Should the "N" Word be Eradicated?

Writer: Ray (U of Tsukuba, Japan)

Published in August 2024 (permission granted)

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"Nigger," a term that an established lawyer Christopher Darden famously branded as “the filthiest, dirtiest, nastiest word in the English language,” the N-word is essentially a verbal dynamite, notorious for the controversy it provokes. After all, it has had its roots in being weaponized as an epithet of contempt, abuse, and threat, to the point where this one word would signify the presence of racism, often of a frighteningly violent sort (Kennedy, 2022). Thus, with its symbolization of racial oppression in America, there have been efforts in categorically expunging this word from our lexicon (especially that of the whites). However, far from fruitful, Randall Kennedy claims that such efforts have only gone awry, ultimately begging the question of whether the N-word should be eradicated or not. Though the N-word has a complex and often painful history, this essay argues that its eradication is neither desirable nor feasible. Not only is the term's status as a universal slur questionable but attempts to eliminate it may prove futile and potentially infringe upon freedom of speech.

It is crucial to recognize that discussions about the N-word can evoke strong emotional responses, particularly from those who have experienced racial discrimination. While this essay argues against eradication, it does not seek to diminish the pain associated with the word's hateful usage. Instead, it advocates for a nuanced understanding that respects the word's painful history and its potential for reclamation and cultural expression.

First, it is imperative to understand the history of the word ‘nigger.’ According to Kennedy, its etymology can be traced back to the Latin word for the colour black, niger. Though not originally employed in Britain’s North American colonies as a slur, “over time, the term took a derogative connotation,” and by the end of the 1830s ‘nigger’ was “firmly established in the USA as a commonly encountered and profound insult” (Kennedy, 2022). However, Kennedy points out that ‘nigger’ does not solely represent a slur associated with racial animus. In fact, the term “can radiate a wide array of meanings” and has many functions as a result; African-Americans have long used the N-word to call invidious discrimination into question, and in recent decades, embraced "nigger" and used it both to celebrate their identity their worth, especially in hip-hop culture (Kennedy, 2022). As O. W Holmes put beautifully, a word is "the skin of a living thought [that] may vary in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used," I believe we should observe the N-word as so.

Hence, understanding the context and intention behind the usage of the N-word is of greatest importance, and I would like to stress this point very much. Though it indeed becomes a socially destructive epithet when used derogatively, it can also be adopted as a mark of in-group solidarity and camaraderie, upon which much of the art and culture we enjoy has been built upon. Hence, the presupposition that the word "nigger" is a slur is false, and its non-derogative value and culture would be lost with its eradication. This, too, is why I disagree with the current zeitgeist, which allows only people of African-American descent to use the word "nigger," with zero tolerance towards white people and other races. Critics argue that ‘Nigger’ becomes a slur when used by a white person, and some go even further, arguing that black people too shouldn’t use ‘nigger’ in fear of what it communicates to white people. However, since context regarding both the situation of utterance and reception is key in what makes "nigger" a slur, I disagree with such arguments.

Furthermore, I argue against the eradication of obscene words and slurs. In any language, you are bound to find obscene and offensive words; shit, cunt, fuck are obscene, and idiot, bitch, and "nigger" are examples of slurs in the English language. Should we then eradicate all these terms because we deem them offensive? I believe that doing so is foolish, as it is futile. When these terms were coined, they were not taboo (Allen, 2015). As the meanings of words are malleable with time, other dysphemisms for terms would only continue to spawn. Hence, the eradicationist presupposition that the eradication of "nigger" will eliminate the slur against African-Americans is highly questionable. Moreover, how are we to silence the lips of another man? This is a herculean task, lest we spit on human rights and take extreme measures.

Unfortunately, such a reality is closer to us than we think. There have been calls for the imposition of legal action on those who have uttered the word "nigger"; Left-liberal multiculturalists, too, contend for broader prohibitions on the N-word regarding hate speech (and thereby its incompliance as a felony). In other words, this is the constitutionalized eradication of "nigger," and I argue that these are nothing but lamentable, as they impose an unconstitutional prohibition on free speech in the midst of fighting "culture wars" (Mullender, 2004). With such prohibitions, the potential cost for transgression would be too high, rendering the study for such subjects extremely impoverished, lest impossible in classrooms. Considering the N-word’s importance as the symbol of racial oppression, such legal ramifications can only be said to be a dreadful betrayal of both freedom of speech and intellectual discourse. Hence, though the intent may very well be positive, to assume that the outcome of the eradication of the N-word is too positive would be highly mistaken.

Hence, I disagree that we should eradicate the N-word on the basis that ‘‘nigger’ is not a slur and that its eradication is futile and compromises freedom of speech. Not to downplay the damage the term has done, but through understanding its complexity and meanings, all persons, not just African Americans, should be allowed to use any language in good faith, be it to produce art or to further education. Moving forward, we should focus on education and open dialogue. Schools could take the initiative to implement programs that teach the word's history and evolving usage, especially because social media sites like Instagram have seen a surge in recent usage of the N-word, presumably due to users’ reduced perceived agency while on the site. Media guidelines could be developed to ensure thoughtful, context-appropriate use. Ultimately, by engaging with the N-word's complexity rather than avoiding it, we can work towards a more nuanced understanding of race, language, and identity in our society.

Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Ms. Lay for her guidance in writing this essay.

Works Cited:

Allan, Keith. "When is a Slur not a Slur? The Use of Nigger in ‘Pulp Fiction.’" Language Sciences, vol. 52, 2015, pp. 187-199.

Kennedy, Randall. Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2022.

Mullender, Richard. The Modern Law Review, vol. 67, no. 5, 2004, pp. 872-75.

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