Racist terminology in the classroom

[longleggedgit]

So I'm about to teach an article about a sort of institutionalized hierarchy of racism in a North Carolina slaughterhouse, and I was wondering how it would be best to proceed regarding some of the racist terminology in the article. It's got some pretty incendiary language, including the n-word among many others. The student who I'll be teaching is

Comments

[tailoredshirt]

Well, you'll already be teaching him about the word, right? It's more a question of whether or not he says the word in class with you? Is there something you think he'll gain from saying the word out loud in this context, rather than just from learning about it? My only concern would be the practice of using it. When I say that word out loud, it's hard and emotional, like my mouth doesn't want to let it out because of how wrong it is. And I think that's difficult to convey unless someone has first-hand experience with the word. So to have him say it out loud feels unnecessary to me if there's no clear objective there, because I don't think anyone should ever feel comfortable saying it. I think the reason it's such a good learning tool in the U.S. is that it is uncomfortable for most Americans to say, so we connect with the text on an emotional level, so if someone isn't uncomfortable with it then they shouldn't be using it at all.

But if this student has encountered racism and spent time in the U.S. then he might understand more fully what he's saying. Maybe when you start talking to him about the history of the word you'll get a better feel for how to proceed? I think it's awesome that he chose that article and wants to talk about racism.

[longleggedgit]

Well, I guess I do think that there is something to be gained out of saying it--again, in this context. He's not going to go out of the classroom saying it, I'm certain. The goal isn't to get him comfortable with saying it; it's more to get him uncomfortable with saying it. If I were teaching a novel with the word in it, like Huck Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird or something, I know I wouldn't want the word getting censored in the reading, because I think it's so important to the context and the magnitude of the work. I think it's important for us to look back on text written in a time when it was okay to say the n-word in casual speech because it reminds us of precisely why it shouldn't be okay anymore.

It's fair to say that as a non-American he might not feel that same instant emotional gut reaction we get to hearing or saying it, but I guess that would be the whole point of imparting on him the significance of it. I don't think anything I could say in one fifty-minute lesson could bring him up to speed with all the complexities of racism and its history in the U.S., but the goal is to try. It is great that he's so interested in this kind of thing on his own, yeah. That's a huge start. I also do think his own experiences are going to give him at least some framework for understanding.

[longleggedgit]

PS, looking back on this reply, I hope I don't sound overly defensive of my initial impulse to read it out loud. I'm mostly just still hashing out these pros and cons in my own head, so if it sounds like I'm trying to argue with you, I think it's actually me trying to argue with myself. Your input is very much appreciated.

[tailoredshirt]

No, I didn't think that! And you're free to argue with me all you want, lol. You know what he needs better than I do. I am happy to offer another perspective even if it just solidifies your own. I don't think there's a "right" way to handle this situation.

<3

[longleggedgit]

I don't think there's a "right" way to handle this situation.

That's what my mom said! Which is sound advice, but I don't think she realized I really just wanted her to tell me the answer. :(