Why the double standard for the N-word?

Question

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!

Answer 1

It's a stupid double standard at that; I agree that no one should be using it; I don't

Answer 2

well i am in high school, and even when you would think that it would get better and the students would be more mature, they won't. i don't understand why african americans get so offensive about that. i was in one situation where people were making offensive comments towards the apartment buildings that have mostly blacks and hispanics in them. caucasions were saying like" i would never go in thier, i might get shot!" one black person overheard and said"so you think think we're a bunch of violent ****** huh? well you gay crackas better straighten up. you think cause you had my grandparents as slaves you can talk about what you want.?" it seems that, that is the black communities way of saying like "homie" or "dog". but when the white person says it, it is found in a negative way. i think they think it is like the sacred word to thier culture or somthing. i don't see why we can't say it without getting into trouble but they can say all of they nasty things to us. some, not all think that they can over power the whites. it's the truth and they know it. i think that when the blacks say it, they probably use that whole slave thing against us. i don't know why because we have nothing to do with it now. some just say it as a hello and don't care, but the ones that do, obviously don't like white people they admitted it.

Answer 3

Sir, thank you for not condoning this behavior. You did say that you were dealing with middle school students, correct? This is largely an occurence of young people. I was born during the civil rights era, and have quite a different understanding and experience of the word.

Answer 4

Its a rough subject. I think that word shoul be deleted from all vocabulary. Kids, I think really don't understand the history of the word. And how their ansestors fought so hard to ge equality and now they are degrading themselfs, I'll never understand Why?

Answer 5

i really agree i think it is a big double standard. NO one should be using the 'N' word whether you are white,black,asian,hispanic,etc.

Answer 6

I agree with you. I'm black and I dont use N*gga or N*gger. I think both words are horrible, no matter what your race is.

Answer 7

I hate that word. No should use it at all. It's just reopenong wounds from the pre-civil rights era.

Answer 8

i have no clue but i have a question racism used to be white to black but now (im a teacher as well) in my school its reverse

Answer 9

I agree with you sir
it is wrong to call any one an offensive name.

Answer 10

Yes, i agree - its not acceptable! Not before, not now and certainly not for the future....