The N-Word: Who Can Say It?

By: Kamaljit Forbes November 4, 2018 - Just a Barbadian and Jamaican concoction with a minor obsession with Avatar: The Last Airbender and BTS.

Anyone has the capability to say the word, but the consequences may vary, depending on the speaker. A popular opinion is that only black people are allowed to say the word. However, others find that opinion to be hypocritical. Let’s see what people at Carver think about this topic.

Dia Lee, 12th Grade

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? Because a lot of people assume that they can say it because of the way, specifically black people have contextualized the word to be a word of endearment rather than a term of oppression.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? Yes. I feel as though -er has more of a bite to it, like it’s more -- it’s definitely not something that you’d use when you’re being playful or you’re being not malicious with your word choice.

Who can say it? I don’t know. That’s up for debate. I would say, first and foremost, people whose family history and ancestry have been associated with that word in a malicious way and then, two, people who grew up in a culture where that word is used in a non-malicious way.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? To a certain degree. I think it’s kind of like a balance between the race and where they’re from, like if you’re just some random white person from the midwest and you’re saying it just because you want to say it, because you don’t want to be silent -- you want to be able to do what you want to do unapologetically, then it’s obviously a problem. But if you grow up in a culture where that word is not used in a malicious way and you’re so used to hearing people use it and you constantly interact in that way, like if you grow up in a place where that’s used, I would probably say any that anywhere that’s considered, what those who are privileged, would say the “hood” or the “ghetto”, if you grew up there, and you’re like constantly interacting with people like that who happen to be people of color who use it in a non-malicious way, then maybe. But also, just don’t use it if you think people would get offended. But you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable using it around people who who use it comfortably around you.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? No. The n-word is completely different in terms of the scale it was used on and how it dehumanized people. Cracker was just a term, it’s mostly a joke. It’s not used against white people, against their oppression, during the institutional slavery and after that, before the Civil Rights movement and all that and stuff. And even after that to a certain degree. So it doesn’t have the same weight at all. It’s used as a combative term against oppression, so it’s not, at the same way, as the n-word is used to be oppressive.

Cyan Fireall, 12th Grade

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? Primarily because of its negative racial connotation that it carries. It was used against a whole group of people brought to America, directly used to offend them, so it’s going to be offensive due to its history.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? I do. I feel like, ending in -a is, as the person before me, Dia Lee, said, it’s more endearing than -er. I feel as though -er is, used in a serious context, always used to hurt somebody, like, no one would just say that, you know, in a friendly way. It’s like, “Nigga, that’s fine.” or “You, nigger!”. It’s two different things. It’s the meaning that you put behind it and no one says -er with good intentions, so I do think those are two different things.

Who can say it? I feel like people who have a connection to American slavery -- American black slavery can say it. Other than that, I see no reason as to why other people would feel the need to be included in that because it’s not their experience.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? Not always but sometimes it does. If a black person is saying it, it honestly is apart -- more than likely a part of their everyday vocabulary: how they greet people, how they approach people in their everyday lives, not in a professional setting. But, let’s say a white person says it, it could have a malicious meaning to it that you could take seriously because it does have a, once again, negative racial backing to it, so yeah, sometimes the race does change the meaning.

I mean Hispanics, honestly, a large percentage of them, or Latinx, have a percentage of black in them so they are connected to racism in that way, but I don’t necessarily believe that they should be saying it either honestly because the Hispanic community in itself is very anti-black and anti-black features and they don’t like the darker skinned tones and the kinkier hair so I don’t feel like they have the right to say that word if they don’t even appreciate the full culture in itself. As an Afro-Latina saying that, I do know that the hispanic culture is very anti-black.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? They don’t carry the same weight. Cracker is a term used to describe an overseer in a way. You know, a person who cracks the whip: the white man. It’s not an insult, it’s just a descriptive word. Nigger was meant to demean a person. It literally means ignorance. So when you say someone’s born a nigger, they’re born a lesser person in a way, so they don’t hold the same weight.

Geovany Reyes, 12th Grade

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? I think it causes a lot of controversy because some people say the n-word as a friendly term but other people take it as a sign of racism. This is because the word doesn't really have a set meaning in society and people take it differently than others.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? Yes, because with the -a ending, people tend to use it as a friendly term but some people still take it the wrong way. On the other hand with the -er ending everyone that I know takes it negatively since it really doesn’t have any positive connotation.

