"Nigger" Questions

1) How should nigger be defined? Is there only one meaning of the word? How has the semantics of the word evolved over time? What does this term mean to you personally? What do you think it means to your parents' generation? What does it mean to those in other racial communities? Does its meaning vary depending upon age, race, community, class, and setting?

I don’t think any one person can define nigger because it means so many different things to many different people. It’s beyond the power of any group or person I think. Obviously there more than one meaning, otherwise there wouldn’t be controversy. The context or situation the word is used can alter the meaning of the word significantly to some people. The word has gone from a completely negative term to a term of endearment for some African Americans, but it remains off-limits for whites. To me the term is negative and I don’t think I could ever call someone a nigger even if they asked me to or said it was okay. For my parent’s generation, I think “nigger” was seen as entirely negative. “Nigger” has apparently moved beyond just reference to African Americans; it can now refer to other ethnicities, groups etc.

2) In the episode of "Boston Public" we watched, Marla Hendricks, a black teacher, wants Danny Hanson, who is white, to be fired for discussing the word nigger in his classroom. She says, "That word has always stood for hatred coming out of a white mouth. No teacher in any school is good enough to erase that in a sensitivity class." Do you agree with her? Would it have made a difference if Danny Hanson was black? Is a commercial television show an appropriate forum in which to explore this type of issue? What do you think the program hoped to achieve? Has it succeeded?

I don’t think it can “erase” the hatred in the word, but I think that an understanding of the word could be reached. It would have, for better or for worse, made a difference if Danny was black. If their intent was to have discussion stemming from the show then it’s better than if they just wanted to be controversial for ratings or such. I’m not really sure if it’s the “right” thing but I think that topics, like this one, need to be discussed. It’s not really to a conclusion but more to open minds to the idea. The show might have led to discussion and, in that way, it could have succeeded.