The "N" Word

mcgruff10

https://www.yahoo.com/news/wisconsin-students-walk-protest-racial-170817812.html

Wisconsin students walk out to protest racial slur firing

West High School students walked out of class around 10 a.m. to protest the firing. Madison Police Department officials didn't respond to The Associated Press' request for a crowd count but told the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper that about 1,500 people participated.

A WISC-TV livestream of the walkout showed what appeared to be scores of students marching through the streets. They walked to the Madison school district offices and marched laps around the building, chanting "Hey-hey, hey-ho, zero tolerance has got to go!" and "Do Better!"

Security guard Marlon Anderson, 48, said he was responding to a call Oct. 9 about a disruptive student at West. He said the student, who is black, called him obscenities, including the N-word. Anderson said he told the student multiple times not to call him that, repeating the slur during the confrontation.

Madison schools have a zero-tolerance policy on employees saying racial slurs. Anderson was fired Wednesday.

Anderson said he was just trying to defend himself and that context matters. The Madison teachers union has filed a grievance with the district on his behalf.

During his time at East and West high schools, Anderson said students have used that slur against him "many times," and that it has resulted in "restorative conversations" in which he explains the history, context and meaning of the word.

Last school year, at least seven Madison School District staff members resigned or were fired after using a racial slur in front of students.

West Principal Karen Boran said the zero-tolerance approach has been applied consistently.

The district school board president, Gloria Reyes, said in a statement Friday that she wants the board to review its policy on racial slurs as soon as possible. She said she also has directed district staff to handle Anderson's grievance quickly.

"This is an incredibly difficult situation, and we acknowledge the emotion, harm and complexity involved," she said. "Many people in our community and our district are grappling with that complexity, and we will continue to do so as we go forward."

Superintendent Jane Belmore issued her own statement saying the zero-tolerance policy is designed to protect students from harm, no matter what the circumstances or intent. But she added that "different viewpoints" from the community are emerging and the district will review the policy in light of Anderson's grievance.

The singer Cher weighed on the dispute Friday, tweeting in response to a news story about Anderson that if he decides to sue the Madison school district, she would cover his expenses.

A message left at the Madison teachers union for Anderson wasn't immediately returned.

Jason P

I like that the reporter had the moxie and investigative intuition to check with Cher so the nation could have proper analysis of this travesty.  That probably would have taken an investigative Rolling Stone journalist from the 70's at least a month and several fake mustaches to uncover that portion of the story.  God Bless Twitter.

hedonist

Jason P said:

I like that the reporter had the moxie and investigative intuition to check with Cher so the nation could have proper analysis of this travesty.  That probably would have taken an investigative Rolling Stone journalist from the 70's at least a month and several fake mustaches to uncover that portion of the story.  God Bless Twitter.

Serious topic aside, I think this is fucking hilarious.

Tim Simmons

This isn’t about the guy who was fired (rehire the guy, this is silly). this has more to do with the over arching theme here. I saw this clip a few years ago and it’s really stuck with me. I think it’s one of the better explanations about the use of the n word. 

https://youtu.be/QO15S3WC9pg

brianlux

Tim Simmons said:

This isn’t about the guy who was fired (rehire the guy, this is silly). this has more to do with the over arching theme here. I saw this clip a few years ago and it’s really stuck with me. I think it’s one of the better explanations about the use of the n word. 

https://youtu.be/QO15S3WC9pg

I like that video a lot.  The guy is a great speaker and makes an excellent point.

I just have one question though.  He say that whites refraining from the use of the "n" word gives us whites just a taste of what it is like for black people not being able to go everywhere and do everything like whites can.  Good point.  But why is it OK for him to use the word "faggot" (not derogatorily, of course, but even within context) when he is not gay and does not have to deal with the biases of a gay person?  Why is that OK for him to use that word but not OK for whites to say the "n" word.  I find that to be a discrepancy. 

I probably won't see the day this happens- maybe none of us will- but I hope some day the day will come when people, all people, are treated  and seen as equals and thus will render these words harmless and universally acceptable. 

brianlux

Here's another interesting perspective on all this, an article well worth reading all the way through (and it's not that long).

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/whites-refer-to-the-n-word/596872/

tempo_n_groove

Trevor Noah is a fascinating person and I really enjoy listening to him speak whether I agree or not.

