I am a caucasion teacher who works in a middle school with black and hispanic students. I find it interesting that I, as a caucasion guy, often find myself reprimanding my black students for using the N-word. I have also had several incidences of my students stating that it's okay for a black person to say and not for a white person to say to which I firmly respond, "No, it is absolutely unacceptable for anyone to use that word regardless of color or ethnicity!" This is often met with a look of a little shock and confusion from the students. It seems like from their point of view that as long as you're black and drop the "r" at the end of the word, then that changes the meaning of the word and is okay to use. But if you're white and pronounce the full word without dropping the "r" at the end, then that's the most disgustingly racist thing ever!
2007-01-01 06:21:14 · 24 answers · asked by danman4472 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It is total and complete ignorance for all races to use the word. Continue to reprimand your black students and eventually the lesson will sink in. They don't understand the gravity of the word, and need to mature some before they will.
2007-01-01 06:24:21 · answer #1 · answered by Buttercup - VP Bamma Fan Club 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I work for a jr high school which is mostly black, white and hispanic.
The blacks will call their buddies "ni**a" , the whites will call their buddies "cracker" , and occasionally you'll hear the hispanics call each other " wetb*ck". Yet if anyone NOT of their race dAREs to address them by such names.....it's on.Fists are gonna be flying.
To them it's not a "double standard". It's just how it is. It's like how a person wearing glasses can turn around and call another glasses wearer "four-eyes" and they both get a kick out of it. No harm is done because they are the same in that way.
I've come to the point where now I tell them that though I don't like nor wish to hear ANY of those racial names-- I won't say anything as long as it's not one race using them against another. This compromise has settled MANY battles in class, on the school yard, and on the bus.
My goal is for them to learn to respect each other.This seems to work for now.Now- if a new kid comes and dares to address someone by any name that suggest prejudiceness.......s/he has EVERYBODY to face! They tell that person that such a name cannot be used by him or her, unless that is what s/he is too.
Odd way to handle the issue I know. But this is what works where I am. Things are a LOT more peaceful this way .
2007-01-01 06:59:47 · answer #2 · answered by ZEE 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a little hard to answer because I agree with you. But, for the sake of the black students: It's O.K. for blacks to use the word because they're the ones putting themselves down, not white people. Sort of like me calling my friend fat if I were fat also. It's become a novel word to use only amongst themselves. I guess since the only time it has been used in the past by other races, it has been used out of anger, ridicule, to show inferiority, etc. It has always been connected to a negative emotion.
2007-01-01 06:35:33 · answer #3 · answered by Ironman_Daddy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is true! My son is half black(Im white) and he trys that on me Because his father said that it is OK. I do not tolerate that at all. And I dont think you should either. Whether there is an "er" or an "a" on the end, its still the priciple and where the word comes from.
Ask them what the dference is. If they can not give you a reasonable answer you should make them write you a make them write you a paper on it.
I think that you should also talk to your principle and make this a rule in the school and all kids should be punished that use this word.
2007-01-01 06:32:35 · answer #4 · answered by Megz 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
in reality the word ****** does not mean anything reguarding race or ethnicity. it's means, in the dictionary you can look it up, an ignorant person... it's a shame that back in the day us white people use to use it against those of a different color then us... but in reality anyone can be a ******... as far as your students go if you really preffer to have them not say the word no matter how they mean it give them a punishment. for very time one of them says it you make them write the original word and it's definition on the black bored as many times as you feel nessessary. i say blackbored because they will gety tired of standing there writing it and think about it next time before saying the word. just make sure they know the actual meaning of the word... alot of people don't even know to this day it is in the dictionary meaning what it does and think it was made up for black people only... this is not true... good luck
2007-01-01 06:28:03 · answer #5 · answered by heclee 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Caucasian is how it is spelled. I, too, personally dislike any use of the word. I don't consider myself to be one nor do I respond to to it. As a Southern guy, I see subtle signs of racism everyday. I am a Dave Chappelle fan, but totally hate his overuse of the word on his show and standup comedy. Even Richard Pryor (RIP) stopped using the word in the 80's. The a at the end is not a term of endearment/empowerment.
2007-01-01 06:28:33 · answer #6 · answered by J W 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
For some reason, it has become routine in many groups to use derogatory terms essentially as terms of endearment. Many gay people, for example, will call each other by names that would sound homophobic coming from others.
I personally think it's high time we got beyond race in society, and it baffles me when people of color continue using terms a term like this that should have long ago been retired.
2007-01-01 06:44:26 · answer #7 · answered by dmb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It may be socially acceptable for an African-American to use the "n" word with or without the "r," but it doesn't make it right. A lot of people freely use the "motherf....." word as well, but it doesn't make that right either. You are right in insisting that all of your students refrain from using a racially charged word.
2007-01-01 06:26:00 · answer #8 · answered by Scott K 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are right, it is totally unacceptable for anyone, regardless of colour or ethnicity, to say this to another person. However, maybe it just seems less harmful if a black person is saying it to another black person because this cannot be taken as a racist comment.
2007-01-01 06:25:44 · answer #9 · answered by Sami 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's stupid and taken to an extreme now, but I guess it was a way of dealing with racism.
My family is from Michigan, and they used to get teased and called UPers (Upper Peninsula, pronounced youper) all the time. They turned it in to a badge of pride.
It's also something to feel victimized about.
2007-01-01 06:24:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