English teacher suspended for saying the "N-word."

[Decade]

You know he's an english teacher when he tries to use the word in various common-day phrases...

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/nword.html

He was suspended for 10 days without pay, but he's still teaching. Not only that, he's STILL that kid's teacher. Is this right or wrong? Or is there factors I'm not taking into consideration?

[Jay]

I think they were right to reprimand him, sure. Nigger's an insulting word, but it's not worth taking any more action than that, really. That seems to me to say "we're reprimanding you now, but this is your only warning".

[East Indonesian Walrus]

Had to register for something like this.

In this case, I think the 10 day suspension was probably the best thing the district could have done in this case, with the lack of Honors English teachers and all.

I really don't think he should lose his job anyways though. Being in one of the more diverse schools in my immediate area, I hear that word coming out of many different people's mouthes in nearly every class I have. If people are going to be offended like this young man was, then why do they even allow it to be said? I think the teacher did act somewhat appropriately, and not to be racist or anything, but I wouldn't be surprised if the student did actually say it. Maybe then, maybe at another time. I highly doubt the teacher would just pull that out of thin air like that.

Simple solution to all of this? Ban the n-word, and all of its varients. The 6 letter n-word is banned by society, pretty much, but "nigga" really has been just ignored by most authorities. Schools shouldn't allow this word, even if it is a way of saying "whats up" or "hey dude" from one black person to another. All it does is cause problems, and things can turn real ugly real quick in situations like this.

Even with the shortage of Honors English teachers though, I'm still shocked that hes still this student's teacher. :boggled:

[Jay]

^ I got the best ROFL of the day at your SN. :rofl:

[Praetorian]

Being blown out of proportion as usual.

Why bring something like this on national TV (and even delve into that teacher's background, and show it on national TV) when it can be solved by local authorities?

[East Indonesian Walrus]

Well, I feel as though I'm off to a good start here. :)

[Jay]

Even with the shortage of Honors English teachers though, I'm still shocked that hes still this student's teacher. :boggled:

I had a swim teacher who called one of my classmates a little shit (he was), but he saw out the swim season with her.

[Mechs]

Ehhh, so he said "nigga". Whats the kid getting so offended over? I mean I hear that word everyday freakin day. If a teacher said to me "Get out the door nigga" I would have been surprised, not insulted. Nigga seems to be a socially accepted now a days so If a english teacher can't tell a nigga to get the fuck out the door then rappers, wannabe thugs, and the rest shouldn't be able to use it either.

Damn double standards :frypan:.

[East Indonesian Walrus]

I had a swim teacher who called one of my classmates a little shit (he was), but he saw out the swim season with her.
Well, still, calling someone a little shit and calling them something close to a racial slur are two different things.

edit: Ah, Mechs just said what I was trying to say, but I wasn't able how to say it.

[setrict]

I figured the teacher must have been angry, and intentionally tring to insult the kid... but after watching the video... I think the teacher is just a dork. He's like my grandma trying to be cool by using modern slang (usually a decade late slang).

I don't know whether he deserves to keep his job or not. They said it wasn't his first 'suspension' though, so history would be a factor too.

[Darkblade]

i still find it interesting how no one finds "Indian" offensive when using it to describe a native american. Its like saying "I know you arent from India, but Im gonna call you an Indian anyways"

[Angelyne]

Is there a link to this that isn't on ebaumsworld? I don't want to support their thievery.

[Digital Masta]

Ehhh, so he said "nigga". Whats the kid getting so offended over? I mean I hear that word everyday freakin day. If a teacher said to me "Get out the door nigga" I would have been surprised, not insulted. Nigga seems to be a socially accepted now a days so If a english teacher can't tell a nigga to get the fuck out the door then rappers, wannabe thugs, and the rest shouldn't be able to use it either.

Damn double standards :frypan:.

Its socially accepted as long as your black as black people tried to turn it into "ourword" which is just fuckin stupid. I hate the word and I don't use it to address anyone

[Firefly]

Regardless of anything- the fact of the matter is, that word was used during slavery, by white men and women towards African Slaves. Just because he's saying a slang version of a racial slur does not make it better in any way. This "er" and "ah" thing sounds like bullshit to keep his job.

On the other hand- it is probably a bad idea for African Americans to continue using this slang when they know where it came from. Calling themselves by this name does not help racial issues in this country, and when I hear two African Americans call each other by this word- to be honest, it seems like they're degrading themselves. Whats wrong with another slur, such as "Man, Dude, Guy, your actual name, homie, etc"? Why call yourself something you're trying to fight against?

Personally, lack of honors or not, I think the teacher should be fired and I wouldn't blame the student if he pressed charges. The word is racial, and I don't think that the teacher would've liked it if he was called "Cracker, Honkey, or Whitey" and I highly doubt any other race would've appriciated being called by a racial slur either.

