The "N-word": Is it ever okay to say it?

By: Overtime Staff
Topics: Correspondent Candids

Overtime editor Ann Silvio has a frank discussion about the N-word with correspondent Byron Pitts, whose report on "60 Minutes" this week is about a new edition of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" that omits the racial epithet and replaces it with the word "slave."

Watch Byron Pitts' report

Pitts starts the conversation by prompting Silvio to say the N-word and then explains why he decided to say the full word in his "60 Minutes" report. Pitts cites two precedents: Ed Bradley and Andy Rooney both said the word in previous reports on the broadcast. Yes, Andy Rooney.

Pitts also describes his own childhood experiences with the word: at age 10, a white schoolmate's parent hurled the word at him on the sidelines of a football game. It was the first time Pitts was called N-word, but it wouldn't be the last.

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by SDjag June 13, 2011 6:59 PM EDT: The word reached its zenith amidst inculcated ignorance. Often used among people who, all-too-aware of their own shortcomings, wanted to feel superior to someone else, and who could only do it based on their skin color. Thankfully, times have changed for most Americans. The civil-libertarian in me tends to believe that the people who want to use that particular word have a "right" to their ignorance. But in no way, shape, or form can I condone the promulgation of the word in a public school. Twain's book was a product of its time, and a minor change--a product of our times--will not create a substantive difference. (A footnote as to the orginal could be made as a concession to the purists.) As for those who would say the word is "acceptable" in certain contexts, I disagree. The word often elicits a visceral reaction from many (including me,) and I beleive it merits at least the same censoring in most venues as certain four-letter words. For all the artists and black comedians who think it is okay to put the word "out there"--would you want some young child to have the word hurled at them? By putting and keeping the word "out there" you increase the chances of its being used. The argument that it is okay to use the word (only) if you're Black might fly if it were only used among Blacks. Imagine trying to explain to a 15-year-old (white) boy why you're so upset and why you won't tolerate the use of a certain word in your house when Dave Chapelle (his idol) uses it all the time? If they succeed in inuring the world to this word, could the "C word" and others be far behind? Ick.; Reply to this comment


by SDjag June 13, 2011 6:46 PM EDT: The word reached its zenith amidst inculcated ignorance. Often used among people who, all-too-aware of their own shortcomings, wanted to feel superior to someone else, and who could only do it based on their skin color. Thankfully, times have changed for most Americans. The civil-libertarian in me tends to believe that the people who want to use that particular word have a "right" to their ignorance. But in no way, shape, or form can I condone the promulgation of the word in a public school. Twain's book was a product of its time, and a minor change--a product of our times--will not create a substantive difference. (A footnote as to the orginal could be made as a concession to the purists.) As for those who would say the word is "acceptable" in certain contexts, I disagree. The word often elicits a visceral reaction from many (including me,) and I beleive it merits at least the same censoring in most venues as certain four-letter words. For all the artists and black comedians who think it is okay to put the word "out there"--would you want some young child to have the word hurled at them? By putting and keeping the word "out there" you increase the chances of its being used. The argument that it is okay to use the word (only) if you're Black might fly if it were only used among Blacks. Imagine trying to explain to a 15-year-old (white) boy why you're so upset and why you won't tolerate the use of a certain word in your house when Dave Chapelle (his idol) uses it all the time? If they succeed in inuring the world to this world, could the "C word" and others be far behind? Ick.; Reply to this comment


by fleabus7 March 27, 2011 11:01 PM EDT: All my previous comments were tossed. Who says censorship isn't alive and well in the United States?; Reply to this comment


by markofnewcastle March 26, 2011 11:16 PM EDT: I totaly agreed with the professor until he said it was ok for blacks to say the word but no one else. I grew up of the Italian decent and we never put up with anyone saying the D--o word; but we had enough self respect not to use the word ourselves to ourselves or about ourselves. If you dont like anyone using the word you should not use it yourself.; Reply to this comment


by sunlife1 March 24, 2011 5:18 PM EDT: I don't know if the word should be changed in the book. I'm torn about it.

I do have a problem with the one teacher who did say it. I commend her for preparing the class for several days before getting into the book, but if you notice the one black kid in the class felt bad about the word being used. As I would. Would she feel okay if we started flinging around a word she might not like, like c&nt? Or even if her daughter read a book in class (with all males) where the c&nt word or some similar derogatory term for a female were used because it is part of the story (216 times)?

I disagree with the African American professor and consultant in that using the word takes the power out of it. Perhaps, that works for him or for rappers. But, it still stings for me when I hear it. But then that term was used on me, less so lately, but more so at one time. I still don't like hearing it from anyone but most especially from those who aren't black like me. Using the term when we are not yet post-racial does NOT take the power out of it for me nor do I think helps to work towards becoming post-racial.

By the way, I don't have a problem with using curse words in general depending on time and place. I'm from a family of people who curse and I use curse words myself, but rarely if ever directed at anyone and never at children.

And if we are okay about anyone using the n-word or various versions of it, then does that mean they can use it anytime to address a black person?

We used to work to protect our kids from this kind of stuff at school and elsewhere, so now it is okay? I guess many would say, "Just get over it." Maybe it is okay for my boss to say to me, Hey n-word come here? Maybe the professor featured in the piece is okay if a white person says to him, Hey n-word come here. Where does it stop or are we finally just giving in and giving up?

