Do Black Parents Discourage Their Children from Using the "N-Word"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was riding on the Metro last night towards Reston, when three black youths (late teens/early 20s) got on the train near Farragut West. Over the next 25-30 minutes, and in the presence of mostly white and Asian passengers, they spoke loudly, with about every 1/3 or 1/4th word out of their mouth being "niggas." As I listened to them speak it became clear it was used as a substitute for "we" or for "young workers in entry-level jobs" (like "they make the niggaz stay late to clean up at Shake Shack").

Do black parents discourage their children from using this term, or do they not care? And, if the latter, how can they take offense when youths of other races are then socialized to think it's an acceptable term?

This is not trolling, but a serious question that merits an honest discussion. As long as non-AA youths are routinely punished for using language that AA youths apparently can use in public places with no repercussions, some people will trend further right, convinced that the left is ready, willing, and able to enforce speech codes replete with double standards.

First, all black parents aren't the same. Second, if your kids are being socialized and think what they hear on the street is acceptable, they YOU are not doing your job as a parent.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a black lady, I have friends who use it around other black people. I don't. I have used it in a literary sense before in a paper in college.

As far as the teens using it.... I'm sure their parents haven't condoned it, anymore than I would condone my kid using "shit" when I'm not around. Part of it is the fact that they are in a group with their friends and no adults around.

I know that I cuss like a sailor when I'm with friends in my living room or at the bar, whereas people at work think the raciest thing out of my mouth is "darn" [/quote]

This is an example of code switching.

Code switching is not being two faced. It's about language nuances. Same as when my friend is in the states, she has a british accent, but it isn't too strong. When her British friends come to visit, I can barely understand a word they are saying because they are using British terms, that don't translate to my American ears.