The "N" Word Discussion Board
By: Laura Cogliandro
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Entertainment
Samuel L. Jackson said "Nigger is a derogatory term used to insult our ancestors. See, if a white man used it, you'd be ready to fight. Your using it teaches him to use it." ("Coach Carter" 2005)
During the first Wednesday of Black History Month, Feb. 3 at 5:30p.m., the office of African-American Affairs held The "N" Word Discussion Board in the Sandia Room of Eastern New Mexico University's Campus Union Building. The board comprised of four African-American ENMU students from different backgrounds to discuss one of the most controversial terms in history with the audience. These students were: Tre' Turner, freshman from Dallas, Texas, Shani Morris, freshman from Hawaii, Suzan Gilbert, senior from Albuquerque, and Jordan Anderson, senior from Boston, Mass.
Although a wide variety of usage and meanings, the term generally is referred to the enslavement of Africans by "white" people in early America. The negative connotation denotes a seriousness of the harsh cruelty and suppression the "black" people encountered dating back before the Civil War.
Now the word can be found everywhere in popular culture. Lil Wayne and Ludacris are two of the rappers that use the word in music; Dave Chappelle uses the term in his humorous skits. Many modern movies, such as "Pulp Fiction" and "Coach Carter", use the term interchangeably -with its historical meaning as well as its slang meaning.
The board discussed these various usages of the word and reasons why and how the term has continued to be relevant in today's society.
Audience members and board members discussed the commonness of the word among blacks in certain regions, and the little thought many give the word when using it. They conversed about how the word seemed like just another word among some.
"The more we say it, the more we give it meaning," Anderson said. "We're making it even more popular," generations are getting worse about using the word, and it comes from the parents.
"If African-Americans are going to use that term, why do you use it among yourselves?" Gilbert, half African-American and half Vietnamese, said.
"[The 'N' word] is self degrading," Gami Flores, Portales local, said. When speaking about the offensiveness of the 'N' word, the New Orleans, Lois., native said, "I remember the three bathrooms: women, men and colored."
Many racial movements, like the bathrooms, were reflected with everything to separate the "two" kinds of people. There were separate hair salons, water fountains, bus seats, entrances, etc, during that time to express "white" dominance continuation post-slavery.
"When it comes down to it, it's going to be there. We have to find it within ourselves to stop it," Turner said.
"It starts with education of the younger generations," Anderson said.
During the first Wednesday of Black History Month, Feb. 3 at 5:30p.m., the office of African-American Affairs held The "N" Word Discussion Board in the Sandia Room of Eastern New Mexico University's Campus Union Building. The board comprised of four African-American ENMU students from different backgrounds to discuss one of the most controversial terms in history with the audience. These students were: Tre' Turner, freshman from Dallas, Texas, Shani Morris, freshman from Hawaii, Suzan Gilbert, senior from Albuquerque, and Jordan Anderson, senior from Boston, Mass.
Although a wide variety of usage and meanings, the term generally is referred to the enslavement of Africans by "white" people in early America. The negative connotation denotes a seriousness of the harsh cruelty and suppression the "black" people encountered dating back before the Civil War.
Now the word can be found everywhere in popular culture. Lil Wayne and Ludacris are two of the rappers that use the word in music; Dave Chappelle uses the term in his humorous skits. Many modern movies, such as "Pulp Fiction" and "Coach Carter", use the term interchangeably -with its historical meaning as well as its slang meaning.
The board discussed these various usages of the word and reasons why and how the term has continued to be relevant in today's society.
Audience members and board members discussed the commonness of the word among blacks in certain regions, and the little thought many give the word when using it. They conversed about how the word seemed like just another word among some.
"The more we say it, the more we give it meaning," Anderson said. "We're making it even more popular," generations are getting worse about using the word, and it comes from the parents.
"If African-Americans are going to use that term, why do you use it among yourselves?" Gilbert, half African-American and half Vietnamese, said.
"[The 'N' word] is self degrading," Gami Flores, Portales local, said. When speaking about the offensiveness of the 'N' word, the New Orleans, Lois., native said, "I remember the three bathrooms: women, men and colored."
Many racial movements, like the bathrooms, were reflected with everything to separate the "two" kinds of people. There were separate hair salons, water fountains, bus seats, entrances, etc, during that time to express "white" dominance continuation post-slavery.
"When it comes down to it, it's going to be there. We have to find it within ourselves to stop it," Turner said.
"It starts with education of the younger generations," Anderson said.