Dr C. Northington Purdie asks “What does the N-word mean to you?” This article was inspired by an incident between Black and white teenagers at an amusement park, where the N-word was deployed by the white teens. The knee-jerk reaction of one Generation X adult could only be described as 20th-century posturing. In contrast, the Black teens’ response demonstrated the evolution of confrontational communication about race.

Amusement parks are among the last desegregated spaces in America. On any given weekend, families of every size and demographic gather there. I relish the diversity—the cacophony of languages, the universal cries of babies, the tantrums that leap from child to child like falling dominoes. Adults in line for food and rides bond with strangers over the mediocre, overpriced food, and the air is filled with excitement. Even on less-than-perfect days, the sensory stimulation makes the time and money well spent.

My last visit to an amusement park was with my family and a neighbor’s family: four adults (two sets of parents) and six children (four of them teenagers). We ate food that was just tasty enough for us to ignore its lack of nutrition. The kids rode roller coasters, strapped themselves into free-fall towers, and spun in machines that lifted them skyward before dropping the floor beneath their feet. It was a good summer day. On our way out, we passed a Ferris wheel and decided to go on one last ride. Enjoying the breathtaking views, we waited for the wheel to unload. We were the next to last group to alight.

As we walked away, I heard teenage boys shout, “Niggers! Niggers!” We were the only African Americans in the vicinity, so the target of the taunt was unmistakable. The word hurled me back to high school, igniting a knee-jerk fury. At high decibels, I demanded they repeat that word to our faces. I hadn’t thought through what I would do if they had complied—I just knew I couldn’t ignore it.

Image © C. Northington Purdie @cnorthingtonp Art for your life!

I attended high school in the late 20th century, shortly after my mother and I moved to a small suburb of New Jersey. I had been warned ahead of time that the student body was not keen to have African Americans in their school. For the first week, police escorted us from the school bus to the entrance of the school to ensure our safety. Until then, I’d never faced blatant racial bias. Back then, the N-word was tethered to slavery. Hip-hop lyrics were still clean, the internet didn’t exist, and the word rarely surfaced in mainstream conversation. Yet, that label became my “price of education.” I’d usually retort with “Yo mama!”—but the fury never faded.

At the Ferris wheel, that fury returned. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed in our group. We waited for the boys to disembark. Mentally, I rehearsed a “racial equality speech” for them. But before I could speak, 15-year-old Sarah (a pseudonym) calmly approached them: “Did you just call us the N-word?” The three boys froze for a second, then emphatically denied it. “Are you sure?” she pressed. They insisted and hurried away.

I was ashamed. With all my education and experience, it never occurred to me to ask why they’d said it. Why does the N-word still trigger me? Dr. Cornel West (1993) argues that some people still associate it with struggle—with slavery, lynchings, and the dehumanization of black people. I have come to realize that I am one of those people. In Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015) points out that “nigger” mentally reduces a Black person to three-fifths of a person. During slavery, black people in the US were considered 3/5 of a person; unable to vote, own property, or learn to read. It is simply insulting. Coates (2015) and others contend that non-Black people shouldn’t use it, even in rap, because context defines its harm. Although the First Amendment specifies freedom of speech, some words are needlessly cruel, regardless of truth (Ruiz-Grossman, 2017).

Between the World and Me is a 2015 nonfiction book written by American author Ta-Nehisi Coates as a letter to his then-teenage son.

Attempts to reclaim the word, akin to the LGBTQ+ community’s reclamation of “queer,” have met mixed success. The N-word has a longer history than “Queer”. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has issued a formal statement about its view of the N-word. They emphasize the stigma that the word contains. Among other concerns, the NAACP (2014) concludes that free use of the N-word delegitimizes the freedom fighters and all who have lost their lives in the pursuit of justice. To avoid misuse in any context, the N-word has been banned from the organization since 2007. The same people who eschew the use of the N-word, suggest that the meaning of the word is individually determined—it remains a debate without a resolution and is best avoided in conversational speech.

A masterclass in 21st-century activism

Sarah wasn’t angry or insulted, just curious. Her response was a masterclass in 21st-century activism. Later, I asked what she’d have done if they’d admitted they said the word. “I’d ask them why,” she said. She wanted dialogue, not confrontation.

In an era of racial unrest, her approach—rooted in understanding—might be the path forward.

C. Northington Purdie

Image © C. Northington Purdie @cnorthingtonp Art for your life!

C. Northington Purdie is a developmental psychologist. After a fruitful career as an associate professor at William Patterson University, she is now retired. Her research interest continue to inspire publication opportunities with accompanying bespoke artwork. Her research priorities are reflected in her publications; current issues in educational psychology with an emphasis on classroom management and online learning. She is also the author of How to Quiet the Class Quickly! Quick Tips for Teachers (2016), and Behavior Management! Quick Tips for Bus Drivers, Paraprofessionals and Other People on the Bus (2017) (Lulu Publishing).
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