[Decade]

Being blown out of proportion as usual.

Why bring something like this on national TV (and even delve into that teacher's background, and show it on national TV) when it can be solved by local authorities?
It's not national tv, it was local. Have you seen any of those reporters before?

Is there a link to this that isn't on ebaumsworld? I don't want to support their thievery.
Thievery? Are you sure about this? Like you were sure about "JFK dropping the A-bomb on Japan?" :meh:
I think almost everything ebaumsworld gets is from submission from fans or links to other places. Plus, he hosts the files himself, not robbing bandwith from others.

[koku]

Watching all these grown professional adults in suits and stature saying "he said the n-word" and playing around it makes it sound like some 3rd grade insult.

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's funny to here all these professional people say "the n-word" over and over hahaha.

[Praetorian]

It's not national tv, it was local. Have you seen any of those reporters before?

No. But I live in the Netherlands. I haven't seen ANY of your reporters before.

[Anathema]

please dont link to Ebaum's World

http://ebaumsworldsucks.com/

[RoxFontaine]

Ehhh, so he said "nigga". Whats the kid getting so offended over? I mean I hear that word everyday freakin day. If a teacher said to me "Get out the door nigga" I would have been surprised, not insulted. Nigga seems to be a socially accepted now a days so If a english teacher can't tell a nigga to get the fuck out the door then rappers, wannabe thugs, and the rest shouldn't be able to use it either.

Damn double standards :frypan:.

The internet it a beautiful thing. I'm not even going to waste the energy going any deeper into this. I will only say this:

If you don't share our fucking experience then you are not to use the word in ANY form. Regardless of what the argument about the how the word is used is, you DON'T use it. If Blacks and Hispanics choose to own the word, then that is their choice. Individuals are different. Anyone outside of the shared experience is NOT afforded that choice.

I can't believe how ignorant people are these days.

[Renter]

And then they call anger and protests because of derogatory pictures directed at a religion and all its practitioners silly. Hypocrites, all of them.

And of course, it's okay for blacks to use the word, because when a black person says it, it's obviously the slang word, 'nigga'. When a white person says it, NO MATTER WHAT it becomes a derogatory word, and anyone using it is right to be punished and/or reprimanded. Sheesh. OMG HE SAID NIGG<insert 'a' or 'er' depending on screamer's tone of skin> IT MUST BE A KLAN MEMBER KILL IT WITH FIRE.

Even though your question was, in essence, "should he be punished even further" ie fired... No, I don't think it's okay that he was punished in the first place. People should definitely start showing some sense around this word and clearing some of the anger around it.

[Masa the Masta]

If Blacks and Hispanics choose to own the word, then that is their choice.


Can I use it? I'm hispanic.


I'll answer it for you anyway. The answer is no. Why? Because by racially profiling me, 99% of people would put me in the "white" category of people, therefore I'm unable to use it, thus any nigga usage coming from my lips would be considered derogatory, because of my skin color.

..but I'm hispanic.

Yeah.

For the record, I never use it in my day to day vocabulary. The only time I can think of me using it would be when I'm making fun of rap or something.

[悲しいパンダ]

I am asian and I use it a couple things a day. The thing is, I grew up in a diverse surrounding and in the ghetto. I here this word everyday, from people of every race, but not and white people though as I don't see a lot of white people.

I like Tupac's definitioon of "Nigga".

Everyone has their own definition of the word "nigga" but I'll tell you what, this word will never die.

[Roxie]

I don't like it no matter from whose mouth it comes from. They were right to suspend him.

[Decade]

No. But I live in the Netherlands. I haven't seen ANY of your reporters before.

Fair enough then :D

Can I use it? I'm hispanic.


I'll answer it for you anyway. The answer is no. Why? Because by racially profiling me, 99% of people would put me in the "white" category of people, therefore I'm unable to use it, thus any nigga usage coming from my lips would be considered derogatory, because of my skin color.

..but I'm hispanic.

Yeah.
Dude, me too! You ever find it weird though as to whether or not you really do count as hispanic? Most hispanic people I talk to say, "Nah man, you speak spanish and you're white." :meh: I got identity issues.

anyway, I agree, I dont think we should be using it.



Here's my take on the whole thing:

In the end, it's a word just for Black people to use. Why? because it's a word of so much hurt and history. The thing is though, if it's such a hurtful word, should it really be used so commonly anymore?

It's already been stated, by BOTH white and black people, that the two words are just that, two DIFFERENT words, but if a white person says it it's the deragatory term.

If that's the case, should either word be used at all? Obviously not. So why is it still used? I think one of the biggest factors about it is the fact that like many people here, I'm not black. I think it IS different if you're the race which the deragatory term is used on, so I cant give a perspective from a "victim" or "member" or whatever word you want to use. Therefore, maybe it's something that we just CANT understand.

