8 Opinions The N-Word 9

“I’ve done heard it so much it doesn’t bother me at all,” Sophomore Michael Lee. “There’s a difference; when it ends an ‘a’, you’re cool with them, but when it’s with an ‘er’ it’s disrespectful,” Fresh- man Bryan Grant. “If you use it jok- ingly, you’re not really offending any- body,” Sophomore Michael Hudson . “It’s not as bad as most people think it is, it just means ignorant.” Sophomore Jared Pike . “ – a black man with a slavery chain around his neck; – a black man with a gold chain on his neck.” Tupac Shakur The “N” Word 10 The N-Word The N-Word 11

The “N” word: in our own words Two students discuss how they feel about the “N” word and why they feel that way Jeda Robinson, 12 I use the “N” word ignorance. It’s an insult to from the mouths of many because it’s a habit. It has what several people fought students, makes it well become synonymous with and died for. Civil rights known. I wouldn’t say the not only black culture, but activists like Martin Luther word to an adult because with what is considered King would be disgusted at I respect my peers. The “black”. It should NEVER what today’s word’s history goes back be a term of endearment to define as good. To other as far as black people go call each other ignorant. people the “N” word is just back in the United States. It’s also never okay for a a word no more, no less. Then somewhere down the white person to use the It has become skewed to line black people decided, “N” word because of the mean no more than “dude” “Yeah, I am a nigga. In negative history behind it. or “man”. It’s like one large fact I am a super nigga, and It’s extremely hurtful and is misinformed fraternity. don’t you wish you were really in bad taste. It’s not The word is important one too?” I don’t know okay for my friends to use around school because the why but the word changed. the word because it shows school has a large black Substitutes for this word a lack of appreciation for population, that combined could be “brotha” or “dude” Different your people and culture. with the fact that the or whatever -just something To me the “N” word means word is carelessly spewed less destructive. V

iewpoints Jake Barrickman, 10 I said it once, and I ended people, who say it to them, your administrator.” It’s up getting jumped for it. I were the ones screaming it always frowned upon. had no idea what was so while walking out of the The “N” word is different wrong with me saying it. It assembly. though, when it’s said that is a word with its own set of The word is like illegal same person who told you rules. One person can say drugs, even if it gets to go to your administrator it, and they have nothing to outlawed, it will still be used would pretend not to hear worry about, it’s ok. While without any fear. Here in it, and for those teachers if another person says it school, we use much worse who are brave enough to say there will be consequences. language, the “F” word for something will at the most At the Martin Luther instance; there is not a day only give you a warning. King assembly, Reverend when anyone doesn’t hear it I do not support the word, Eure emphasized the fact used. If a person says it in I do not think anything will that we need to wipe that the halls, a teacher might ever be done about it, but I word from our vocabulary. say “watch your language.” do my part and try not to I find it ironic that the If it is used in the classroom use it. ones who get so mad at “That’s a referral, go to Photos by Bri Holland Rules of a word Jeremy Bagby Staff Writer “Personally I find it offensive don’t think its offensive. Some of its users to diminish its use. with that,” said Szynskie. sounds much worse than calling Nigga is a word frequently and I believe that my feelings students have heard this word Ironically the people who started Unspoken rule No. 2 your homeboy “your nigga”. heard in school, music, and on on that comes from my age,” used throughout their lives and it can no longer use it while states no one can use the old “I would say nigger is more the streets. The word, which said Dean of Students Rich it has become a part of their the people who were endlessly pronunciation nigger in the place offensive than if you use an stems from “nigger,” has Hood. “When it was used regular vocabulary. victimized by it can freely use it of the word nigga. Apparently “a”,” said Erye. gained popularity in the black when I was young, it was used “I’ve been saying it all my to address each other. using nigger is offensive but if “Back then white folks used community, but it has also to be derogatory. It was used to life, I grew up hearing it,” senior “They shouldn’t be able to the “e” and the “r” are dropped, to say it to be mean and they developed an equal amount of put down somebody, so when I Jaron Jackson said. “White use it because that’s not what it is just fine. still say it now,” said Nunn. controversy. hear younger people use it, it’s people can’t use it, nobody they are, plus a lot of people “To me it doesn’t make any Currently, the school system is The word “Nigga” is a term offensive.” can say it but black people; it’s get offended when they use it,” difference, to me it’s like hearing at a loss. Banning the word from used to greet, compliment, Many teachers already believe disrespectful for them to say it junior Letisha Nunn said. the word ‘frickin’. It’s just like use will probably not prevent it or put down a person of the the word should not be used by to us,” said Jackson. Athletic director Francis using the ‘F’ word, you’re just from being used because of the African American ethnicity, anybody and treat it like any In Benson there are many Szynskie doesn’t agree with trying to dress up or camouflage wide range of users. but this word comes with rules. other curse word. students who use the word the balance of the rules for the word,” said Hood. New York City Councilman The first of the unspoken “My personal feeling is even if simply because they heard their the word nigga. He believes Ironically, changing the Leroy Comrie is heading a rules is no person of any other you’re black or white or Hispanic parents or grandparents using that if someone can call you a ending to an already offensive movement to try and get the race can use it and the word or Asian, we treat it the same it. name but you can’t call them word can make it less offensive, word nigga banned from use can only be used with an “a” way as any other profanity or “I use it rather often, it’s like that name back then the word almost friendly. The reason may all around the country. He has ending, not an “er” ending. vulgarity, ” said Hood. “It’s not I was known for sayin’ it, it shouldn’t be used. be that when students look already gotten it symbolically These rules, however, have allowed.” was used in my family,” said “If you’re calling me a name back in any history book or banned in NYC but students not taken away from this word’s Students still continue to freshman Lary Erye. but I can’t call you back that film about the days of racism, are already not following this history and weight; to many, it use the word because most of The word’s vast and disturbing name, no matter what race you “nigger” was always used, ban because they don’t find the is still offensive. them do not see the harm and history should cause the number are, there’s something wrong therefore that word probably word offensive. 10 The N-Word The N-Word 11

Student panel Q&A Ethnic studies teacher Curtis Weber allowed the Gazette to interview his first hour class to discuss what they thought about the “N” word

SS: What comes to mind when you hear there’s two ways you could think of it, it’s not just one any more. if you said it or he said it or she said it that, now that’s offensive.” the “N” word, how does it make you feel? AT: For me, I don’t try to use it. But, if I see a person of AP: If someone’s offended by it, then they shouldn’t say it. JC: That word brings to mind anger and degradation. I be- SS: So you mentioned your ancestors and the legacy of the word. lieve if anyone’s using it that nobody should have to hear it. How do your parents and grandparents feel about that word? JJ: Ignorance, people just say it and they think it’s “It’s like the same AT: My grandma’s like, “Don’t say that word.” cool, but they don’t really know what it means. JL: My great grandparents are still really racist. Every time I JL: If a white person says it, everyone makes a big deal walk in to go see one of them, they’re just always saying the word about it. And then if a black person says it, it’s just like thing as going up to and everything. They’re always calling people “” and ev- a regular everyday usage. If a white person can’t say it, erything. Oh well, they’re going to die in a couple years anyway. why should a black person? It’s really kind of not fair someone and saying, Mr. Weber: Unfortunately, we just saw a video where people and giving the right to black people to say it is not fair. were trying to sanction segregation in 2002, a small segregated RB: There’s different meanings to the “N” word. Like, you use it in ‘What up, dude?’ or prom, you know? Unfortunately Jeff, your great grandpa is not different ways. It’s like the way you say it, or the sentence that fol- the only one out there with those feelings. lows that is what predicts the meaning of which way you’re using it. SS: After the Michael Richards tirade, where he openly called something like that, audience members the “N” word and used racial slurs referring I think everybody you know?” to lynching, is involved ...it’s a - JC “My great grandpar- ents are still really rac- white and black so- another race that does use it, I really don’t care because it really doesn’t offend me. I try not to use the word, but I try to let them know, “Hey, it’s not cool to use it. Because other African ist, they’re just always ciety...everybody Americans do not like other races saying that word. So just be careful where you say it. But to me, if you say it, you say it. saying the word.” knows what’s going Mr. Weber: My question would just be why would someone who’s white want to say it? AT: Just to fit in. - JL on.” JC: Well if you’re a hate filled person, you’re going to want to say it. Mr. Weber: Right, so it could be a hate filled word, JJ: He talked about hanging people upside down, sticking a fork - RB but why would you want to say that word to try to fit in? in their asses. JC: That’s just the culture that it is today, with the music and SS: People started taking a stance on the word. For instance, SS: Is this an issue just for black peo- everything. a mayor in Texas actually banned the word, and if the person ple, should leave it alone? AP: ... Some people refer to white people as “white boy” and saying the word is reported by another person, they could have JJ: If the word offends you, it doesn’t matter what your race is. “,” and I mean, I don’t take offense to it personally to pay up to a $500 fine. JC: I believe that as a generation as a whole, we have be- Anonymous: “or ” JC: It’s breaking your first amendment right. Even though it’s come desensitized to the word. Because we just hear it AP: But yeah, why should that be okay? a bad word, it’s still freedom of speech, and that’s taking away so much that it has become part of our every day lives. Anonymous: Yeah, like if a white person said, “oh yeah, look at the your freedom of speech right, right there. Mr. Weber: Just to add to that… Ludacris has his own take on BLACK boy right there,” that would be a big issue and everything. JJ: It’s unconstitutional. that word. He said the purpose of the use of the word and the cul- Mr. Weber: So it’s like some reverse discrimination, sure. SS: So Michael Richards apologized on the Late Show with Da- ture that uses the word today is to take away from the meaning and GY: I would want to know why an individual