian3, :)

Your point about using "alternative" racial "epithets" that allegedly are just as hurtfull with that--that "word", you are exactly correct, "those" kids as described, probably wouldn't have been broken up with other profane words! I completely agree! :cool:

And Exquisite5, :confused:

A point on the article you posted, did the author's say anything about why the teacher should have been protected from a word hurled at her? I am just asking for clarification. :(

And Kitten03 and for everyone :o

I have chosen to refrain from identifying with that Smut by Randall Kennedy (and to think it comes outta Harvard). So, I do not have the time nor the desire to waste my precious time trying to comprehend that kind of insanity. And I know for some people here my credibility is questionned :o, but if folks read some of my posts around GC, they would realize that I strive for an Afrikan Centeredness, partly based on remaining spiritually heathly and fit... And so, just like "I must be fed milk for I'm merely a child in the Lord", current I am incapable to relate to such perversions without more Spiritual "armor". I hope everyone can maturely empathize and respect my thoughts I choose to share with you today. If not, you can PM me and we can discuss it in further detail.:rolleyes:

Peace, Akeerah and Ashe :D

To answer your question, they did not explicity say why the teacher should be protected from a word being hurled at her. However, after re-reading the article I find the answer in your question in the fact that the young man was being charged with a hate crime. Basically, I think, that had he written something not related to her race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or gender, he would not be being prosecuted. However, if this hate crime law is like the one proposed in TX, the very use of that sort of word constitutes a crime. That, coupled with the vandalism: and voila..a young man on trial.

and it my mind...deservingly so.

BLACK FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ASKED TO DISCOURAGE N-WORD USAGE TOWARDS CHILDREN

By Attorney Roy Miller


Attorney Roy Miller

Atlanta, GA (BlackNews.com) - In 1994, Attorney Roy Miller became the first and only person to succeed at having the n-word deleted from a major dictionary. Part of his argument has been that, if we have any respect at all for our ancestors, Black adults should be ashamed to call their Black babies and children the n-word.

He comments, "We give away the same respect that cost so many lives and cost so much pain. How is it that we can give away so easily, something that we never had to earn? At its worse, the n-word is the ultimate insult against Blacks. It is simply profanity. Whether being used in a musical way, a degrading way, a comical way or an evil way, profanity is still profanity. Profanity should never be acceptable language usage for children. Eliminating the n-word from adult usage may be next to impossible; however, we can reduce the impact that this profanity has on children."

Attorney Miller is asking for help. He asks that all Black Fraternities, Sororities and all other Black organizations issue a Resolution stating that their members will discourage use of the n-word against a child or to describe a child. Attorney Miller is requesting that all such Resolutions show the date of August 1, 2006, so that the accomplishment will reflect an act of unity. Every organization that issues a Resolution will receive an official Certificate of Appreciation.

Miller says, "Zero tolerance towards being disrespected must be established in the Black community and it must start with Blacks respecting Black children. How can our babies be children of God and n-words at the same time? Does not such reference to the child also refer to the father? What does God think?"

Attorney Miller is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He is asking his fraternity members, as well as, all other Black Fraternities, Sororities and all other Black organization members to please forward this article and write letters of support to their organizations. Attorney Miller believes that there are those who live by the motto: If it doesn't reach the heart, it really doesn't matter.

"Let's show heart. Remember the mustard seed," he concludes.

Attorney Miller may be contacted at 1401 Peachtree Street, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30309. Telephone: (478) 745-2402. E-mail: AttorneyMiller99@aol.com


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Re: Yet another incident....
 

Yes; I bought it last summer. I have not had the chance to really sit down and read it, but I've heard it's quite the read (per kitten03's and others' reviews). It was published four (4) years ago and got special attention on an episode of Boston Public a few years ago. I saw him on Politically Incorrect as well (I'm a big Bill Maher fan...watch Real Time faithfully).

Here is the author's bio from the book:

"Randall Kennedy received his undergraduate degree from Princeton and his law degree from Yale. He was a Rhodes Scholar and served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall before joining the faculty of the Harvard Law School. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Association, and the American Law Institute, Mr. Kennedy lives in Dedham, Massachusetts."

As far as the incident in question is concerned, I agree with previous posters in regards to *context*. But, it's wrong no matter which way you cut it. :(

I too had heard of the book which I consider to be nothing but inflammatory propoganda along with one of the Wayans brothers unsuccessful attempt to get a clothing line with a similar name. Why glorify or publicize the use of the word. What about a book or clothing line called Honkey-I'm sure there would be much discussion about that as well. It is good that someone is speaking out about this-what we affirm and what we call ourselves has a lot to do with our psyches! Affirm the positive downplay the negative stereotypical connotation! I never heard that word referred to me ever as a child- in fact I heard it referred to me while I was on a Christmas break when I was in college- coming from a southern university to my hometown in the midwest! while standing on a bus line with my friend wearing the southern university's college sweatshirt.