Dallas ISD considering banning the N word

[spacejamz]

This should be interesting...

Trustee taking on the N-word
Amid slur's rising use, DISD board will discuss ban Thursday

08:59 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 12, 2006
By TAWNELL D. HOBBS / The Dallas Morning News

The N-word, long considered a deep insult to blacks, has come into common use among students, rolling easily off their tongues. But the Dallas school board will discuss a proposal Thursday that would punish anyone who uses racial slurs at a school.

DISD trustee Hollis Brashear recommended the discussion after hearing about a Carter High School teacher who publicly denounced the word through lectures and a fast this year. Teachers have complained that it offends some people, and they worry that it could lead to fights.

"I want to clearly state that we don't want you using that word," said Mr. Brashear, who is black. "Youngsters don't have the history of it, where it came from, what it means."

Mr. Brashear said the proposed rule would cover all ethnic slurs, to avoid naming some and omitting others. He said today's discussion will include punishments for students who break the rule.

The N-word is interpreted differently, depending on the speaker. Blacks can easily use it in friendly conversation, while for other races it can come across as an insult. Some businesses make its use a firing offense.

Use is spreading

The term is particularly common among young urban blacks who use the slang form "******." But more Hispanic students, and even some white children, are using it, according to educators, parents and students.

The Dallas Independent School District does have a policy against using profanity, with punishments ranging from detention to scrubbing desks. But Mr. Brashear and some educators say the N-word is not considered offensive or profane by many students.

Ebony Evans, a black student at Skyline High School, said she's grown up around people who use the word and has used it herself. But she feels it's being used too much.

"Now it's becoming so popular, you hear every different kind of race using it," said Ebony, 18. "Everybody is using it so much, they've forgotten the meaning of the word."

Word more popular

Curtis Ferguson, the teacher who inspired Mr. Brashear, believes the word has become acceptable to students as comedy routines and rap music have gained broad popularity.

Mr. Ferguson, who is black, fasted for 10 days this year in a tent in South Dallas to oppose use of the N-word. He said that the reaction to his protest was mixed, but that he received more positive response from whites than blacks.

"One older black man told me, 'How dare you try to get rid of that word, what are we supposed to call each other?' " said Mr. Ferguson, a fine arts teacher.

Diane Birdwell, a white DISD high-school teacher, can't even bring herself to say the word when discussing the proposed prohibition. She said students in her class know not to use the word, but do slip up.

Ms. Birdwell, who has spoken out against use of the word before, said a black student has even called her the slur. She said the student's tone of voice made it clear the word was meant to offend.

"I couldn't believe he actually said that word," she said. "That's how bad it is. I'm old enough to remember when it was a horrible, horrible word."

Changing times

But Dallas resident Sherie Williams says times have changed. She said she doesn't want her son, a recent DISD graduate, using the word, but students shouldn't be punished for doing so. Ms. Williams, who is black, said the word has evolved over the years and the slang version, "******," is acceptable to many people.

"People in their late 40s and 50s fail to realize the word went from '******' to '******,' " Ms. Williams said. "When the children use it, it's like in a 'homeboy' slang."

Ms. Birdwell said black adults need to denounce the word, and parents need to stop using it, to keep it out of the mouths of kids.

"As a white teacher, how do I tell black kids not to use the N-word when their own community promotes it," she said.

 

[Specop 007]

I dont think I really like that idea.

Rather then arbitrarily banning things they dont like or are offended by maybe the black culture should work harder to make sure its younger generations understand the true meaning of the word.

Course then we'd have to go change all of those rap songs........

 

[imported_LoKe]

Alright. With that being said; the words beloved patriot, beautiful ray of sunshine, cracker, wigger, etc, should all be punishable aswell. You can punish one and not the others.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Alright. With that being said; the words beloved patriot, beautiful ray of sunshine, cracker, wigger, etc, should all be punishable aswell. You can punish one and not the others.

Thats not entirely true, because those other words are not used in complimentary fashions.
The N word (and variations thereof) is a very unique word. It can be used in a good or bad context depending on both who is saying it and how it is said.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Alright. With that being said; the words beloved patriot, beautiful ray of sunshine, cracker, wigger, etc, should all be punishable aswell. You can punish one and not the others.

It DOES say that all racial slurs are punishable. Right in the first paragraph.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I don't see how it can be complementary in any sense. It's original form was Negro, meaning black. N*gger is derogative.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: LoKe
I don't see how it can be complementary in any sense. It's original form was Negro, meaning black. N*gger is derogative.

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: LoKe
Alright. With that being said; the words beloved patriot, beautiful ray of sunshine, cracker, wigger, etc, should all be punishable aswell. You can punish one and not the others.

It DOES say that all racial slurs are punishable. Right in the first paragraph.

Oh, sorry. I skimmed the article, I assumed it was about the word specifically.

EDIT : Meant to edit.

 

[raildogg]

Black people use that word far more amongst each other than anyone else. I know because I am around them. I asked one of my friends if anyone else uses the N word and he said as long as the person is not white, they can use it.

When you consider the history of this word, I don't blame them for being sensitive to it coming from whites. It has a different meaning coming from a black person. You have to take history into account when you think about this. It was not too long ago where there was no equality among the races, and there still isn't.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: LoKe
I don't see how it can be complementary in any sense. It's original form was Negro, meaning black. N*gger is derogative.

