The N-word – is it a derogatory term or has it been remanufactured as an alleged term of endearment? A term used to indicate a certain bond, connection and understanding between those persons.
Is it right or wrong to use the term in a way that is so dissimilar from its origins?
That was the topic of discussion February 23 at the Downtown Campus.
The Black Student Union hosted the discussion. Five panelists shared their varying opinions about the issue with a highly involved audience. Homer Blow, Program/Music Director of Blowradio.com, Mikel Holt, Journalist for Milwaukee Community Journal, Milton Dockery and Kenneth O’Reilly, History Instructors at MATC and Annette Nance, Student, led the conversation.
The statements of both panelists and audience members displayed undeniable passion for their beliefs. Some argued that the use of the word to address friends or peers simply is turning a negative term into a positive.
It shows that they have overcome oppression, risen from the ashes – in a manner of speaking. The stigma attached should and can be changed. What was once a term used to keep African Americans enslaved should be used as a source of empowerment. They should not be ashamed of it.
The other side to the argument was that addressing others in such a way is merely embracing the negative.
Dockery, referring to a comment made by Blow, stated that using the word is like turning lemons into lemonade and called the comparison “intellectually dishonest.”
It is a word that came from pain, and it will always be negative. If the meaning of the word has changed, then would it be acceptable for a person of another race to address an African American in such a way? “If a white person called you that [the N-word], then you would want to fight”, argued Dockery “so we haven’t changed the meaning of the word.”
At times the tension in the room was high, but all in all contributors to the discussion were respectful and well spoken. Each case was well defended; however, audience members seemed to leave with their original beliefs still intact.