Alabama College Hosts N-Word Conference

A four-day forum, in which the n-word will be discussed, is being held at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL. The conference, which began on Thursday and will end on Sunday, presented a variety of topics for discussion, ranging from the origins of the racial slur to whether changing a few letters makes it a socially acceptable term. The organizers of the forum stated that their goal was to challenge the use of the racial slur "through the use of intelligent dialogue and a thorough examination of black history."

As we all know, the use of the n-word has been an ongoing issue in our country. However, the spotlight was shined on it when comedian Michael Richards (Kramer on 'Seinfield') used the word during a stand-up routine that went horribly wrong when the star realized no one found his jokes funny. What resulted was Richards going on angry rant, filled with the n-word, which in turn led to an uproar in the African-American community. It led to prominent black leaders such as Rev. Jesse Jackson and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters urging the public and the entertainment industry to stop using the word.

Of course, use of the word has not stopped. Instead, conditions have been put on who can use it and where it can be used. When the word was used during slavery and well up into the 1960s, every black person would take offense, because it was symbol of hatred towards black people. It was a personal affront to their dignity as a human being. Clarence Sutton, Sr., president of the Tuscaloosa chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, is a prime example. After an incident in 1960, in which a white youth holding a knife slapped him and called him ni----, he forever associated the word with "the hate and the very deep disdain that his gentleman" demonstrated towards him.

Today, the n-word is used like a greeting among today's black community. Community activist Tim Robinson explains this trend by stating that the word 'ni--a' is different from the word 'ni--er', and is seen as a term of endearment when blacks say it to each other. The slight change in spelling thus makes the word less offensive in their eyes, and therefore, they see no problem with using it in everyday conversation.

However, there are those who say the word, in all its forms and spellings, should be completely banished. According to Kovan Flowers, co-founder of AbolishTheNWord.com, getting rid of the word would set an example for other races. Once the black community stops using it, then other races would stop using it as well. Only in this way can we begin to combat the issue of race in America.

The goals of the forum are positive ones. The effect they will have remains to be seen.