My question in the end though is this: If it's a word of such hate and history, why is it something you want to have people of any race hear and learn so easily and common? Is it because black people dont want white people to forget the pain and suffering caused in the past? There's obviously better ways to handle that then.

[Angelyne]

It's not national tv, it was local. Have you seen any of those reporters before?


Thievery? Are you sure about this? Like you were sure about "JFK dropping the A-bomb on Japan?" :meh:
I think almost everything ebaumsworld gets is from submission from fans or links to other places. Plus, he hosts the files himself, not robbing bandwith from others.


As was already mentioned, check out www.ebaumsworldsucks.com. The site routinely steals other people's work, plasters their own ebaums logo on it, and does not give any credit at all to the original authors. When the creators ask ebaums to remove their work from ebaumsworld, they're usually ignored. There was actually a huge controversy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebaumsworld#Controversy) about this about a month ago.

[Jon885]

It's not loading for me.

[Darkblade]

This is just another huge steaming pile of pure grade A bullshit.

If they fire any teacher, then by the same rights, any student that uses the word should be kicked out of the school system, regardless of color.

Tupac explained the difference between the words very clearly, and Ill accept that. If other people around the world want to bastardize it and change the meaning for themselves and claim its racial, F*** THEM.

With that type of "right to define my own words" I could declare that I find "hey" or "hello" or "you" to be a racial slur and demand anyone who use it be imprisoned.

This is just something being blown way out of proportion. There are no "our words" there are words, and there is silence. choose one.

these so called "our words" are just another way to prevent equality.

[Masa the Masta]

This is just another huge steaming pile of pure grade A bullshit.

If they fire any teacher, then by the same rights, any student that uses the word should be kicked out of the school system, regardless of color.

Tupac explained the difference between the words very clearly, and Ill accept that. If other people around the world want to bastardize it and change the meaning for themselves and claim its racial, F*** THEM.

With that type of "right to define my own words" I could declare that I find "hey" or "hello" or "you" to be a racial slur and demand anyone who use it be imprisoned.

This is just something being blown way out of proportion. There are no "our words" there are words, and there is silence. choose one.

Here here, well said. :clap:

[Darkblade]

Is it because black people dont want white people to forget the pain and suffering caused in the past? There's obviously better ways to handle that then.


I actually had an encounter where a man was ranting at people passing by on the streets about how the whites had caused his ancestors so much pain through slavery (among other things). He literally grabbed my arm and said "see this white boy here, this one. His ancestors were guilty of slavery and segregation and he walks around as if nothing had happened"

I had to explain to the man that although my skin may be white, Im a native american. My ancestors werent enslaved... they were exterminated. The few that did manage to escape are in the Upper Peninsula. MY ancestors actually fought to help free the slaves because they believed in equality.

I strongly believe that some day people will finally accept others as their equals regardless of race or religion... but unfortunately, it wont be tomorrow

[Masa the Masta]

I actually had an encounter where a man was ranting at people passing by on the streets about how the whites had caused his ancestors so much pain through slavery (among other things). He literally grabbed my arm and said "see this white boy here, this one. His ancestors were guilty of slavery and segregation and he walks around as if nothing had happened"

I had to explain to the man that although my skin may be white, Im a native american. My ancestors werent enslaved... they were exterminated. The few that did manage to escape are in the Upper Peninsula. MY ancestors actually fought to help free the slaves because they believed in equality.

I strongly believe that some day people will finally accept others as their equals regardless of race or religion... but unfortunately, it wont be tomorrow

I concur, my ancestors were aztecs.

They were killed, wiped out, and enslaved...an entire civilization wiped out, on their OWN ground.

[Bob]

The internet it a beautiful thing. I'm not even going to waste the energy going any deeper into this. I will only say this:

If you don't share our fucking experience then you are not to use the word in ANY form. Regardless of what the argument about the how the word is used is, you DON'T use it. If Blacks and Hispanics choose to own the word, then that is their choice. Individuals are different. Anyone outside of the shared experience is NOT afforded that choice.

I can't believe how ignorant people are these days.

"our experience"? When were you a slave?

[RoxFontaine]

Beautiful. When you have nothing more intelligent to say......be trivial.

The Jewish will not let people forget. Korea will not let Japan forget. The same needs to be true for "Blacks".

I'm not evening going to get into a pissing contest about this. It's pointless.

[Bob]

Beautiful. When you have nothing more intelligent to say......be trivial.

Im not being trivial. The point is you have no "experience". You've never been oppressed. I doubt you've ever dealt with real racism. You're just a whiny bitch

[Darkblade]

The Jewish will not let people forget. Korea will not let Japan forget. The same needs to be true for "Blacks"..

bullshit. if thats how its supposed to be, then every non-native american needs to get off my ancestors land. Manifest destiny my ass. (you begin to see where this type of attitude leads) lets also not forget the jewish carried out the genocide of the hebrews. funny no one remembers that... OH.. there arent that many hebrews around to talk about it..

its not your job to remind people. leave it to historians to document history, and lets leave it there IN THE PAST. when people begin to realize we need to concentrate on NOW to make a better future, we can stop fighting amongst ourselves.

