Tammy L. Goss
English 110
Cultural Criticism
Because I am White
The evening of February 25, 2002 started innocuously enough. My daughter Elena is an avid fan of the television show, Boston Public (Fox), and she was looking forward to watching the newest episode. Because Boston Public can contain controversial subjects, I monitor the show while my kids are watching it. The issues addressed in a kid-friendly show turn into a good starting point for discussions with my two teenage children. The new episode not only turned out to be the epitome of controversy; it was the beginning of new type of dialogue with my children.
I had not intended to watch the television show "Boston Public" (Fox), but when I saw the topic of the show, I set aside my homework and soon became engrossed. The February 25th episode centered on the inflammatory N word (Randall Kennedy) when two boys, one white and the other black, affectionately call each other n----r. Another boy, also black, objects to white person calling a black person this word and a fight ensues. When the teacher discovers the reason for the altercation, he assigns the class to read n----r – The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word, by Randall Kennedy. The class discussion that follows causes controversy with the administration of the school because the teacher leading the discussion is not an African-American. The show ends with the principal, who is black, teaching the class instead. After the show concluded, my daughter and I had a fiery discussion about the issues raised in the show. Elena felt it was entirely appropriate that only an African-American can teach a class on the N word. I was unhappy with the ending and felt that it would have more impact if the principal and the teacher conducted the class together. One thing both of us agreed on – we had many questions and wanted more information than what a television show could give us so we decided to purchase Mr. Kennedy’s book and learn more on the issue.
What are the origins of racial slurs and why are they used? While it was impossible to find the exact origins of racial slurs, it seems that through out history, there is always a history of an oppressed race or religion. Part of this oppression has been the use of words to help the "powerful" remain in control. Alarmingly, some of these racial slurs have even slipped into every day language. A frequent statement, which can be overheard, "The store clerk gypped me out of money" is one such example. The word "gypped" originated from the persecution of Gypsies who most Europeans viewed as sneaky thieves. In contrast, some cultures use words that other cultures interpret as derogatory. Can you imagine what might happen if (several years ago) a British man would approach an American homosexual and ask "…if he could bum a fag?" At one time, the use of the word fag in various cultures carried no negative connotations. However, over time the negative meaning overtook the common meaning at such a rapid pace that now most Britains are uncomfortable using the word fag within its original context (Anonymous source).
What makes one epithet more ‘tolerable’ than others are? As an example, in American society, the commonly used word "fag" is a invective, but is more socially acceptable than the N word. Can the lessening of the inflammatory status of the word "fag" be credited to the homosexual community? Some homosexuals are proud of the word "fag" and will use it liberally and with affection. Others, of which I am one, believe that it is a word that is demeaning and should not be used in the description of another human being in any context. Slurs can also be less obvious. In Hispanic cultures, a Mexican may call another Mexican a "Cuban" – meaning that the person is less than a ‘true Mexican’. The same person may not object if a Cuban is called a "Spic", but if that same word is used toward themselves, well then, "…those are fighting words" (Anonymous source).
In addition, some African-Americans reclaimed the N word for personal and cultural use. Some may use the N word in a positive manner, to represent a strong, admirable person (Randall Kennedy). Conversely, some may use it within a negative context to describe a less-than admirable person (Randall Kennedy). However, there are many people in the black community who oppose using the word in any context. At an extreme end, there are those who not only oppose the word, but oppose any word which sounds similar, such as the word niggardly. At UW Madison, an African-American student objected to a professor’s use of the word niggardly during a lecture on Chaucer. He thanked her for sharing her concerns and proceeded to explain the word niggardly and the lack of connection to the N word. During the next lecture, he used the word niggardly again, this time thoroughly explaining the definition to the class. The student fled from the classroom in tears and later expressed "…the need for stringent speech code…" (Gwen Carleto). There is no easy answer why some words are more, or less, tolerable. The human psyche is just too complex and each person will react differently to epithets.
