This is the title of an article i found online when i was doing research for another class. Since we were discussing the issues of this word and how some African Americans call each other it i found this very interesting. check it out.
http://media.wiley.com/product_data/exc ... 0611-1.pdf

This is a very interesting topic that I don’t think can ever really be resolved. There are just too many dang opinions for each side to argue that seem valid and legitimate. I believe that if we just ban it all together and try to forget about it, it would almost be an attempt to erase it from history. I think this would be terribly wrong to do, causing much injustice to those who lived and currently live through such hatred. However, I understand why people get offended and upset or just plain pissed when they hear this word. The connotations associated with this word are immensely hateful and ignorant; However, I’ve heard this used as a reason to use the word on a regular basis. I was reading something about the gay community, for example, which has accepted the term queer as another pc term that can be used to describe homosexuals. It is a way of ‘taking back’ the expression and washing out the negative connotations associated with it. I believe this is sort of the thing going on with the N word. It could be a way for black people to delegitimize (is this a word) it as a hateful, racist insult. However, there are those who feel only black people can use it and still get offended when non-blacks use the term, which acts to undermine this theory. Also, If you get rid of just one word, wont others just pop up in its place? I don’t know? This conversation could go on forever…I’m curious to see what others think.

That is a great article, and very informative. I agree with what Gayle said in class, the word should NEVER be tolerated in the classroom, regardless of race. For those of you who have seen Crash, I agree with what is said in that movie about blacks using the word. That is, blacks should not use the word because it is degrading. It makes it seem more ok for whites to use it if blacks do. This is why we hear, "well they call each other that". (Although, it does not have the same racists feelings when blacks are calling each other the N word) Its wrong....period. I don't understand the need to use the word, I mean, why would you call someone that? Couldn't you call them by their name, or call them "black" or "African American". It has negetive connotations and we should all have a broad enough vocabulary to refrain from using that word.

I absolutely 100% agree with Lauren's post. Crash is such an enlightening movie, and one of my favorites by far. I think the only way to eleminate the controversey surrounding this word is to eleminate this word completely from our vocabulary. If there is one person who will use the word inappropriately, it should not be used at all.