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Fear of word prevents stronger society

The most powerful and offensive word in the English language is nigger. It is so offensive that most people are not supposed to say it when referencing it, but instead are supposed to call it “the n-word.” By attaching this stigma, we enable “nigger” to retain much of its power. If we truly want to progress as a society — to move forward to perhaps one day live in a post-racial society — we must remove this stigma and others like it.

The word “neger” was first documented in America in 1619 to describe African slaves being brought over to work in the Americas. However, it had no negative connotations until the 1900s and was considered the appropriate term for dark-skinned peoples until the mid to late 1800s. The stigma attached to the word grew as it became less acceptable to even say, much less direct it at a person.

In the ’70s and ’80s, “nigger” or “nigga” had an amazing resurgence in usage. The difference was the people using it — the word was predominantly used among young black people. It was rebranded and became a term of endearment at times. This movement reduced the stigma attached to the word and acted as a way to both recognize the history of black people in America and to move past that history. It is now extremely common for black people to refer to one another in this way, perhaps because, as Princeton University professor Cornel West says, “there’s a certain rhythmic seduction to the word. If you speak in a sentence, and you have to say cat, companion or friend, as opposed to nigger, then the rhythmic presentation is off. That rhythmic language is a form of historical memory for black people.”

But this movement did not follow through completely. The stigma remains for anyone who isn’t considered black enough. The O.J. Simpson murder trial brought this taboo to light, as detective Mark Fuhrman was consistently quoted in the media using “the n-word.” The implications of such a decision are obvious. Major media corporations preferred to report the news less accurately rather than risk printing the actual term.

To understand this stigma, we must understand why it exists. Why am I, a white person, expected to say “the n-word”? The most common explanation is that hearing a white person say the actual word brings to mind painful memories for black people, who may have had ancestors who were slaves. However, this explanation and the reasoning behind it strike me as false. If we avoid saying the word out of fear of being offensive, why do we avoid saying the word when there are only white people around, too? The reason we avoid saying the word isn’t because it reminds black people of their ancestors. The reason we avoid saying the word is because of the residual white guilt for what our ancestors did — enslave an entire race on the basis of supposed racial superiority. We seek to deny the notion that slavery happened by refusing to say the word. Avoiding history is an excellent way to someday repeat it. The white guilt that causes this reluctance is also suspect. It is foolish to hold ourselves responsible for the actions of our ancestors — white people today are no more slave masters than black people today are slaves.

This dichotomy between who can and cannot say the word has created a certain reverse racism. Quentin Tarantino has been criticized throughout his career for his use of the word, most recently in the film “Django Unchained,” which is set in the 1800s, when the word was colloquial and the accepted term for black people. His response to such criticism gets to the heart of the matter: “As a writer, I demand the right to write any character in the world that I want … I demand the right to tell the truth … I would not be questioned if I was black and I resent the question because I’m white.” Tarantino asserted that it is not only the fundamental right of the writer, but it is also the fundamental right of being human to tell the truth.

To remove the stigma attached to the word “nigger,” we must be able to say it. When I say we, I mean everyone. I am not advocating for the casual use of the word. I do not want to call my black friends “nigga” no matter how rhythmically seductive it might be. I want to be able to discuss the word without continuously saying the n-word, to sing along with the numerous songs that use the word without worrying who might judge me. The idea that only certain people can say certain words is ridiculous. Samuel L. Jackson commented on the criticism of Tarantino by saying, “Black artists think they are the only ones allowed to use the word. Well, that’s bull.

By never saying the word “nigger,” we allow it to retain power. It is even more hurtful to be called by that name precisely because it is so uncommon to hear a white person say it. Further, by expecting people to use euphemisms like “the n-word,” “n*gg*r” or “n—–,” we are being intellectually dishonest. Such words deny a part of history that has had an undeniable impact on shaping American culture. So get used to hearing nigger. When I pitched this column, multiple people in the room flinched at the word. Giving such power to a random collection of noises is outrageous. We cannot ignore words we don’t like and hope they will go away and no longer be hurtful. To remove the power of the word, we must say it frequently enough so that it is no longer a shock to hear. Once we have a truly collective language then we can truly be a collective society.

Ian Mark is a staff columnist. Email him at [email protected]


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  • Alex

    Perhaps you should clarify that when you say we should use the word, we should use it without disrespect; there are plenty of white people who still use the word today in a deliberately hateful and evil fashion, intending it to sting and abase those of a different skin color. They are also part of the reason the word retains its “power” over us – they continue to use it in a way that reflects the opinions of 18th and 19th century slave owners.

  • Alex
    the niggers that whites refer to are not all low-albedo folks; its a reference to a culture, ie a voluntary choice. As such, its not a hateful term, but a value judgement. A sound one.

  • Reina Iqbal

    No comment on this one…still remember the whole Zimmerman race thing.

  • Jada

    Using the word nigger as a lifestyle description is idiotic. Then, you’re really damn racist because you’re implying that a word that was used against blacks not only during slavery but much after, as basically just an insult of color! The word nigger comes from nergo. Meaning black. So naturally, if whites used it to insult blacks. It meant that being black was considered a terrible, wretched, unforgivable tragedy! How could you be so stupid to even write this article with the idea that anyone would respect such an uneducated opinion. Sure, you did some research. But obviously you aren’t aware of real world circumstances that prove that blacks are still enslaved. I’m not a victim. I do not feel victimized. But God please don’t be so stupid.

  • Jada

    And Maj. You’re a racist and I hope your mother isn’t as stupid as you are.

    • Ryan Hutton

      He isn’t suggesting that it is to be used as a lifestyle description. He’s saying that the word nigger should be just as permissible to say by a white person as it is by a black person. Some may argue because of its historical context if that is permissible at all.

      Yes, I know it’s meant to be a term of endearment these days, but as the article says stigmatising it only makes it more powerful at the hands of someone who wishes to use it in a derogatory manner.

      By making it so that…

  • fremont

    When you cannot say a word in a society, that society has failed. No matter how offended people get you should not be able to loose your right to say the world. There is no law that says you cannot say nigger and no word should be considered strong enough for just saying it to loose your job, etc. When you cannot say the word, chances are if you meet a black jerk wherever you are your going to think of him as one in your head. It makes racism stronger when you cant mention the word.

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Fear of word prevents stronger society