You're cruising down the road with the radio blasting your favorite song. You're singing along to every word. Then comes the chorus which, of course, is your favorite part. You belt every bit of that without batting an eye. Even that word that, not so long ago, was a word filled with hate. In case you haven't caught on yet, that word is the n-word.

But wait, isn't it okay to say the n-word as long as you put an -a at the end?

Although I live in a smaller, southern town, it still amazes me the number of people I have heard say that there is a distinct difference between n***a and n***er. They try to justify this by saying that if you end it with an -a that it is a friendly term; but, if you end it with an -er, then you're referring to "ghetto" or "trashy" African-American person.

I am nauseated by the fact that there are people who have this form of thinking in the 21st century. Less than half a century ago, people were still fighting for their humanity and freedom from the suppressive connotations that come with this word. Most still are. This word was used as a derogatory word for someone who was considered to be two-thirds of a person. Yet somehow, I have spoken to people who think it is okay to call their neighbor that.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I have used this word before. I wish that someone would have taught me sooner that that is not at all right. I have sung right along with those songs on the radio. I can admit to being previously ignorant.

Somewhere along the way, there has been a miscommunication that one form of the word is better than another. That, somehow a change in letters changes the history of the word and makes it completely different. Whoever told you that is wrong. The use of the n-word is nothing less than racism.

We're the next set of parents, guys. Do we really want to teach our future generations ignorance and prejudice?