Listen to much rap music? Hip hop? Watch any of the music videos?

I agree with you, I dont know why someone would consider it a decent word but none the less it happens. It is used as a "good" word.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: raildogg
Black people use that word far more amongst each other than anyone else. I know because I am around them. I asked one of my friends if anyone else uses the N word and he said as long as the person is not white, they can use it.

When you consider the history of this word, I don't blame them for being sensitive to it coming from whites. It has a different meaning coming from a black person. You have to take history into account when you think about this. It was not too long ago where there was no equality among the races, and there still isn't.

So basically what your saying is that it's okay for black people to call each other n&ggers. :roll:

...

I just woke up again. I passed out from my brain having a hypocritical overload.

 

[SZLiao214]

I wonder if the DISD is considering the difference between the word that end in er and the one that ends with a. There was a video of a teacher who was trying to explain the difference but i cant find it on google right now. The word that ends with A should in no way be banned as it is used as a term of affection or friendship. I use it with my black friends and they dont care at all.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: SZLiao214
I wonder if the DISD is considering the difference between the word that end in er and the one that ends with a. There was a video of a teacher who was trying to explain the difference but i cant find it on google right now. The word that ends with A should in no way be banned as it is used as a term of affection or friendship. I use it with my black friends and they dont care at all.

Say it to a black stranger on the street, not one of your friends. See how fast you get your ass beat.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: raildogg
Black people use that word far more amongst each other than anyone else. I know because I am around them. I asked one of my friends if anyone else uses the N word and he said as long as the person is not white, they can use it.

When you consider the history of this word, I don't blame them for being sensitive to it coming from whites. It has a different meaning coming from a black person. You have to take history into account when you think about this. It was not too long ago where there was no equality among the races, and there still isn't.

So basically what your saying is that it's okay for black people to call each other n&ggers. :roll:

...

I just woke up again. I passed out from my brain having a hypocritical overload.

Yes it is. Black people have a totally different view of America because of everything they went through. You just don't understand and neither do I. But you're not the only person who believes this way, most whites and others think that about blacks. That they are loud and always speak their mind. This is true of many blacks, but not all.

Have you considered that their culture is different from everyone elses? That how they were brought up in, their enviroment?

Rap music does not help.

Blacks use the N word in a different way and not in a demeaning way. It is not appropriate for whites to use that word because of everything that has happened. It was only recently that a black person did not have the same rights as a white person.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: raildogg

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: raildogg
Black people use that word far more amongst each other than anyone else. I know because I am around them. I asked one of my friends if anyone else uses the N word and he said as long as the person is not white, they can use it.

When you consider the history of this word, I don't blame them for being sensitive to it coming from whites. It has a different meaning coming from a black person. You have to take history into account when you think about this. It was not too long ago where there was no equality among the races, and there still isn't.

So basically what your saying is that it's okay for black people to call each other n&ggers. :roll:

...

I just woke up again. I passed out from my brain having a hypocritical overload.

Yes it is. Black people have a totally different view of America because of everything they went through. You just don't understand and neither do I. But you're not the only person who believes this way, most whites and others think that about blacks. That they are loud and always speak their mind. This is true of many blacks, but not all.

Have you considered that their culture is different from everyone elses? That how they were brought up in, their enviroment?

Rap music does not help.

Blacks use the N word in a different way and not in a demeaning way. It is not appropriate for whites to use that word because of everything that has happened. It was only recently that a black person did not have the same rights as a white person.

Your points prove the fact that black people keep repressing themselves.

 

[mercanucaribe]

I'm amazed at how many school boards, teachers, and ATOTers don't have a grasp of the concept of CONTEXT.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I'm amazed at how many school boards, teachers, and ATOTers don't have a grasp of the concept of CONTEXT.

Try to explain context to a black dude while he's beating you after you calling him a n*gger.

 

[FoBoT]

shouldn't they just punish white kids that say it?

 

[deftron]

Just say

"whadup, my n-word?"

then

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: deftron
Just say

"whadup, my n-word?"

then

LOL

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I'm amazed at how many school boards, teachers, and ATOTers don't have a grasp of the concept of CONTEXT.

Try to explain context to a black dude while he's beating you after you calling him a n*gger.

Blacks have been repressed by whites, that is a proven fact. That led them to be generally poorer and less educated than others in this country. That puts them one step behind others. Even generations down is a major problem.

You're thinking like a typical American. Thinking only of what is at the surface. Put yourself in the shoes of a black man, whose family many generaitons ago was forced to come here, be enslaved and get brutalized by the white man.

It will take many many decades for attitudes to change, on both sides.

 

[moshquerade]

link please

 

[ForumMaster]

it's called reverse phsycology. you ban the word, and then the kids will only say it more for the heck of it. the teachers are stupid. it'll never work.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
link please

Here is the link, but you have to register.

 

[733SHiFTY]

all you have to do is get every white person to say it in common speech, then it will become so unpopular by the black community they won't want to use it...

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: 733SHiFTY
all you have to do is get every white person to say it in common speech, then it will become so unpopular by the black community they won't want to use it...

that is even better than my comment

A++ for 733SHiFTY