2008 Woodie Awards
Abolishing The "N" Word
Let's break it down, so it can forever and consistently be broken!
By Maurice Fraction
Issue date: 6/18/07 Section: Campus Life
This past spring semester, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. held a very informational event. The sorority sought to inform others of the ignorance behind using the "N word" in any shape or form, and they did just that. Host Angela "Angie B." Barrett, junior Print Journalism major and member of the sorority, said, "We're getting to the point where we have become comfortable with the "N word". She went on to say, "I was watching a television program on B.E.T. and while they bleeped out the curse words being used, they never once bleeped the "N word". It was then when she knew something needed to change, and what better place to start than with the students at Kean.
The discussion began when the host opened the floor to the students. She asked everyone to introduce themselves and tell whether they use the "N word" or not and why. Markovy Jacques, sophomore Criminal Justice major, said, "I think the word is negative, however, I use it, unconsciously. I have become accustomed to calling my friends [it] and not see it as a problem." David Thompson, junior Psychology major, agrees "It is hard to stop saying it because it's been embedded into our minds for so many years." However he goes on to say, "The more we say it the more we disrespect our people." While most people would say this is so, some people would disagree.
Half of the room agreed the word is ignorant no matter what the situation. However, some people agreed, we use it as a relation to one another, and after all is taken away from us, we will always have that. It's our history and our common bond to one another. This lead to the question who can use it? Most of the students in attendance agreed if we use it as a relation to one another than it becomes a cultural word, not racial. Therefore, does this mean that Latinos or any race, who live in our neighborhoods have rights to the word also, because we relate to them? While some would agree, others did not. One may say other races have no right to say it, because they don't understand our struggle; they haven't lived through what we have.
No matter what way it is put, this issue has become a problem affecting our communities everywhere. This word which tortured so many for countless years is now a common word used to greet one another. How would our ancestors feel about this? To put an end to all of the debating and fighting, we can all agree that this word needs to be abolished. Lets replace this word with another and start right here, right now at KU, where we make things happen!
The discussion began when the host opened the floor to the students. She asked everyone to introduce themselves and tell whether they use the "N word" or not and why. Markovy Jacques, sophomore Criminal Justice major, said, "I think the word is negative, however, I use it, unconsciously. I have become accustomed to calling my friends [it] and not see it as a problem." David Thompson, junior Psychology major, agrees "It is hard to stop saying it because it's been embedded into our minds for so many years." However he goes on to say, "The more we say it the more we disrespect our people." While most people would say this is so, some people would disagree.
Half of the room agreed the word is ignorant no matter what the situation. However, some people agreed, we use it as a relation to one another, and after all is taken away from us, we will always have that. It's our history and our common bond to one another. This lead to the question who can use it? Most of the students in attendance agreed if we use it as a relation to one another than it becomes a cultural word, not racial. Therefore, does this mean that Latinos or any race, who live in our neighborhoods have rights to the word also, because we relate to them? While some would agree, others did not. One may say other races have no right to say it, because they don't understand our struggle; they haven't lived through what we have.
No matter what way it is put, this issue has become a problem affecting our communities everywhere. This word which tortured so many for countless years is now a common word used to greet one another. How would our ancestors feel about this? To put an end to all of the debating and fighting, we can all agree that this word needs to be abolished. Lets replace this word with another and start right here, right now at KU, where we make things happen!