the N word

When a minority group uses a word that was once used to disparage that group, it is called language reclamation. The idea behind it is that if the minority group takes control of the word, it can no longer be used against them. The curently accepted word for a black person in the US is black. Before that it was African American. AND before that negro as in the United Negro College Fund. We should also examine what people are saying in regard to whether one would be beaten up or killed for using the wrong word. There is a racist asumption that the black person hearing it would resort to violence. They certainly would not like being called such a term but would not always or usually move to violent action.

What about that 'j' word?


Are they really as bad as everyone says they are?