[Dayman]

If black folks didn’t use that word it would have fallen into the ashbin of linguistic history by now.

[ml/nj]

Is it okay to read Hucklebery Finn anymore? (I had to read it TWICE in school: once in 8th grade and once in 11th grade.)

ML/NJ

[LoneStarGI]

I had a conversation with a black friend about this very thing. I asked him if the ‘N’ word is vulgar/racist? He said that when it comes from whites it is. I said, well if it’s so vulgar and blacks get upset about it and if whites say it, why do blacks continue to use the word? He said because they use it, they’ve turn it from a word of slander to a word of empowerment. I looked at him and when, ‘Huh?’. I told him that there is strong evidence to suggest that if it wasn’t for blacks constantly using the word and ‘reminding’ people of it, that the word would have disappeared into history long ago. Blacks need to realize that by ‘empowering themselves’, they shoulder a greater responsibility for this word still being around. My 10 year old nephew would doubtless never have known about this word if he hadn’t heard it accidentally while watching a black rap video and then asking my sister about it.

[Spok]

“If black folks didn’t use that word it would have fallen into the ashbin of linguistic history by now.”

That’s absolutely true, THEY won’t let it go away.