[RoxFontaine]

Im not being trivial. The point is you have no "experience". You've never been oppressed. I doubt you've ever dealt with real racism. You're just a whiny bitch

Sure. As I said before, I'll pass on the pissing contest.

bullshit. if thats how its supposed to be, then every non-native american needs to get off my ancestors land. Manifest destiny my ass. (you begin to see where this type of attitude leads) lets also not forget the jewish carried out the genocide of the hebrews. funny no one remembers that... OH.. there arent that many hebrews around to talk about it..

its not your job to remind people. leave it to historians to document history, and lets leave it there IN THE PAST. when people begin to realize we need to concentrate on NOW to make a better future, we can stop fighting amongst ourselves.

I'm talking about UNDERSTANDING and you're talking about deporting damn near an entire nation. :clap: For the third time, I'll pass on the pissing contest.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

[Bob]

Sure. As I said before, I'll pass on the pissing contest.



I'm talking about UNDERSTANDING and you're talking about deporting damn near an entire nation. :clap: For the third time, I'll pass on the pissing contest.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.


Too much of a punk to admit you're wrong, i see

[Darkblade]

I'm talking about UNDERSTANDING

understanding what?

slavery is wrong? that should be common sense

that the blacks were enslaved? yes i understand that happened. I also understand that not only blacks, but native americans, south american natives, and yes even in some areas whites were enslaved.

what does that have to do with creating a word that can not be used by people who are not part of what happened in the past? All its doing is creating problems for the future.

[eyez0nme]

Yea DarkBlade?

And where do you think the Native Americans came from? Where is there origination? Do you know? All Native Americans are Asians--Siberians and Mongolians who migrated across the icy tundras into the U.S.; and then, the Spainards, Portuguese, and the Whites conquered the West bringing forth a 2nd generation of internationally mixed race-and you Mexicans, Latins, South Americans (who are 25% Asian) tell us (under the same ancestry, the same fore-father) to get off your fucking land, when it was ours, in the first place? Calling us all Chino, Chino Chinese; when I'm not even fucking Chinese. That's why we call all of you Mexicans.

The Whites and the Blacks needs to get off our land--if know what i mean.

[Darkblade]

hehe will eventually end up with just 2 people left over asking everyone to kindly evacuate the planet :D

[Bob]

Yea DarkBlade?

And where do you think the Native Americans came from? Where is there origination? Do you know? All Native Americans are Asians--Siberians and Mongolians who migrated across the icy tundras into the U.S.; and then, the Spainards, Portuguese, and the Whites conquered the West bringing forth a 2nd generation of internationally mixed race-and you Mexicans, Latins, South Americans (who are 25% Asian) tell us (under the same ancestry, the same fore-father) to get off your fucking land, when it was ours, in the first place? Calling us all Chino, Chino Chinese; when I'm not even fucking Chinese. That's why we call all of you Mexicans.

The Whites and the Blacks needs to get off our land--if know what i mean.

Thats pretty stupid, even for a retard like you

[NulloModo]

I teach middle school, and I have had every possible racial slur in the book thrown in my face. I have been called a 'cracker' more times that I can count (doesn't really bug me, what kind of insult is 'cracker' anyway I like crackers, peanut butter and tuna on ritz = yum......))

I have also had students say 'that is just racist I am going to report you' (this is from a white student, and aI am white btw). Point is, kids these days will latch on to anything they can to avoid taking responsibility for themselves. When it comes down to it, the teacher told that kid to sit down, so he should have, the first time. Part of school is learning to resepct authority. As out of date as it seems, that is an important part of life.

Face it, once you are out in the real world, if you piss off you boss/get in his/her face, etc, you will be fired in an instant. My principal is a mixed black/hispanic woman. I don't have any issues against her for that (I have issues with her because she is a total moron and likes to use big words she doesn't understand because she thinks they make her seem smart, but that is another story). When it comes down to it, I could give a fuck-all when it comes to race, but it still does come up.

No, thie guy should not be fired. Unless you have spent a couple years in the hell that is teaching (thank you GWB for NCLB... .eat my dick) you just don't understand. Try caring for, trying to reach, trying to teach and educate a class of 30+ kids where maybe 5 total give a damn, and then you can talk.

[eyez0nme]

Thats pretty stupid, even for a retard like you

We can see, what you are.

[Bob]

We can see, what you are.


What would that be?