Such examples support the belief that psychology is the basis for racist language, no matter the original meaning of the words. In African-American history, the use of the N word was a psychological link in the chains of slavery. It was a word that slave owners (and non-slave owners) used to exert power over and show contempt of, the black population. An old childhood chant proclaims, "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me". However, words do hurt and blacks have had to accept both physical and emotional hurt throughout history. To ignore or retaliate against a white person calling them N word meant beatings, death, mutilation, or all three. Now some African-Americans are claiming the rights to use the N word within their culture, believing that to do this shows the word holds no more power over them. They are taking a word that so frequently has been intended for pain and using it in a context that is intended not to cause harm. The problem with this is; who decides when a word no longer hurts? Is it when a person has been hurt so many times they are finally numb to the pain? Such volatile and inflammatory words – can they ever be said without a price? With the frequent use of the N word now damage African-American culture from the inside out rather than from the outside in? I am fearful that the casual use of this word (and others) by people who do not know, understand, or remember the hurt it has caused, could become commonplace. An example of this casual use is more personal. When I was in high school, some doors had signs that stated, "SP Ed" to help Special Education students find the way to their classes. It did not take long for a small group of students to create a derogatory word, "sped" from the abbreviation. Soon, this slur was aimed not only at the Special Education students, but also to anyone who did anything "stupid" according to teenagers. Unfortunately, this word spread like wildfire and those who use it, to this day, have no idea how hurtful this word was to learning disabled students in the 1980s.
Often times, many of the same people who are reclaiming the N word for their own use, firmly believe that no white person should ever utter it – they in fact, do not have the "right" to use it. Some believe that a white person cannot understand what it feels like to be subjected to any derogatory name. In addition, there is a theory that a white person cannot, and should not, teach students about the N word. This issue caused an intense and fiery debate between my daughter and me. I agree there are subjects you would want a specialist to teach, such as law and medicine. However, there is not specialty in hurt, degradation, or racism. If a white person can not teach students about racism and racial slurs, how can society explain the success of Jane Elliott’s program "Blue Eyes"? (Magenta).
Jane Elliott was a white elementary educator who in 1968 began teaching racism to her students in a unique way (Horizonmag.com). Brown-eyed students are told they were ‘better’ than the blue-eyed students in the class. The "Blueys" could not use the drinking fountain and they were not allowed the same privileges as the other students. Over the years, these exercises taught many students about the horrors of racism and consequently, racial insults. Ms. Elliott no longer teaches elementary school, but the impact of her lessons still resound through her students. She has enlightened and changed the lives of many people and I refuse to believe that her passionate work has any less meaning because she is white. Additionally, I feel that teaching is about leading students on a journey of learning, exploration, and self-discovery – not just filling students with knowledge as if they were empty vessels. I believe any educator, like Jane Elliott, can teach all aspects of racism, no matter what their color. This is the point where my children and I differ in our opinions.
Both of my children are Mexican-Americans and are adamant that a white person can not know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of racism. Elena has had her race flung in her face when a group of boys in school formed an "I Hate Mexicans" club. My son, Jesse, endured taunts of "dirty Mexican" when he was younger. Both believe that no matter how many insults a white person may endure (such as nerd, honky, gringo, etc.) they can not and should not be compared to being called names based on the color of your skin. Both firmly believe that a white person can not teach anyone the feelings these slurs stir up.
A few letters of the alphabet strung together have the power to divide, conquer, and alienate – joined to form a word used to imprison, subjugate, terrorize, and harass people. How can mere characters, strung together into syllables and finally creating a word, contain such power to hurt people? In the history of humans, there have been few racial epithets with the endurance and power of the N word though there are more epithets for different races, religions, and sexual orientation than there are different groups that exist. To make the issue even more confusing, some words are more acceptable than others are and some people can say them, while others cannot. If a white person were to use such a word, culturally this is unacceptable. However, people of color, no matter what the racial profile, may use these words with impunity, depending on the context. Some in society believe it is impossible for a white person to educate students, with any amount of legitimacy, on racism and racial epithets.
I felt the heavy hand of racism when white people, including my own father avoided me, because I married a Mexican man. I was excluded from many Mexican social gatherings because I was white. I may be white, but my children’s Mexican-American blood flows through my veins as well as my Caucasian blood. The hurt they felt when an ignorant man called them ‘Spics’, I felt too. When the sharp knife of racism has stabbed their hearts, my heart bled as well. While their tears were seeping through my shirt, my tears went shed unseen by them. I have felt the blind rage at the racial injustices shown to my children. Because of these, I know I could get up in front of a group of students and educate them on all aspects of racism.
Yet, I cannot know racism – because I am white. I cannot teach about racism – because I am white. I am not allowed to say "those words" – because I am white.
Work Cited
Carleto, Gwen. "Niggardly Upsets UW Student". Capitol Times. Madison, WI.
February 2, 1999.
Horizon Magazine. March 15, 2002. <www.horizonmag.com/4/jane-elliott.asp>.
Kennedy, Randall. "n----r – The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word".
New York: Pantheon Books, 2002.
Magenta. March 10, 2002. <www.magent.nl/EyetoEye/history.html>.