Chad furiously types on his Cheeto puff stained keyboard “If I can’t say it, you shouldn’t be able to say it.” While puffing his rusty inhaler into his mouth, he reminisces on all the times he was introduced to the N-Word. In all the history classes he’s ever sat through where he learned about slavery, civil rights, and even got to witness the reaction of Obama being elected into office. He thought about his Uncle Brad using the word constantly to refer to Trayvon Martin and the hate in his eyes as he used it. He slams his inhaler down on the folded table where he eats his TV dinners and yells “I should still be able to say it because I’m not racist and my favorite rapper is Kanye West!!!”
Well Chad, there seems to be some confusion on your end. Luckily, I created a guide for you and other lost ones like you who do not know if they can use the N-word. If after reading this, you choose to still use it, know during your tearful apology after the repercussions hit, you cannot say that you did not know. You knew; you were just stubborn.
"It’s Just A Word. Why Can’t I Say It?"
Well Chad, it’s not "just a word". This may come as a shock to many but although slavery is over, racism is not. Racism isn’t just about people like your asshole Uncle Brad. Racism is alive and well systemically and there are people in power that think like your Uncle Brad. Imagine your Uncle Brad having judicial power, financial power, and has power on the quality and opportunity of education over black people and other groups of people he despises. Sadly, there are people like him who do. That word has been used to dehumanize us as early as the 15th century and even today. Things are a lot better for us than in the 15th century but not completely. We are faced with certain adversity that no matter how much money we make, or how educated we are, we are impacted. That word coming out of the mouth of the group who holds the advantage, is repulsive. Your favorite rapper even said in his song “All Falls Down” --"We shine because they hate us, floss cause they degrade us, We trying to buy back our 40 acres, And for that paper, look how low we a'stoop, Even if you in a Benz, you still a nigga in a coop/coupe."
"Jalen Gave Me A Pass to Say It"
Jalen also thinks that if he turns his socks inside out, he can wear them a second time because that means they’re clean. Use your common sense Chad. Jalen cannot give you a pass. When HR finds your tweets, it won’t work when you tell her “Jalen gave me a pass”. When you drink your sorrows for getting fired down at a black bar and you say it, Jalen’s pass won’t protect you from anyone throwing a chair at you and yelling “Worlddddstarrrrr”.
When you wake up with a hospital bill and black eye, you cannot dispute the cost with Jalen’s pass. Jalen (Thank God) is not the spokesperson for all black people. Imagine being behind on your bills and having to duck potential danger because you wanted to say the N-word so badly.
"What if the N-Word Comes Up In a Song?"
Ignore it like how you ignore research. Let’s not pretend we don’t know how to censor ourselves. You’ve censored yourself around kids, parents, grandparents, and bosses. If it’s in every other line, (come on now Trinidad James) just nod your head. It may not feel fair but life isn’t fair for us either Chad.
"How About We Both Not Say it?"
How about we both mind our business. I don’t mean to be rude but you cannot decide who gets to use a word that you don’t even have the right to say. It does not impact you nor will ever be used to dehumanize you. The only emotion you have behind it is that you feel excluded that you cannot use it. It doesn’t feel good to be excluded from things, trust me. We know from experience. However, given the history that you now know, if you have a heart for others, you wouldn’t even want to use it. There are words that we can’t say either. For example, straight black folks can’t say the “F” word. I’m dating someone from the Middle East and there are words he can say that I absolutely cannot. The list goes on. Fortunately, I sleep perfectly fine with the fan on medium knowing there are words that I cannot say that others can.
"I Don’t Say It in A Racist Way."
You may not be racist. You may just use it when you sing lyrics or use it as a term of endearment when you speak to your other white friends. You may not be racist but you are selfish, inconsiderate, and most of all entitled. You are entitled because the only reason why you want to be able to say it is because you were told that you did not have the right to. You are inconsiderate because even with knowing the history, and knowing how black people feel as a whole about you using it, you still choose to use it. You are selfish because you made our discomfort, about you. Somehow, you’ve registered people being hurt by your use of that word is not as important as you being salty that you cannot say it.
"Stop Calling Me Mayonnaise Then"
I agree. I find prejudice as a whole disgusting. I do not find joy in it nor I do not condone it. I do want to add though that you being called wonderbread is not an equivalent impact to the kind of prejudice people of color have to face every day. The racism that dwells here has resulted in a lot of fatalities, disenfranchisement, and psychological trauma. Being called wonderbread has only resulted in hurt feelings. All of it is wrong but when a black person is asking you to not say the N-Word, do not follow up with when a person called you a cracker when you were 14. Respect the fact that they communicated to you that it offends them when you say it and asked you to please stop. Don’t try to get defensive and play the pain Olympics. We need to show each other better respect than that.
In conclusion, it does get exhausting to have to constantly argue with people like Chad over a topic that has been explained over and over again just to fall on deaf ears. However, some people do want to do better and hopefully, this guide can be conducive towards that.
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