[General_Failure]

This is how it works, you can't call someone a "bad word"

But you can sure as shit say they are ACTING like one without ever getting in trouble

IE
"Stop being a dumbass and move, you're acting like a fucking retard"

See? Never directing, only curving around the matter, works fucking great(saved me from getting an article 15 in the military to a supervisor) >.>

[rameek]

The N word is not a word that I find acceptable. I do not like the fact that people that I know use the word. Its wrong no matter who mouth it comes from.

With that said being black and growing up it was actually ok to use the word to one another. In NY its used differently then many other parts of the country. Spending time in Florida the black people used to say you my n word that bothered me a lot.
I find that if the N word is used by any other person other than a black be it spanish, white, asian or whatever it gets under my skin a lot. It doesnt matter if they grew up in the ghetto or not or feel they have black friend(s) to justify using the word. Playing football in Florida rival teams would have black people on the team not a lot but they would use the N word in a derogatory way. Even at sporting events i hear white people say the N word in a derogatory way.

The reason why this word still insights me to anger is because I have been called that by white people in the past few years and it wasnt the "a ending" or whatever that guy wants to call it or anyone else wants to call it to differentiate it.

I was in florida this past summer visiting family. I have a professional history so I wear very nice clothes and I was in a nice car. I happened to pull into a gas station with a friend and we were talking. A white man actually had the audacity to say to me that I must be from some place else because I dont look or act like a n word from there...

It should be a banned word from the worlds vocabulary.

[Bob]

The N word is not a word that I find acceptable. I do not like the fact that people that I know use the word. Its wrong no matter who mouth it comes from.

I find that if the N word is used by any other person other than a black be it spanish, white, asian or whatever it gets under my skin a lot.


It should be a banned word from the worlds vocabulary.

So you think it should be banned or you think only black people should say it?

[rameek]

So you think it should be banned or you think only black people should say it?
I thought I was clear about that... I mean everyone world no matter culture race ethnicity shouldnt use it....

I think the teacher got a proper punishment but had he used it in a negative way he should have been fired...

[Cybren]

I really don't want to get into the discussion of racial ethics or whatnot but i have one thing to say to the teacher and the student in that scenario:
Stop whining!
You got a suspension. get over it. What's up with those signs? see! It's spelled different so the word isn't as bad!
And okay, to the student. Stop acting like you're so deeply offended to cash in on your 15 minutes of fame.

[East Indonesian Walrus]

I thought I was clear about that... I mean everyone world no matter culture race ethnicity shouldnt use it....

I think the teacher got a proper punishment but had he used it in a negative way he should have been fired...
And from the sounds of it, it sure doesn't seem as though he meant it in a negative/racial slur sort of way. I think the guy is a little... weird. But I doubt he meant to insult the kid like that.

[Kuri]

It's rididculous that people continue to even care what words people use, there are tons of people who are comfortable telling their firends "Get your ass over here fucker". I don't think the choice of words really matters remotely compared to the intention.
People are just nervous about saying nigger, or even typing it, because they feel they're supporting racism or something. Saying a word doesn't mean you support anything.
It's like when some drunken guy starts hitting on a woman and uses diminuitive words for attractive females. It's a long way from him moving against women's rights or anything.
Having words that are taboo is just ridiculous, it doesn't do anything but continue the pattern it would seem they are trying to prevent.
"Oh I don't like it when people act like that or use those words, it just makes me so uncomfortable. I know let's ban the word and mark it as a landmark for racism (etc) and then we can get our knickers all up in a bunch whenever we hear it. That ought to set things straight"

But to the subject of the teacher, it doesn't seem he used the word any sort of malintention but I dunno everything about him or the incident. I do know that publicizing it and making a big deal out of the fact an educator said nigger is stupid. It's not like he dressed up in a bed sheet and came into class and beat the kid.

.. Just my two cents

Edited for typo

[ruaidhri]

I’ve thought about this situation for awhile now and I am going to attempt a response. When I was a young boy the polite term for Blacks was “Colored People”. The proper term was “Negro”. The nasty, hurtful, term was “Nigger”. Then, sometime in the late 1960’s early 1970’s “Black” became the word of choice. Today, African American is preferred by many. Now, from this thread, I’ve learned that another term has emerged, one that is reportedly reserved for people with Negro heritage. That word is “Nigga”.

I agree with previous posts that words can be hurtful. They do degrade and polite society does dictate that they shouldn’t be voiced or written. I do believe that a school should have the right, and even the obligation, to prohibit their student’s, teachers and administrators use of such words or their derivatives while on campus or at school events. But, I also believe that those restrictions must be codified and applicable to all regardless of race, religion, gender or any other separating factor. I don’t believe a word should be judged “bad” for some and "OK" for others.

