The Power of Words

Walking around campus or even sitting in class you hear words like retard or the N word. For this post I also wanted to focus specifically on the N word. I wanted to start by saying that I find any use of this word in any situation completely inappropriate. In the past, that was a word used to dehumanize and tear down a whole group of people that were treated less than that. I am person of color and someone who's not so distant relatives were brought to this country as slaves. I can't believe we would  use a word that was used to describe PEOPLE  who were being sold and traded as property. 

We are quick to throw blame for hate in a "post racial" America.  I hear people complain about Trump inciting hate  throughout the country, when they greet their friends as "my nigga". 

It is hypocritical to call politicians and other people out when they say racial slurs in public, but when we do it with friends, it is perfectly acceptable since there was no intent to harm. Regardless of  the context, hate words validate hate speech.  We may think we've "taken back" the word but as long as people are using this word in a negative connotation, we haven't. We are lucky to live in a culturally diverse area where that word doesn't have the power it does in other place. So the next time you use the word, think for a second what it might mean.