An even bigger issue comes into play when people outside the Black community feel as if they can say it if we can, and that if the n-word is used in the media by rap/hip-hop artists, popular Black comedians, in films and television, or anywhere else, then what’s the big deal? The big deal is that the word was once used to degrade and dehumanize people of color in the most horrific ways. And what’s crazy is that there are still people, not just Black ones, who use the word (openly and behind closed doors) to be mean, obnoxious, and hateful, none of which are okay. There are also people who seem completely oblivious as to why anyone would be upset about the use of the word at all.
During one of my English classes in college, one of our required readings was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I’d never read the book until college, and when I realized how much the word nigger appeared in the text, it was unsettling. When the use of the word came up during a class discussion, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when my class (full of mostly white peers) appeared dismissive about the word and felt like it wasn’t a big deal. I should note that there were only two Black students in the class, me and another Black student. The other Black student in the class shared the same sentiments as the white students taking the course -- and she did what a lot of Black students sometimes do while attending a PWI (predominantly white institution) they’re outnumbered at -- she assimilated and just went with the flow. To my surprise, she openly told the class that her parents raised her not to be “too much” in front of white people so she wouldn’t create problems for herself. How sad.
Since the n-word doesn't appear to be going anywhere soon, I think it's important to have a conversation about it. Not everyone is okay with it, but it's still something worth discussing.