10 November 2020
Should a White Person Ever Use the N-word?
No.
As a White person, it’s not my place to explain why the term when coming out of the mouths of White people is offensive, while when coming out of the mouths of Black people it may not be. So, here is Ta-Nehisi Coates, who gives a clear and linguistically correct explanation.
Watch (5-minute video):
My editorial policy on this site is to not use the n-word. In my everyday speech and writing, I don’t use that word at all, and I try not to use other offensive terms lightly or without consideration, but on this site I don’t shy away from using such words when those words are the topic of discussion—I find it strange and even overly precious to avoid saying a word when one is talking about a word. But the n-word, when coming from the mouth or keyboard of a White person like me, is so inflammatory and offensive and the ongoing history of White supremacy is such that I do not want to use it even in that context.
In recent posts I have expurgated the word or referred to it as the n-word. I have expurgated it even in quotations where the word is intact in the original text, using square brackets to mark the fact that it is me who is doing the eliding (i.e., n[——]). In these cases, I don’t think anyone will misinterpret what the original text actually says, so nothing is lost in the elision. If you find an old post that uses the word in a quotation it is because I have missed it. If you let me know about it, I will correct it.
The sole exception to this policy is the entry for the n-word itself, where I do use the word once to establish beyond doubt what word I am writing about. Elsewhere I have expurgated or used n-word wherever the double-g spelling appears. I have left other, earlier variant spellings intact so one can see how the form of the word developed over time.
If anyone is offended by this limited use of the word on this site, please accept my apologies. And if you have constructive criticism on this policy or how I have described the word, I sincerely want to hear it.