The first few minutes are about his take on the N word.  Listen to thew hole interview though as I think he is that good of a listen!

https://youtu.be/7vU7RuBi4Gs

PJ_Soul

I love Trevor Noah.

tempo_n_groove

PJ_Soul said:

I love Trevor Noah.

Give it a listen if you have the time!  It's a local radio station here in NY that does get syndicated.

Tim Simmons

Great point about the n word getting cool and now white people are pissed.

tempo_n_groove

Was watching the TV show The Neighborhood and the mom was over who is old school and says offensive things.  When did Grease Monkey become an offensive term?  I always thought it to be one who turns wrenches in a garage, a gear head is another term.  I knew friends that said that as a badge of honor.

Thoughts?

lastexitlondon

A gear head here is a cocaine addict 

Bentleyspop

lastexitlondon said:

A gear head here is a cocaine addict 

Isn't  that because in the UK "gear" is slang for cocaine. And I think "food" is another drug slang.

tempo_n_groove

lastexitlondon said:

A gear head here is a cocaine addict 

Bentleyspop said:

lastexitlondon said:

A gear head here is a cocaine addict 

Isn't  that because in the UK "gear" is slang for cocaine. And I think "food" is another drug slang.

I never knew that.  Very interesting.

lastexitlondon

Yes. The young call weed food

pjhawks

Interesting to see this thread come back up.  I had a discussion on this with my niece this summer and I argued that when the word is used in a song it is ok for it to be sung by anyone listening to the song. she disagrees and says it should never be used. my argument was the artistic vision of the artist was to include that word and not using it changes the artistic vision of said artist. she wasn't buying it.  My niece is a millennial and we have had discussions along these lines on other topics as well.  i find it really interesting to have these discussions with this generation to see how their attitudes on many things have evolved from Gen X and Boomers. 

oftenreading

lastexitlondon said:

Yes. The young call weed food

The nutritionally-complete Devil's lettuce?

tempo_n_groove

pjhawks said:

Interesting to see this thread come back up.  I had a discussion on this with my niece this summer and I argued that when the word is used in a song it is ok for it to be sung by anyone listening to the song. she disagrees and says it should never be used. my argument was the artistic vision of the artist was to include that word and not using it changes the artistic vision of said artist. she wasn't buying it.  My niece is a millennial and we have had discussions along these lines on other topics as well.  i find it really interesting to have these discussions with this generation to see how their attitudes on many things have evolved from Gen X and Boomers. 

I believe it was Chris Rock that said , "even if it's in a song, you should never say it."  Whereas other artists are ok if you are cool w them, your friends w them.

Now I have seen Millennials say never say it and then I have seen millennials that will sing it.  It is a mixed bag still.

The fact that Michael Che still says "The N word" on SNL should hold some weight.  I'm sure he is asked to not say the full word but still, it sets a precedent.

I have seen BustaRhymes watch videos of fans doing his songs and he credits the white ones for editing the raps when they do them.

brianlux

pjhawks said:

Interesting to see this thread come back up.  I had a discussion on this with my niece this summer and I argued that when the word is used in a song it is ok for it to be sung by anyone listening to the song. she disagrees and says it should never be used. my argument was the artistic vision of the artist was to include that word and not using it changes the artistic vision of said artist. she wasn't buying it.  My niece is a millennial and we have had discussions along these lines on other topics as well.  i find it really interesting to have these discussions with this generation to see how their attitudes on many things have evolved from Gen X and Boomers. 

One of the coolest songs ever that brought black and whites closer together is linked below.  I appreciate the efforts  of younger generations to eliminate racism, but I personally think that in some ways, they've taken the wrong track.  This song is cool, it unites, it was written by a black dude, and if I could sing better than I do, I would not change a single word.  Take it, Sly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G-2U-qPsZU

Edit:  And don't get me wrong.  I neither offend people by singing in public nor by using the "n word" outside of verbally using it in quotes (so to speak) in a certain context and with people I know with whom it will not cause offense.  For example, I have said to my wife, "What do you think about the controversy over using the word "[n-word]"?"  See?  With her, I used the real word.  Here, I used "[n-word]".

Spiritual_Chaos

nvm