IN 2007, THE NAACP symbolically buried the n-word. They said the word should never be used - it's divisive and derogatory.As FOX29 was planning their evening newscast that day, an anchor dropped the word a few times - in the full version (not on air). He suggested that the full word be used on air. He said not doing so "ultimately gives the word itself more power," according to an Inquirer story.
Almost three weeks later, the anchor was suspended. That lasted until his contract was up, and then he wasn't renewed.
Now, the former anchor is suing his old workplace for discrimination. He says during the weeks before his suspension, he was left in a hostile work environment because of his race.
Does he have a case?
6 comments:
It's hard to say- the word itself is extremely discomforting and holds a lot of power and connotative meaning behind it.The matter should have been discussed more directly instead of slowly removing him from the news broadcast.
If the reason they were covering the story was to stop the use of the n-word then why, when covering the story, did he use the word?
I don't agree that he should have been suspended though, because it wasn't aired, he didn't say it live, so no one besides those who are aware could have been offended. He should have not chosen to use the word, but in doing so he doesn't deserve to be fired?
This is definitely a touchy subject for this country. A black person can say the word twice in a sentence and no one would care or say anything but if a white person says it around a black person he will get the shit kicked out of him. The word just depends on how it's used and who's using it.
The NAACP can do a symbolic funeral if they want to but I don't think that's going to erase so many years of the word being used. It's not like its new, its been around for hundreds of years. I think its who is using the word has changed. It's not going to go away and I think not using gives it more power to offend people. I really consider it a swear word like any other, except it was originally a word of oppression of all black people.
Race is a social contracted idea. When bought into this ideology it enhances ones perception of the amount of difference between human beings. This then leads to misunderstanding, anger, and even hatred. Which allows a context that doesn't necessarily have any merit but association with the manifested ideology and the events it caused hence forth empower it with great offensive and dehumanizing ability. So in order to strip contexts of its power simply remove the empowering ideology. Which I believe was the anchors intentions. but non the less it is far from simple to remove the historical stigma attached to the word and a great amount of sensitivity should be take in consideration of others perspectives on the word. So I believe although his intentions might have been for the good as a professional he should have remained in an objective perspective of the context, rather than voicing his idea. He should have chosen a better place and time to voice his beliefs.
The N-Word no matter how ugly the true meaning is, it is a apart of our history as African Americans. the N-Word in my mind changes as the African American presence progresses from slave, to freeman. The word as of African American Americans was a result of a harsh trade and forbidden in the black community, in order to hide a dark past. Now that we are far from those days and have learned from our ancestors struggles the N-Word is used as an insult. it is also glorified which i can admire because for a race to take a word that would push one to cry 40 years ago, and use it as a expression of freedom it show where we are as an culture. I think older African American Adults dont understand the fact that the word has evovled as we have a a people. The Fact that there would be a funeral for such a word worries me because it is apart of our history, and for a people with such a rich culture we should not have to forget a part of our history.
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