Who can say it? I think it depends entirely on the context of when the word is being used. If it’s being used negatively against someone to try and degrade them in a way then the word should not be used by anyone. If the word is being used in a friendly way without any negative meaning then I don’t see any problem with people saying it depending on how close that person is to the person they are saying it to.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? I think it’s more of the context that changes the word’s meaning and not the race of the person. This is because the way the person says it should really affect how a person should feel about it not because of their race or skin complexion.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? Yes, because the word cracker is not anywhere near as degrading as the n-word. The n-word has more history being used negatively than the word cracker. So I believe that saying cracker is not as bad as saying the n-word.

Najifa Zaman, 12th Grade

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? Because it has a really bad history and people kind of fought over who gets to say it and who doesn’t and what makes it really bad, I guess.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? There is, especially nowadays, because the -er makes it racist and the -a jus makes it like a greeting in a way, which I really don’t agree with. Because I feel like the words should be erased from history or something, like nobody should say it because if one person uses it, the other person would be tempted to use it. So if I hear it in music and I’m singing along to the music I would say the word, which, as an Asian, I don’t think a person of color or like a black person would like that. Because they always argue about, “Hey, you’re Asian. You shouldn’t say this word, there was so much history behind it.” so I think the word should not be used by anyone at all.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? It shouldn’t. It does, but it shouldn’t. I don’t understand why someone’s who’s black, if they say it, it’s okay, but if someone who is of a different race or color say it, it suddenly becomes racist.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? I’m not sure. I don’t think so because the word cracker doesn’t -- I don’t hear people use it on a daily basis now. It’s just the n-word that’s being overused, especially in the entertainment industry. And cracker, you don’t really hear it that much, so I guess not.

Raquel Fredette, 12th Grade

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? I think that people feel like if some people can do something, then everyone else is allowed to do it too, which is definitely not a case because some things just don’t affect everyone.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? No comment. Well, actually, yes I do.It’s all about how everyone takes it. So since people take the endings differently, obviously they have different meanings. I think that the -er ending has a lot more of a bad connotation to it. Even when a lot black people say it, people are all like, “Wooaahh!”, you know, because that’s something that’s just not accepted by anyone really.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? Absolutely. When a black person is saying that word and they’re using it to refer to someone else who is also black, it’s not meant to put them down and it doesn’t really have the power to put them down. And so, when a white person says it, even if they don’t necessarily mean it that way, which I think that most of them do, even if they don’t necessarily mean it that way, it’s just the way that it is.

I feel like white people are entitled to say whatever they want to say. The thing is, when people ask you not to say something, you can just not say it. It doesn’t need to be this whole debate. Like, just be respectful and kind to other people and don’t say it. That’s all I gotta say.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? Um, no. So, if you can say one word and not the other one, the one that you can’t say is definitely the worse one, first of all. And second of all, when you call someone a cracker, you’re referring to the fact that they’re white trash and white people are already privileged and so even if you did have the power to bring them down using that word, that wouldn’t matter that much because they’re already up here, so I don’t know. It’s stupid, I think that’s not even a good question. That’s just ridiculous. It’s just -- I’m sorry, I get so emotional about that. I’m good.

Mr. Pomales, Social Science Teacher

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? It’s controversial because it reminds people that everybody wasn’t equal for a long time.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? For me, no, but I think ultimately it’s an intention thing, so I think for people it definitely is. Like because of popular culture, I think the -a ending has become a term of endearment, while the -er ending is said with an intent to enrage and offend.

Who can say it? I think ultimately we have two options: we either put the word to rest completely and just don’t use it at all or we have to try to come together and move past it. I think the ladder is almost impossible though so I think ultimately we should just put it to rest and never use it at all.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? I think the answer is relative. For me it’s not necessarily the race of the person it’s intent, but I think ultimately it’s relative. Like even if someone isn’t trying to offend by using that word some will get offended by it because of the color of their skin.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? Of course not, no, because it’s not the word that actually matters. The word is to remind others that they were once considered less than a person but they’re not equal, and, in fact, people who use that word with that intention are saying that’s what they think. That you’re not as equal as me.