I don’t believe the teacher in question intended to belittle the student when he used the word “Nigga.” He was simply an old man trying desperately to communicate with his young students. As is usually the case, he failed. This time, however, he put himself in the center of a maelstrom. Then, I believe, the school administration overreacted. They essentially declared the teacher’s use of the word a crime and summarily issued a punishment. Because they believed he had shown no malice in using the word “Nigga”, they chose to suspend him rather than to fire him.

When does a word become hateful? I agree that “Nigger” and any derivative thereof is indeed hurtful. But then, what about words like “Cunt” or “Geek” or “Nerd” or “Pussy” or “Bitch”? Is it Ok for a woman to call another woman a “Cunt”? I don’t believe so. Like “Nigger” that word has a deeper meaning. What about “Geek”, “Nerd” or “Pussy” is it possible for someone to refer to themselves as one yet be hurt if called that by others? It depends on how it’s used, doesn’t it? What about “Bitch”? Does anyone like being called someone else’s Bitch? I doubt it.

What’s the solution? I believe the only answer is clear, uniformly enforced restrictions on the use of identified hurtful words. I don’t believe the teacher should be penalized while others, regardless of their status, are not. And, I also believe punishments should be reasonable and progressive, not draconian.

[MNJetter]

Geek and nerd are perfectly good words, used as a self-identifying title by me and other geeks and nerds all over the world. :P

...back on the subject...

My basic thought on this story. The teacher is a phonetics geek who thinks he's the smartest thing since Webster, a complete social infant but otherwise harmless. I think it's fine for a word to be socially acceptable for one group of people and not another. Let the words evolve as they will, don't force them. But I don't think anybody has the right to enforce linguistic segregation, as the school board did here by suspending the teacher and not the rest of the entire student body for using the word. Whether you construe it as age discrimination or racial discrimination, the U.S. government strictly forbids either one, no matter if you're white, black, purple, or green with magenta spots, from infancy to old-geezer-hood.

[Darkblade]

I still refer to "black" americans as black americans. I used to say African american until the NAACP refused the scholarship to that African american because he was white. That was a really interesting development to follow.

Im a proud african american
"no you arent. you are white"
Im from south africa, and I have aquired american citizenship. Hence I am an african american.
"no, you are white. no scholarship for you"

I personally think that was one of the single most hurtful things NAACP has done to further its cause.

[Spaatz965]

Nigger, kike, wop, cunt, spic, gook, kraut and towel head are all epithets degrading to one group or another. These are the worst I can think of. Unlike the others, ‘nigger’ is so powerful a word it actually sullies other words that sound like it but don’t have a common etymology. In 1999, a Washington D.C. Mayor’s Aide was forced to resign (he was later re-hired after much todo) after having used the word ‘niggardly’ in a conference with other aide’s. For the record, ‘nigger’ has a french root and ‘niggard’ has a scandenavian root…completely different words, but because one sounds like the other this mayor’s aide was fired…and that’s not the only example.

To me, ‘nigga’ or ‘niggah’ has become a linguistic La Cosa Nostra (this thing of ours). A segment of the black american population has taken ‘nigger’ and altered it slightly for use within their own culture. Anyone outside the culture who uses the word is considered to be using the racial slur. This quality of the word makes it just as harmful to race relations as the original <my opinion>. However, the entrenchment into what I’ll call ‘hip-hop culture’ pretty well garuntees a monsterous backlash (ACLU Lawsuits will be the least concern) if a school tried to ban it’s use, regardless of rationale.

This teacher not only deserves the 10 day without pay suspension…he deserves to be replaced. Were I making those decisions I would have started a talent hunt immediately. I wouldn’t have done it because he offended anyone. I would have done it because he demonstrated his incompetence. Here is an HONORS ENGLISH teacher who completely failed to recognize the linguistic nature of the word. His intent be damned…he did not recognize the “this thing of ours” quality of the word he was using, and as a result he used it in culturally inappropriate manner. He failed at his job in a gloriously dramatic way.

As a personal aside, it impresses me how much power we imbue our language with. As a child I was taught “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” What utter tosh. Physical violence can injure my body, but words can break my spirit. For years I’ve laughed at the absurdity of calling certain words vulgar…they’re just words. Many were classified vulgar because they sounded coarse, harsh, gutteral or common. These words have picked up meaning after having been labeled vulgar, thereby perpetuating the classification…and in some instances becoming a potential weapon. There is so much we can do with language, yet we end up spending so much time focusing on that which is hurtful.

[ruaidhri]

MNJetter
I agree. Geek and Nerd are indeed names that today instill status and pride. But, that was not the original intent of those two words. I used them as examples for that specific reason. They were intended to be hurtful and to belittle. Then, they were adopted by the injured parties and accepted as a badge of pride.

Spaatz965
I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this matter. I don’t, however, agree with everything you wrote.

While I consider myself a liberal I do believe that schools have not only a right but an obligation to demand order and a degree of conformity to rules. I do believe they should restrict all or none from using words commonly considered hurtful. I don’t believe any words should be reserved for “special” people.

