I'm A 17-Year-Old White Girl And I've Never Used The N-Word And Neither Should You
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

I'm A 17-Year-Old White Girl And I've Never Used The N-Word And Neither Should You

Unless you're black.

249
I'm A 17-Year-Old White Girl And I've Never Used The N-Word And Neither Should You
pexels.com

My name is Bella. I am a seventeen-year-old caucasian girl and I have never said the n-word. I have never typed it. I have never written it. And guess, what? I'm okay! I have survived! Avoiding a single word has never caused me any inconvenience. I have existed successfully for seventeen years, ten months, and sixteen days without this word passing my lips. Why have I never said this word you may ask? It's simple, really.

The answer is history and respect for others. The n-word is a term coined by the white landowners who enslaved the African people for centuries, to dehumanize and degrade them. Yes, African American slavery may be "in the past" but racism and oppression of the community are still alive and well today. Out of respect for the past as well as the present, avoiding a single word really isn't a tall order.

However, the reason it is alright for a black person to use this term is due to the concept of reclamation. Many oppressed communities are now reclaiming words used against them negatively for empowerment purposes. I came across a tweet once that perfectly summed up the reason why and the difference between a black person using the n-word and anyone else.

Twitter user @natalia_tkx says "People can agree that it's acceptable for a boyfriend to call his girlfriend 'babe', but not call other girls 'babe' because the relationship between the boyfriend and the girlfriend is different to the relationship between him and other girls. We live in a culture where its acceptable for certain people and groups to use words that others cannot use. So why tf are people having difficulty with extending this concept to why they cannot use the n-word, and black people can."

Even if you don't "get" why it's offensive to say the n-word if you aren't black, out of respect for other humans you should avoid it. There are many things one may not understand because they have never first hand experienced it. However, human decency should compel us to not want to offend others, and instead to respect them and not purposefully attempt to provoke them.

People often try to excuse saying the n-word when singing along to a song. Honestly, though, it's not hard to skip over a word in a lyric, or simply replace it with a non-racist word. When humans are told what to do, they automatically feel compelled to go against it, yet this is a simple thing you can do to be a good ally and a decent person.

This “I can do what I want” attitude is immature and bratty. A quote from Ta-Neshi Coates reads: "The experience of a being a hip-hop fan and not being able to use the n-word is actually very insightful. It will give you just a little peek into the world of what it means to be black...because to be black is to walk through the world and watch people doing things that you cannot do, that you can't join in and do. So I think there's actually a lot to be learned from refraining."

Perhaps you may have a black friend or acquaintance who is alright with you saying the n-word. Great! However, one person from a community is not representative of it in its entirety. The majority have expressed their wish for non-black people to refrain from the use of the n-word. At the end of the day, it is no longer your word to say.

All in all, don't use the n-word if you aren't black! I promise it's not hard.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55083
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35485
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957585
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

184824
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments