Think that the “N word” is only racist is certain contexts? Try looking it up on Google Images. (No, we won’t be hyperlinking it to make your life easier.) What if the word ends in “a” instead of “er”? Go ahead and give that a whirl. Any better? (Spoiler alert: not so much.)
There is deep-rooted history behind the use of the “N word” in America. Despite its popularity, it is a derogatory slur that has been used to denigrate African Americans since the beginning of slavery in the United States. One hundred and fifty years later, it continues to rear its ugly head in everyday speech by both white and black individuals.
Complicating the issue is the acceptance of the term when used as a self-deprecating slur. Use of the “N word” by black people seems less wrong than when used by whites since there is a sense that re-appropriating the word allows blacks to rebrand a word that has been used to spite them; however, it is not a word to be shared with other ethnic groups.
“Black people know the history but choose to use the word because it shows empowerment and endearment within the black community. [We] have something that oppressive white[s] can’t say anymore, [but] the word ‘nigger’ and its variations [should] only be used by black and latino people because of their history and where society is now.”
Mikhale Fischer, Mountain Lakes Senior
Despite the controversy, students at Mountain Lakes High School use this word. A lot. In fact, use of the word is so common as to make people question if using it is actually wrong.
There is no question that MLHS is heavily lacking in ethnic diversity. Some might wonder how a majority white population could validate the use of the “N word.” Perhaps white students comfortably say the “N word” because they believe that the minimal presence of black students somehow makes it acceptable, or that consequences are minimized. Regardless, the use of racial slurs by MLHS students has been normalized and downplayed through peer influence, social media, and other factors.
Age Factor
Asked about their experiences with the “N word,” students from Wildwood Elementary School and Briarcliff Middle School reported that almost no students at their schools use the “N word.” Young Lakers added that if they were to hear the word, they would feel shocked and uncomfortable.
When these students arrive at MLHS, there seems to be a switch. Somehow, the term comes to feel admissible. What changes as these children become high schoolers? At what age do they come to believe that such language is acceptable? What makes some students feel entitled to use this deplorable word? Is it peer pressure? Consistent exposure to the internet? A desire for popularity? Feelings of superiority? Most importantly, is this transition inevitable?
Who says the N word in MLHS?
Despite their early opposition to the “N word”, a significant number of white students use it. Why?
It is plausible that they do not intend to offend since use of the word has morphed into a substitute for “bro” or “dude”–even in the presence of black peers. One white sophomore boy argues, “Guys say ‘nigga,’ and that’s not racist, but if you say ‘nigger’ that is very racist and no one says that.” This variation is largely responsible for normalizing use of the “N word” by white males.
However, students still refrain from using the word when speaking with adults or respected peers, which is evidence that there is some understanding that something is wrong with the practice, regardless of the variation.
Statistics From Other Schools
After reviewing our findings from MLHS, we decided to interview other schools near Mountain Lakes, including Oratory, Delbarton, Knolls, Parsippany Hills, Villa Walsh, Morris Hills, Morristown, and Morris Catholic. Our data concludes that students in these schools also use the “N word,” and it does not bother them to say or hear it.
Villa Walsh, an all-girls and more diverse school, was the only school of the eight in which student respondents reported never using the word. In regard to reactions of hearing the “N word,” Sophomore Christina Caivano from Villa Walsh stated, “If [the student] were white I would probably be very surprised, but if [the student] were black I would not.”
Why are kids saying it?
It is reasonable to suggest that our peers hear or see the “N word” significantly more than their parents did in their youth. Many parents claim that if a word were to be used in such a context in their youths, it would be appalling.
Its use in music could be at the root of how the word became de-stigmatized, as the word is often used in rap music. Black musicians suggest that they use the word in an attempt to repossess its power. However, many argue that the adoption of the “N word” in their music should not validate or justify white students’ use of the the word. Although peer influence, social media, and common usage seems to have increased its acceptance, its use among white teenagers can be seen as defamatory and demeaning.
A new normal?
Using the “N word” is an accepted practice, as many students surveyed stated that they do not mind hearing the “N word.” This is a drastic reversal from the attitudes of younger students who expressed “shock and shame” at hearing such language. Mikhale Fischer, who initially raised objections to its use by white students, himself notes that he has become less bothered by the term over time as its prevalence seems universal.
But instead of jumping on the bandwagon, we as students, should ask ourselves: What kind of behavior are we encouraging? What kind of example could we set if MLHS rejected the word now?
Is the “N word” something one should hear walking the school’s halls, or are any of its variations said by whites simply wrong? This is the time to make decisions about who we are and how we want to be remembered.
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