Ms. Bradley, English Teacher

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? I think right now, we’re in this stage of reappropriation of the word, from specifically the black community, so for some people the word’s meaning is changing. I also think we’re stuck in a conversation in like postmodernism where people feel like words don’t matter or things don’t matter. It’s all kind of, you know, “Words are words.”, instead of having meaning behind them. Even students in class, when I’ve had this discussion, lots of students are like, “Words don’t mean anything. Words are just words”. So there’s that side of it and then there’s people who see it completely opposite, that words hold so much power. So when you have those two contrasting views, there’s going to be controversy between no power and all the power.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? I think other people think there is, I don’t really have an opinion on it because I don’t use either word and I kind of feel like a non-person of color should not use either. So maybe within the community of people of color it means something different. I think outside of it they’re equal: you’re getting at the same thing

Who can say it? It’s kind of reflective of my last answer, it’s not up to me, but I don’t feel, as far as people who shouldn’t say it, I feel like people have held the word in power over other people. I feel like if the word, historically, was not used against you, you have no right to reclaim it.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? Yes, for sure, again coming back to the power of dynamic. Intention is also part of conversation. People say, “Well, if I’m not intending to use the word in a way that harms you then it’s not a bad word.”, but you can hurt someone without intending to hurt them. So I think regardless of intention, like when a white person says the n-word, they’re invoking that power of dynamic of saying you are less than me by using a word that was used to oppress and insight violence against people.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? No, just basically because no one have ever decided, this group of people deserves to be oppressed and have violence against them because they are crackers. Yes, it can be used in a derogatory but it’s like reverse racism right, there’s never been systematic oppression of people because of the fact that they were, quote on quote, “crackers” so they’re totally different.

Do you have any other comments on the topic? So my view might be a little different. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania where people still used the n-word in derogatory ways. Where the population of white people is like 97%, so in using that against a population of 3% people of color it’s absolutely racism, it’s absolutely derogatory. My grandfather still uses the n-word and it’s certainly not unintentional and even if it wasn’t there’s clearly still violent feelings that would add to the oppression of people of color. So even just moving between Philadelphia and rural Pennsylvania, I think sometimes students don’t realize that outside of the city things are a little bit different in some places, so they might say “Oh, we moved past that, we moved past with what the n-word meant before.”, but the before is still present in some places.

]Ms. Kuoch, African American History and English Teacher

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? I think the use of the n-word causes controversy because it’s been popularized in like mainstream media like songs and movies and stuff like that, and especially with song lyrics, like, a lot of people sing along with those types of things and so there’s a question of “Who can sing along with that word?” or “Who can’t?” That’s like one aspect of it. Other ways that it comes up is through classes, whether it’s in a text, and I think it causes a controversy because there’s like a long history of violence and pain associated with the word, and now also a movement of reclaiming the word and empowerment. So the word captures a lot of those different meanings and because of that it’s very complicated.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? I mean, I think so. I don’t think I’m the right person to answer that confidently, like as a non-black person, and I would leave that up to black people to decide that for themselves and what the significance is for themselves. I mean, typically, what’s talked about is the -er ending as being more of a racial slur and used more to criticize people or as racist word while the -a ending is more of a way to reclaim the word and to be empowered as a community.

Who can say it? Again, I don’t know if I’m the right person to say who can say it, but I typically don’t say the word. As a teacher of many black students, I don’t think that I’m the right person to monitor their usage of the word, of students who are black because I don’t think I have authority on the issue. It shouldn’t be up to me who should say it. Typically, here, students don’t say it that much, but I don’t usually say anything if I hear a black student saying it like more commonly, the -a variation of the word to each other because I don’t think it’s my place. If they’re using it in a way that’s not derogatory then I don’t know why I would say anything.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? It definitely changes the word’s meaning. I mean, I think it goes back to the history of mostly white people using the word against black people and it being a word that has really dehumanized people. So because of that, from my perspective, it seems like most people feel like non-black people shouldn’t say it. For me, as an Asian-American, it’s kind of like I’m an outsider on the issue because I’m not white or black and so I’m not part of that history of white violence against African-Americans, but I don’t think I should really say either because I haven’t experienced that history myself of discrimination against African-Americans, so it’s also not mine to reclaim.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? They don’t carry the same weight, in my mind. At least in this school, and I think in a lot of contexts. Like, the word cracker is used more as a way of poking fun at white people rather than truly discriminating against white people, but there might be situations where that’s true. But from what I’ve witnessed at this school, at least students kind of use it more as a joke rather than truly -- without any prejudice. There is a difference to me because of the long history of racial violence towards African-Americans. We can talk about ways that white people have experienced hardship and struggle, but I don’t think the word has as much meaning behind it, where it doesn’t carry as much weight because white people haven’t been discriminated against for their race in most situations.

Mr. Milton, African American History Teacher

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? Because of the history behind the word. Okay, it has a definite historical background to it and the word has always been used to say that a certain group is less than or inferior to, okay, so it’s just totally negative.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? No, it’s all a matter of dialect, for a lot of people anyway.