would vid Letterman, by what Jeff says, you know, “Why is it okay for someone who’s want to use the “N” word to begin with. Because, can’t Mr. Weber: Did you see that? It looked pretty scripted to me. black to say it but for someone who’s white to say it?” I think that you just greet a person by their name? I think it’s stupid.. SS: Should someone just apologize for something like that and Ludacris’ point is kind of shown there by saying it’s desensitizing JC: Well, it’s like the same thing as going up to someone and expect everything to be okay or should there be punishment in that word because of the fact that there is a culture today that saying, “What up, dude?” or something like that, you know? a court of law? CAN say that word, and nobody else can, NOBODY else can. LO: But “dude” doesn’t have a historical background to it. JC: I take Paul Mooney’s stand, and I think he should go to the RB: I think everybody is involved because it’s not just a JL: Say you were back then and someone would Apollo Theater and do that same bit and see what happens. black society and it’s not just a white society, it’s a white have called you a “nigger,” people all around you AT: I see why he apologized, but a lot of people just see it as a and black society so everybody knows what’s going on. would have beat the crap out of that one guy. publicity stunt. They think, “Oh, he isn’t serious.” Because if he SS: What is the history of the word? What does it mean to you? Anonymous: Yeah, that’s why it changed. was serious, he wouldn’t have said it in the first place. JC: I believe that in the context it’s used, that it could be a term of JL: But that’s your ancestors who died to get you where you are today. JC: The “N” word is just a term that is generally accepted but endearment or it could be a hate filled word. It’s all in the way you’re If they wouldn’t have done it, people would still be doing dishes and shouldn’t be. using it. You could go up to someone and say, you know, “you’re a everything for a living, and they’d still be calling you the “N” word. stupid n-----,” and they’re gonna get pissed, you know? And then RB: But people still do that, anyways. someone could go up and say, you know, “Hey what up n----,” and Mr. Weber: Yes, that’s the hard part. That’s where you get back it could just be a term of endearment, you see what I’m saying? to “okay what is something that we can have that nobody else can RB: I think it has another meaning from what it used to be, have? This is something that we can have that we can share that

What the students have to say Can white people say Should cities be Should there be a the “N” word even if it allowed to ban the rule against the “N” is to friends? “N” word? word in schools?

130 say no 154 say no 113 say no

out of 200 polled 12 The N-Word

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A word to my and homies Nick Daehling Opinions Editor If I want to call one of my imagine the possibilities. This of course means that they black friends a nigga I have Forget that these kinds of approve of what I’m doing and every right to, just as long as words have been used for ages respect it undoubtedly. I mean it in a friendly manner. to demean, belittle, disparage As a matter of fact, I The same terms apply if I and decry the various races, encourage people to use the want to call a Latino friend a religions, sexes, statuses, word nigga because it is, by far, “beaner.” Or what if I want to ages, etc. Those times have the most popular hate-word call my Asian friend a “” passed when a word of said in the universal dictionary of or a “yap” – it’s OK as long as unforgivable nature could hate-words. it’s not mean or hateful. render a class silent or send There are no downsides, only In fact, it could be the best shivers down the spine and it’s endless possibilities. Animosity way to solve all of our hate time for change. and hate crimes will be things crime problems. A lot of teens I’ve started to refer to all of of the past. By using this word are using derogatory words my white friends as “honkies,” in an endearing form as many in a friendly way to establish “whities,” and “crackers.” African American people are relationships. If adults and They sure enjoy it and gladly already doing, we may soon youngsters learn to add these reply with a humorous “Shut alter the true, hateful meaning words to their vocabulary, up!” accompanied by a smile. of the word all together.