Also, everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we get caught. Rarely does it blow up in our face. The English Teacher made a mistake by failing to recognize his status and the “special” status of the word “Nigga”. While I don’t believe the young boy’s life was forever shattered because of this one event, I do believe firing the teacher would be a vicious response that would indeed shatter his and his family’s lives. Have we become so intolerant that we seek to destroy rather than fix?

I agree that there is a problem. I believe firm rules applicable to all would fix the problem.

[Spaatz965]

...schools have not only a right but an obligation to demand order and a degree of conformity to rules. I do believe they should restrict all or none from using words commonly considered hurtful. I don’t believe any words should be reserved for “special” people.

ruaidhri I think you already know the esteem with which I hold you and your thoughts:) I completely agree with this statement. Schools have the right and obligation to demand order/conformity to rules. I also don't believe words should be reserved for "special" people. However, I need to emphasise "should" in that statement. I was trying to highlight the way I perceive the situation to be...the backlash at trying to ban these dirivitive words would be horrendous. That's not to say it should be that way...that is to say, that's the way it is.

Going one step further, I edited out some comments from my original post that might be more appropo now. Because of the frequency of use, and how it is used, the words 'nigga' and 'niggah' are arguably more destructive to race relations than the word 'nigger' is. WARNING personal stereotypes and prejudices ahead: I generally associate the use of 'nigga(h)' with what I'll call the 'hip-hop' culture. This is a culture that I closely associate with drugs, gang violence, and physical and social intimidation. This is the image I see glorified in the entertainment industry, and emulated by fans of the music and the culture. I'm not saying I'm right in this perception, merely that I have it. Further, this perception and the association with the use of "special" words, is actively damaging the progress made in race relations that was made through the 70's, 80's and early 90's.

...everyone makes mistakes.
There are mistakes and then there are MISTAKES. For example from my own experience, I put in place a situation that could have taken my company's email system down. I'd placed and configured about 30 mailboxes around the system for validating message delivery by using some auto-response rules. Had I initiated a test from the distribution list those mailboxes were on, I would have had a cascading out of control email storm on my hands. Fortunately, I recognized the problem before it happened and fixed it. Had I accidently kicked that process off, I would expect to be walked out of the building. In my opinion, especially in light of his profession and area of expertise (the English language) with over 20 years of experience, it should be expected he would know better. He stuck his foot in it BIG time, and then exascerbated it by publicly refusing to acknowledge and accept responsibility for his error.

I agree that there is a problem. I believe firm rules applicable to all would fix the problem.
I'll go so far as to say firm rules should fix the problem. However, I don't believe putting rules into place will do anything but make the problem worse...or at least end up scapegoating/sacrificing students. The problem won't really get addressed until sensational images such as
In an interview in the documentary Tupac: Resurrection, Tupac Shakur explains, "Niggers was the ones on the rope, hanging off the thing; Niggas is the ones with gold ropes, hanging out at clubs." can be addressed.

[General_Admission]

If I was the teacher I would write up anyone I hear using the word "nigga" or any variant of it.

I would have a curse free room.

& about ebaum's world, I think ebaum just saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. If people didn't want their work stolen they should have copyrighted it. To bad so sad, but he is in the right.

You know he's an english teacher when he tries to use the word in various common-day phrases...

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/nword.html

He was suspended for 10 days without pay, but he's still teaching. Not only that, he's STILL that kid's teacher. Is this right or wrong? Or is there factors I'm not taking into consideration?

[Kyoushu]

& about ebaum's world, I think ebaum just saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. If people didn't want their work stolen they should have copyrighted it. To bad so sad, but he is in the right.

You don't have to copyright your "artistic" creations, they're automatically yours.

[fa11en87]

Hah, I find it even more hilarious when cool gangster asians call eachother "nigga."

[ruaidhri]

Spaatz965
I believe you know that I also hold you in the same esteem. Our opinions are fairly right on track with each other.

I accept that in many ways I am an idealist ever searching for, yet never finding, utopia. There’s an old saying, “reality sucks.” Sometimes, I deliberately choose to ignore reality in favor of seeing the world as I wish it were.

Yes, you are correct. Enforcement of language rules would indeed be a nightmare. So, short of the ideal solution, what should the school administration do to address the problem? Maybe, they should spell out the special status of certain words and advise their staff that using them could result in their discipline and perhaps even termination. And then, maybe they should have a general meeting with all the students and “ask” them to not use hurtful words because of their historical association. Most likely the first would be unenforceable unless applied equally and the second would simply be laughed at and ignored.

I can’t help but wonder if this would have been an issue had the teacher been Black. I wonder if the student would not have been insulted, which begs the question: Would a black teacher be able to safely ignore the school’s policy? This would make any form of discipline problematic. In Wisconsin public school teachers are in a union that would demand equal treatment. Even without a union, I believe any disciplined or fired teacher would have a solid argument in court.

