Use of the N word....?

Question

My Grandmother somtimes uses the N word(N&$$@r) I am against the use of this word and i think it is wrong to use it but she is old (92) and wont change now she says its part of her freedom of speach is this right? tht people can still openly use this word? i would think it would be illegal to say....

PS(My Grandmother is not a bad person she actually saved a black mans life by donating an organ when she was younger)

Answer 1

Hell, I don't even correct my brother when he uses the word. It's just that way with family. You can only really treat your own kids like kids and even then you gotta give up after a few years.

Hey, 92, congratulations, that's not a record but it's still fairly uncommon.

Answer 2

Just because your grandma saved a black mans life does not mean that she is not racist. There is a term in psychology called reaction formation. When people have psychological stressors that they don't know how to deal with, one of their defense mechanisms is to act out in ways that are totally opposite to what they believe, i.e being racist and donating an organ to save a person's life. It's called reaction formation. So the whole organ donation should not even be a factor in your question, it doesn't offer sufficient proof.

To answer your question though, you are on the right track. There is nothing you can do to change her ways, and I don't recommend asking her to/bringing the issue up at all. I am a strong believer in respecting your elders, and that includes avoiding situations where you end up arguing with them over who's wrong and who is right. Just understand that she is from a different generation, and that she grew up with and under circumstances that you could never begin to imagine. Accept her as she is, and as sad as it is, take solace in the fact that it may not go on much longer. Just enjoy whatever time you have left with her, and ignore the N word.

Answer 3

Well I personally dont think that your grandmother is using the term in away that she is saying "What up my homey", like black people do. Im sure she is using it in a derogatory way. Unfortunately this is probably because it was used soo much as she grew up & she was taught that its ok to say that word about black people. It has been instilled in her. Yes people have freedom of speach, but I feel that to use the word in a derogatory way is offensive. I dont think anyone should call another person anything that derogatory...With her age, she wont change, but that is very unChristian like. Since you say you dont like that word, Just ask her, "Do you think Jesus, or God would use that word?" It doesnt matter if she says, Its my freedom of speach, its just an ugly word, that has an ugly background. Why use it?

Answer 4

My personal sentiments on the N word are that if the black community wants the white community to stop using it, the black community needs to "bury" the usage of the word as a whole (not just some cheesy mock funeral like they did in Philadelphia and some other city).

If we in America are truly "equal", then no group should have special priviledges, no matter how "oppressed" their ancestors may have been in the past. This includes the current phenomenon of white people losing jobs and getting death threats over usage of the word, while blacks are passed over and not judged simply because "they are oppressed and have personally re-invented the word".

And no, while I hate the N word myself for certain reasons of my own (ie. it being used as a club by blacks over whites who use it even innocently), I would never support it becoming illegal.

Remember, nowhere in the Constitution does it ever give your a right to not be offended. Up with free speech!

Answer 5

It's not illegal, just ignorant. However, it is also not appropriate for a young person to correct the language of a 92-year-old woman. Congratulations - this means you have joined the ranks of those with an Eccentric Relative. They are fun to use when playing "can you EVEN believe this?" at holiday parties and on YA. Just put her down to being hopelessly old-fashioned and unwilling to change with the times.

Answer 6

Why exactly should it be illegal?

While I don't feel that it's a word that people should use I see no reason to make using it illegal. That my friend is nothing but censorship, and myself I enjoy my rights too much to give them up because a word may or may not offend someone.

When you start banning things that you don't agree with (words, ideas...etc) it's a short road to the things you do like being banned.

Answer 7

WELL !!!

Explain to nanna that there are actually two types of black people: ******* are black (and quite ironically, some are WHITE !) trash and are like totally bad people. On the other hand, Black people are just dark skinned people who are just as good as other orginary people.

The next time she says ******, ask her is she saying that because the person is trash or what? Tell her if she thinks the person may actually be cool, she can feel free to say 'Black' (though why you need such an obvious label is lost on me). Otherwise, she may as well say 'black trash', or worse yet, she may let a '******' or two slip because she is after all OLD and I'm sure when she meets up with the LORD, he'll be sure to correct her as to the proper terminology.

hehehe !

Answer 8

Many people still use that word. I have found since moving down here to the states that there still seems to be alot of racial tensions still and that this word is still used frequently. It is definitely not a nice word, however, I even hear black people using this word themselves. No matter what though, I too will refrain from using that word, to me it just sounds dirty. (My husband's grandmother uses it like nothing too.)

Answer 9

It's perfectly legal, just like the words "cracker" and "anglo" are legal to say openly, even though they are just as offensive. When you're 92 (go Granny!) you get to do or say whetever you want!

Besides, if it was illegal then the entire hiphop community would be on death row for overuse!

Answer 10

Yes, it is legal to be offensive. People can choose to be as offensive and ignorant as their super powers allow. It is not illegal just ignorant.

Your Granny is certainly a little old to change her ways. I suggest that you chalk this behavior up to....well....how to be nice....your Granny being a racist knucklehead. Perhaps you can break the chain and simply refer to people you find offensive as....knuckleheads. By the way, did the balck man, try african american by the way, play the organ well?