The N-Word and Social Capital - Essay Sample

Introduction

The N-word which is niggers has raised many controversies in the United States of America where it is widely being used. This is due to the history of the name and the implications that many the word has had in its subjects. The word dates back to the colonial history where the black race was referred to using the word bringing about racism. With the current civilized world, many people think it is not a proper word to be used since this is an era whose civilization is above racism. The controversy that arises is because modern youth especially the Black Americans have learned to accept the word and use it freely without any feeling of offense but when used by a pure white becomes a different case. This affects the social capital of the people and their interaction. The question is should, should the use of the word be designated to a particular group of people or should it be abolished completely?

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Many of the Campuses in the United States have abolished the use of the word as they see its use to be based on racial grounds. However, some of the professors are against the idea and have their point of view. Professor Stone, for example, say that part of his lectures had the word and could not stop teaching because the word was prohibited. He argues that the word should be used if the material to be discussed is relevant. Rose, a professor at the same University, teaching anthropology says that the prohibition of a word should be on the analysis whether the protection of hate speech use an argument and not because "people feel bad."(Flaherty, 2018, pg3)

Contrary to Rouse, Christian Berchini an English professor argues that the context within which the word was created was based on slavery, oppression and disenfranchise people of color. This goes against the development of culture and societies which is the core thing for social capital. The word should therefore not be used. He adds that the question on to use the word and who should not bring more racism. If the black is allowed to use it and the white are not, it would be like denying them the freedom of language since they are taught that everything in the country belongs to them, language being one of them. This would make the white students feel being discriminated against as they are restricted on the word to use while others are allowed and thus limiting the speech freedom.

According to Ronald Kennedy, the use of the N-word does not sound offensive to him. He argues that cultural literacy demands the use of the word and limiting its use will limit the learner's knowledge of cultures. He explains that before conclusions are made on not using the word, people should not be ignorant of its purposes, connotations, effects and even the way it might be confused with similar soundings of related words. He bases his analysis on what the word means and what it should mean, and if it is more or less harmful by acting as a racial epithet. Historically, the term was used with contempt against the black as an inferior race, but it would be okay if the word were used to differentiate societies. Therefore, on the context of social capital for the black currently, it would not have the same effect as the blacks are using it.

The use of the N-word by the black as they try to reclaim its use is since it evinces a sense of lack of self-regard or racial pride (Kennedy, 2019, pg90). The word being common among comedians and musicians is typically not because they are proud of it but because it is like they are accepting the racial power the whites have over them and subjecting to it through acceptance. This has brought about some social capital but only when used amongst themselves. The effort to ban the whites from using it bring about an excellent social environment since the effect is different when the white use the word than when the blacks use it among themselves.

Other arguments are because the word has been used in many novels, books, poetry, songs, and different literary genres in the past and eradicating the use of the word would mean erasing a considerable part of anthropology history. People ask whether the word should, therefore, be removed from this literature and other artistic works which shades so much light on account of language. This appears to be rational as it refers to the use of the word to the context and the intention. However, no matter how much good the purpose was, recent happenings indicate that the core meaning of the word which is based on racism is deeply rooted in the minds of the people. Due to this, the use of the word should not be allowed; therefore, whether by the blacks or by the whites if social capital is to be attained.

The use of the word has had extensive influence even into the education system and altering even the academics of the young generations. The black people have had a difficult time in the past in their academics and raising concerns even to the academic staff. This is because, based on their intellectual abilities, the black may slightly vary from the white and putting them in the same class has proved a challenge (Graybill, 2019, pg313). The use on the word further oppresses many, and a significant school drop out of the black was recorded. Gradually, these group learns to accept the word they admit to being inferior to the white due to treatment by teachers and other students. This should not be however the case. Students should be treated fairly to create a free social environment, and one's actions should not make the other accept what they are not. This analysis on the classroom for African American Students, therefore, provides that the word should be abolished from both the blacks and the whites.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of the N-word which is gaining popularity among the blacks clearly shows that it is not with the right attitudes from the black. The fact that the American African found it wrong when the white use it and are excellent when using it among themselves indicates that it is on the grounds of accepting the notion that they are inferior. This should not be the case, however, and the use of the word should be removed entirely. It is evident also that the meaning of the word in the minds of many is rooted in racism from the reactions of many. This shows that no matter how good the intention was, the word is still not appropriate. On the interest of social capital among the whites and the African-Americans, the use of the word will not be proper. It will not bring about any actual social interrelations.

Work Cited

Flaherty, Coleen. Two Professors On Different Campuses Used The N-Word Last Week. One Was Suspended, And One Was Backed By His Institution. 2018, pp. 1-4, https://www.insidehighered.com/. Accessed 12 Feb 2018.

Graybill, Susan W. "Questions Of Race And Culture: How They Relate To The Classroom For African American Students." The Clearing House: A Journal Of Educational Strategies, Issues And Ideas, vol 70, no. 6, 1997, pp. 311-318. Informal UK Limited, doi:10.1080/00098655.1997.10543533.Accessed 29/3/2019

Kennedy, Randall L. "Who Can Say "Nigger"? And Other Considerations". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, no. 26, 1999, p. 86-96. JSTOR, DOI: 10.2307/2999172.Accessed 29/3/2019