Talking about that word: A black author examines the use, current and past, of six letters

• Published in: Sunday gazette-mail
• Main Author: Reynolds, James E
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Charleston, W.V Charleston Newspapers 20.05.2001
• Subjects: Miles, Gary; Palmer, Bernard

Yes, because of their fair complexion and wavy hair, they're probably not ever going to be called, "nigger." But I was blindsided by the fact that they would have to decide whether or not to use the word. "Nigger" has become a staple in the vernacular of today's thriving youth culture, driven by the hip-hop music and style of young urban, black America. What I face now is having two boys whose friends and peers of a variety of racial makeups and ethnic backgrounds use "nigger" with impunity. Frankly, I find that stunning. And I'm not alone. "I was sitting in the living room relaxing when I heard, 'Nigger this and nigger that' coming from [Tim]'s room. I walked right into the room and demanded that my son's friends stop using the word. I said something like, 'That is not a word I find acceptable and won't stand for it in my house...' Tim is looking at me like I'm an idiot. One kid says to me, 'Mr. [Gary Miles], when I call Tim, "my nigga," I'm telling him that he's my brother. That I'd do anything for him.'" It is important that our kids understand the full historical context of the word "nigger." While it has been argued that widespread use of "nigger" will ultimately diffuse its capacity to wreak racial havoc, the flip side is that we are allowing this generation to become increasingly cynical and insensitive to the issue of race, America's most serious, unresolved issue.