Who can say it? No one. No one. No one should be saying that word: Black, white, Latinx, Asian. No one should be saying it.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? Well, you know, in the African-American community you might, for example, be in a barber shop with a bunch of men, they might be joking around and you hear the n-word coming out and you might have some people in the barber shop of a certain disposition that might be offended by it. They won’t say anything because you’ll probably be outnumbered, but it really doesn’t. It really doesn’t. Context. None of that stuff matters.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? Well, one deals with denigration and the other one is about somebody who has a lack of social standing or social class. Okay, so the word cracker is always referred to the white person who was under the slave master. They were the one cracking the whip. Okay, so that was a matter of class and status.

Do you have any other comments on the topic? It’s a negative word and people should actually move away from it all, but unfortunately because of media it’s being promoted as if it’s something that should be apart of our culture.You hear it all the time in rap songs . I remember, speaking of rap music, I remember a time when you didn’t hear the word. Then all of a sudden in the early 90’s, a group called NWA comes out with an album which, pretty much, was a protest record. The record company saw that it made a lot of money, “Oh, we can make a lot of money off of this word because they’ll accept it in that context.” Now it’s everywhere. Okay, it has to stop.

Ms. Moore Almond, African American History Teacher

Why does this topic, in your opinion, cause such a controversy? The n-word? It causes a controversy because language has meaning. Words have power. The power to name a thing is a power to define a thing. So when you have this label, especially a label that has been so fraught with negative meaning for African-Americans historically in this country, I can see why people are offended when you use that term because here’s the thing: how do you really know intent? How do you really know whether or not someone is trying to offend you? How do you erase four hundred years of history? You know, when somebody who might be of a different race besides African-American jokingly, playfully says, “Oh, you know, I have a black card! I can use the n-word! That’s my n right there!” Like, can we really use language without context? I don’t think language exists out of the people who use it. It just doesn’t. That’s not how language works. So, for me,personally, I don’t use that word. I’m not comfortable using that word. I know enough about history to know that it’s problematic. I know that other people, however, do you use that word and for them it is reclaiming the power of it by giving it a different meaning. So I know there are some people who actually believe that, you know, “If I use the n-word and I don’t pronounce a hard -er, then I’m taking something that was meant to hurt me and I am now imbuing it with my own power or giving it my own power. I’m reclaiming it. I’m owning it.” But, to me, I just feel like that doesn’t ring true. I think that it’s the same thing with the b-word. Like when I hear girls call each other like, “Oh, that’s my b!” Mmm, is she? Really? Out of all the words in the English language, this is what we call each other? I mean, I don’t know. I just feel like, in many ways, there are many many other choices. People can make to refer to a race of people who has been, in so many ways, traumatized, specifically by the use of this word. So, it’s complicated, it’s complicated, and I think hip hop culture has not made it an easier discussion. I think youth culture hasn’t made it an easier discussion. I think the further away we get from slavery, the shorter our memories become. But I think people need to be careful about the words that they use, I think that’s my final thought on it. People absolutely need to be careful about the words they use.

Do you think there is a difference between the endings -a and -er? No, I mean, I think that’s a matter of semantics and I think that the endings have different connotations, but I also think that if there’s somebody who has a Southern accent who uses the word and doesn’t pronounce the -er and they’re still trying to call you out your name, it’s just as bad as somebody who, you know, does pronounce -er and is still trying to call you out your name. So I think that people use the endings as code for who is actually saying it because basically what they’re saying is that, you know, African-Americans don’t pronounce -ers. That’s what their saying. When black folk talk to each other, we don’t say... I don’t know… we don’t say “refrigerator,” we say “refrigerata”. Like, that’s how black people talk, that’s also a stereotype about African-American culture because we all speak in many many different ways. So I think it’s disingenuous to say that,”If I spell it differently, it means something else, because it’s not about the spelling, it’s about the intent.”

Who can say it? Who can say it? I mean, anyone can say it. Everyone has the power to form the word and have it come out of their mouth. I don’t think anybody should say it. I think if you make the choice to say it, then I challenge people to defend that choice. Tell me why it’s okay. If you can tell me why it’s okay, if you can tell me why it’s justified to you, if you can tell me why you believe that somehow you are giving it more power than the weight of history, then, if you want to then go ahead and use it, okay, at least I know your position. But, as for me and my choices, when I think about what I can call African-Americans, when I think about what I want people, for example, calling my children, what I want my children calling each other, that’s not at the top of my list. It’s absolutely not at the top of my list. I mean, like I said, there a thousand other words that we can use to speak to each other that don’t have this violence to it. There’s a violence in the word. As creative as we are, as diverse as our experiences have been, why that word? Nobody has ever been able to explain to me, to my satisfaction, why that word is necessary.

