The Inflammatory N Word :: Media Racism Essays

The Inflammatory N Word The flushing of February 25, 2002 started innocuously enough. My daughter Elena is an avid fan of the picture show, capital of Massachusetts Public (Fox), and she was looking forward to watching the newest fortune. Because Boston Public goat contain controversial subjects, I monitor the show while my kids be watching it. The issues addressed in a kid-friendly show turn into a good starting point for discussions with my two teenage children. The new episode not only turned out to be the epitome of broil it was the beginning of new type of dialogue with my children. I had not think to watch the television show Boston Public (Fox), but when I saw the topic of the show, I set aside my homework and presently became engrossed. The February 25th episode centered on the inflammatory N discourse (Randall Kennedy) when two boys, one white and the other black, affectionately call all(prenominal) other n----r. Another boy, also black, objects to white person cal ling a black person this word and a fight ensues. When the instructor discovers the footing for the altercation, he assigns the class to read n----r The Strange Career of a difficult Word, by Randall Kennedy. The class discussion that follows causes controversy with the administration of the school because the teacher leading the discussion is not an black. The show ends with the lead-in, who is black, teaching the class instead. after(prenominal) the show concluded, my daughter and I had a fiery discussion most the issues raised in the show. Elena felt it was entirely appropriate that only an African-American can teach a class on the N word. I was unhappy with the ending and felt that it would have more impact if the principal and the teacher conducted the class together. One thing both of us concur on we had many questions and wanted more information than what a television show could give us so we decided to purchase Mr. Kennedys book and learn more on the issue. What ar e the origins of racial slurs and wherefore are they used? While it was impossible to find the exact origins of racial slurs, it seems that through out history, there is always a history of an oppressed race or religion. Part of this oppression has been the use of words to assistant the powerful remain in control. Alarmingly, some of these racial slurs have even slipped into every day language.