We both agree this is a problem. We both agree that there is no real solution because any action is dependent upon cooperation of all parties, which simply would not happen. Reality sucks!

Like you, I do not understand the hip-hop culture. That doesn’t mean that it’s bad. It just means that I don’t appreciate it. I do remember when Rock and Roll first started and the uproar that created amongst the churches and our parents. Actually, we kind of enjoyed shocking the adults with our raucous music by the likes of Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley.

Maybe I’m too far separated from the world of today’s urban youth. Neither of my sons were fans of hip-hop. I know that part of hip-hop culture associates itself with bad elements but I don’t believe that’s the entire picture. Like I said, I don’t know enough to really discuss this separate issue.

In my 36 years of working for the same company I made many mistakes. Luckily, I survived, mostly because my division chose to believe that you can’t get ahead by standing still. I understand how your specific situation would have brought the house down and would probably have resulted in your untimely departure. Still, had you not discovered and corrected your error, your entire family would have suffered because of your mistake. Your company would have also suffered beyond the immediate damage caused by the mistake. They would have lost you and your knowledge. That pretty much sounds like a lose-lose situation. Everyone suffers.

I seen a lot of people let go, laid-off, released, or right sized. In short, they were fired. It’s not nice. It made me feel like shit for a long time after the event. I know that some, especially the older ones, never found another job with a comparable salary and benefits.

The idealist in me doesn’t like to see peoples lives destroyed. I accept that sometimes a company has no option other than to fire an employee. I just believe it should be the last, not the first, option.

[Drewbert]

& about ebaum's world, I think ebaum just saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. If people didn't want their work stolen they should have copyrighted it. To bad so sad, but he is in the right.

That's not at all how the law works. If I draw a picture, or take a photograph for example, I don't have to copyright anything, it is copyrighted the moment I create it.

[Decade]

I dont really look at the flash stuff ebaumsworld holds anyway, which is what most of the controversy's about, so I dont really care. Sure, if I were the creator of any of that stuff I'd be pissed, but since Im only a visitor, I dont care where I see it as long as I have the opportunity too, so I dont care if I use ebaumsworld.

I dont really think about who "actually" made the stuff or contributed the stuff I'm looking at anyway when I go to sites, so I dont see a problem in going to the site to look around anyway.

If you dont like ebaumsworld, simply put, dont go. Just dont chew out somebody else if they happen to frequent it.


But we're all digressing from the topic of the "n-word" in American society.


After reading all of the opinions here, I'm more for the "Allow it or dont allow it at all" crowd. You're arguing racism on both fronts if you're saying that only one race can use a word.

God knows if white men told minorities they couldnt use a word that they use, it would stir up a HUGE controversy.

I really wish someone like Dave Chapelle would make a sketch about this. You see a black kid go into a neighborhood and say to a white guy "What up my cracker!" and then see hilarity ensue as a bunch of white people get pissed off. "You cant use that word! That's OUR word!"

[Rogue_7]

Just as an aside, I have my official "whity" membership card. Really! The local drycleaners (http://www.e-hakuseisha.com/ ) has a discount program, and if you join you get a ittle card that says "Whity Member's" !! I may have to try flashing it in Arkansas and see if I can get a discount at the good ole boys shop!

On to the subject at hand, I have to agree with much of the sentiments. The teacher was a total tool, stupid to the bone for what he did, but if you don't come down on the people who use it everyday, you just can't come down on him like the school did. I do not envy him his job, thats for sure. "Hi, I'm the stuffy white Honors English prof, trying to get you young gansta's to give a rats ass about my class!"

Also, I gotta say it cracked me the hell up to see the newscasters prissily saying "The N-Word" a few dozen times. I'm sorry, but we know what the word is, and what the word means. If the story is newsworth. SAY THE WORD! just say it. Newscasters are there to report the news, and the way they were forced to dance around with "the N-Word" just seemed pathetic.

[Decade]

Just as an aside, I have my official "whity" membership card. Really! The local drycleaners (http://www.e-hakuseisha.com/ ) has a discount program, and if you join you get a ittle card that says "Whity Member's" !! I may have to try flashing it in Arkansas and see if I can get a discount at the good ole boys shop!

dude, you have to scan and post that. Seriously, just for shock value you have to.

[Rogue_7]

Ok!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b228/travelingrant/DSCF0201.jpg

[Decade]

...wow.

I dont even have a witty comment for that, just wow...

[Renter]

Person A(white): So, I can't say "nigga", just because I'm white?
Person B(black): Yeah.
A: But you can say it, just because you're black?
B: Yeah.
Person C(hispano): Can I say "nigga"?
B: No.
A & C: That's really racist.
B: Stfu niggas.