Throughout the semester we have been discussing the wrongful use of the word gay to mean bad or something similar. However, a similar word that we haven’t talked about is the “N” word. To this day the “N” word is still tossed around like nothing regardless of the historical significance it has. Since we hadn’t talked about it much in class I decided to do some research on it and I found a great site with plenty of information. This is the site of an organization whose mission is to abolish the “N” word. When you first open the site you’ll see a great introduction with really strong images and phrases. It really makes you think about why we still use the “N” word. Then you go on to the main page where you can find out more about the organization, its mission, and its history. You can also join its mailing list and learn more about it. Click here to check it out.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Abolish the "N" word
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Although I think that using racial/homosexual slurs demonstrates ignorance,I do not think that banning the use of such words is right for two reasons. I THINK THAT
ReplyDelete(1) banning any kind of speech, even profane or highly offensive speech, is always wrong. By the first amendment, I think that free speech should be defended at all costs.
"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire
(2) The meaning of a word is changeable and banning it will effectively make its connotation worse (and likely will not prevent the use of the word.) Some groups use their offensveness to their advantage in humorous, wry kind of "endearments".
I work at Dairy Queen. One day a gay couple came in and after they had ordered their ice cream, one of the men said to me "This fag will pay for it," smiling.
The "N word" is used in similar ways
"whats up, my nigga?"
Gabrielle, I firmly disagree with both your statements. While it is illegal to ban the use of the “n-word,” discouraging the use of it would be highly effective in deconstructing the system of institutionalized racism that the people have been socialized to accept. There is no other derogatory term applied to any marginalized group in the world that holds as much discriminatory stigma than the “n-word.”
ReplyDeleteAnd secondly, while the current meaning of words can be tweaked, the stigma cannot. Many marginalized groups who have been called derogatory terms tend to try to take them back in order to lessen the negative impact of the word hence gay people using “faggot” and black people using the “n-word.” History cannot be erased or changed so trying to pretend that words are harmful is just a little bit silly.