Does the race of the person saying the word change the word’s meaning? It can. I mean clearly, I think, like I said before, context matters. I think if you’re in a situation where people are calling you that word and their carrying torches and, you know, they’re marching together against people like you, then yes, that’s worse than somebody saying, “Oh, that’s my n-word.” or using that word in a hip hop song. Clearly there’s a difference, but I think where it gets murky is when people who are not considered to be members of the race, again also considering that race is a social construction, but people who can define themselves in other ways decide to use that word, you have to question why. Are you appropriating culture? Is it making you feel like you’re somehow more like black people by using that word? Or, again,is it code for something else? Like, one also has to ask, “Why do you need to feel comfortable enough to use that word?” because, you know, we all make choices and many of us have circles of friends that happen to be diverse, but I wouldn’t, in joking with my friends of different persuasions, either racial, sexual identity, otherwise I wouldn’t the turn around and use that word because I’m so comfortable with them. I wouldn’t be like, “Oh, that’s my --” No. Nope. You don’t have permission. I feel like in some ways, some African-Americans believe that they’ve earned the right to take the word because they’ve had the experience and they’ve lived the experience everyday and the only people who can use the word are the people who have to deal with the consequences of that word in a negative way. I can understand that perspective but, again, for me, I don’t think that anyone should be using it. That’s the bottom line. I don’t think think that anyone should be using it. I think it’s disrespectful to all the people who have fought and died to be called by their name, like, the name that their parents gave them and not the n-word. I think we do a disservice to their memories when we call ourselves anything other than what we’ve been given by our our parents or what we’ve given ourselves. Because here’s my thing, I don’t know of anybody that has changed their name to that. And if you wouldn’t name yourself that, why would you call somebody that? I know black people named Precious and King and Queen and Mister and Sir. People have given their children names like this so that people know, “You’re gonna respect my child.” I’ve never heard of anyone with the birth certificate, and again, I could be wrong, maybe there is, but I don’t know of anybody who has ever named their child the n-word. And that tells me that it is not anything that anybody wants to be called, not really. Like, you might take it, but nobody’s naming you that. So yeah, I’m not a fan. I don’t support.

In your opinion, describe the relationship between the n-word and cracker. Do they carry the same weight? I think it depends. I think it depends on the intent. I also think it depends on the receiver. I mean, I don’t think that cracker has the same weight because it doesn’t have the same history. Do I think it can be as hurtful? Absolutely. I think anytime, like I said, when we call people out of their names, in anger, and we attempt to do violence, when we perpetuate this violence, it’s bad for everybody. But I don’t think historically people who have been referred to as crackers, which, you know, tend to be people of the caucasian persuasion, have had the same consequences that go along with being labeled that. So I don’t agree with calling anyone of any race out of their name, but do I think those two words have the same history? No, not at all. But I could also think of a thousand racial slurs that don’t necessarily have the history of the n-word, specifically. But they’re all racial slurs and I think the bigger question is, “When we are trying to hurt each other, which is what a slur is, why then do we go to race? Why is that something that we inflict upon people versus keeping it specifically to the individual?” But I guess that’s also how racism works. We use these generalizations against each other.

Do you have any other comments on the topic? I think it's important to have the conversation. I think it's important to have the conversation in this building. I hear a lot of you using that word kind of in passing as you talk to each other which is deeply uncomfortable for me just because I think you're better than that. I think a lot of the language you use in general in the spaces that you all have claimed as your own, like hallways and things, isn't very healthy language. I think that the ways that you talk to each other, even casually, is just so damaging because, here's the thing,when you say something positive to someone it makes them feel great, but if you say something negative that's what they remember. Like, I can remember every hurtful thing somebody said to me, but I can't necessarily remember any compliments. I think that when we are so casually cruel to each other, it doesn't make this place as welcoming as I know it is. I think all of us, adults and children, in this building need to be more mindful of how we speak when we're talking to each other because I don't think it's something that is just the responsibility of students. This is an amazing place for so many reasons. There are a lot of things going on in this building that aren't going on in other places and it's different here. But the reason it's different is we are different and we've committed as a community to be different, and we can be so much better than that. I think it's intellectually lazy to just stay where you are and not improve as a culture, as a school, as a community. I think if more people questioned the language that they use and why it's okay, I think that we would be better for it. You don't have to do something just because everyone else does it, you don't have to do something just because it's always been done. What would it mean for us to be in a place that's safe for everybody emotionally, physically? What would that mean in terms of how you spend your day considering how many hours we all spend here?

After seeing these different opinions the n-word, what is your opinion? How would you answer these questions?