Please don't call me the n-word. I don't like it.; Reply to this comment

by hocky4lf March 23, 2011 2:05 AM EDT

Common people please! I'm not writing this commentary for any review but for passion. When are we going to get beyond "slavery" and be at peace? A civil war had to prove it was the wrong direction. Why do we now keep it so near and dear to our hearts? I'm sorry for what my predecessor's did to any race, but I wasn't there, I didn't partake. In light, I think it's wrong censoring a great novelest like Mark Twain. We've censored the bible and look at the delusion it's produced. When will we all learn that when we censor emotion we regress as a civilization. If I wrote a book and it was read fifty years from know I don't imagine they would understand, why should we? It's the way Twain spoke, is it, was it, wrong? As a people, we will never progress if we bow to those that suppress our ideals and judgement. We have much more in fate than what's published in words. Get over it, we're all ******* of this world, please!

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by NaomiCA March 24, 2011 8:12 PM EDT: The problem with your argument about how many generations removed you may think you are from the ruling class of Americans that benefited from slavery is this; walk through any "ghetto". As you're walking through and looking at the poor black people that inhabit it, remember that these are not newly poor people. These are people who have been poor since their ancestors were freed after 12-15 generations of their predecessors were finally freed from slavery.

Yes, you may relinquish all claim to the past atrocity that was slavery. That's got to be very convenient for your conscience.

There are still black Americans that have never recovered from being forced to work for FREE and accumulate NO wealth for generation upon generation.
Not an insurance payout, stock, bond, piece of property, car, jewelry, painting etc...

There are still black Americans that have been adversely affected by the illegality of teaching their ancestors to read.

No one's saying you personally should have to contribute to the United Negro College Fund.
But what I will not allow you to do is pretend like it never happened, the playing field is completely level and it should be water under the bridge.

Most Black American's walked away from slavery with absolutely nothing and have had to struggle for basic civil liberties. So little that for the most part our last names are still the last names of the people that owned our ancestors.

So every time I write my name, I know it ties me to someone who owned my ancestors and profited from their labor for 250 years.

You get over it.


by yesterday2 March 27, 2011 7:22 PM EDT: I wholeheartedly agree with NaomiCa YOU get over it. I too get tired of hearing people not related to our culture telling us to get over anything. Twain doesn't tell our history; after all is said and done Huck is just another fictitious report from the lens of one person who was most likely racist whose ancestors most likely owned slaves. Maybe he did too!


by tchinda March 22, 2011 3:31 PM EDT: I think that the whole controversy surrounding the "sanitization" of Huckleberry Finn smacks of revisionist history. American whites have never been comfortable owning up to their transgressions against other races, whether it was slavery and Jim Crow; their genocidal campaigns to wipe out the indigenous native population; or their virtual enslavement of Chinese railroad workers in the 19th century. The publisher who has deleted the N-word in favor of "slave" is no different from the white supremacists who deny that the Holocaust ever took place and claim that it is a Jewish lie to paint the noble German people as monsters. The idea is to change history and hide the truth from future generations. If the sanitized version of Huck Finn is accepted and widely disseminated and the practice spreads to include other works, the goal of revisionism will be achieved.

There is power in words. That was the point of "newspeak" in George Orwell's "1984." If you change the words you use to describe something, you change the way people think about those things and their attitudes toward them. The Republicans are very good at this little trick. Take "Global Warming," for example. That term sounds dire and implies the truth -- that the heating up of planet Earth is being caused by human activity. The Bush administration successfully altered that to "climate change," which implies a natural event. One never sees "Global Warming" in the media anymore. It has been replaced by the kinder and gentler "climate change." Revisionist whites would love to see the same thing happen with the N-word.; Reply to this comment


by RoboNot March 22, 2011 3:23 PM EDT: How insulting... I was born a "white N...." we are never addressed and over looked in the etymology of the N word. Born in the bucolic south.. as a White N... I learned the N word was used not so much as a racial epithet as it was a social construct. Whites and Blacks occupying the same social rung of the economic ladder were discriminated equally. To perpetuate the myth that only Afro-Americans were discriminated against via the South's usage of the N word as a social construct, offends me as it denies my own family of legacy of discrimination. All America needs to see how we are a divided culture on the basis of not so much skin color as economic standing. That is why America is such a lie... that all are created equal. We are not and cannot be... the "us vs them" social constructs are as much relevant today as they were in 1776. All economically disadvantaged can be viewed a "N" Class Americans. Why not look further into how America was always ran for the benefit of those that run it.. the oligarch... and the N word was part of the "divide and conquer" the hearts and minds of the electorate.

Why can't us "N's" be included in any discussion of social inequality? Your treatment of the subject follows the popular version of WW II that limits the holocaust to 6 Million Jews... they own it... but ignore the other 7 million that died in the holocaust. Instead of proclaiming dignity for 13 million... only 6 million of "them" vs the rest. Thus the N designation is limited to just skin color of blacks and not the totality of us all so labeled.; Reply to this comment


by chiefkc March 22, 2011 1:48 PM EDT: Our society finds the word ****** so offensive that it almost always referred to as the "n"word. Yet if you were to visit our nations capitol you are bound to hear or see references to their beloved Washington Redskins. Huh? I thought that the word Redskin was a racial slur to Native Americans. That seems a little hypocritical to me. Hey Byron, do you have the stones to take that one on?; Reply to this comment


by robertvroom March 22, 2011 5:15 AM EDT: Huck Finn is a wonderful story written by one of the greatest American authors ever. He used words to paint pictures, and he chose his words carefully to make sure the picture came out right. In this book, Twain uses his skills as an author to fight AGAINST racism. I think his choice of words and phrases were carefully crafted to be shocking? to open peoples' eyes to some of the evils of their society.

There is a saying that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. If we look at the past and say, "Oh, that's awful! I don't want my kids to see that!", then our kids will never be able to learn from what has come before. Twain's book allows us to hold some of society's older beliefs up to the light and see what was good and bad about those beliefs. I am afraid that by trying to clean the language in the book to meet modern sensibilities - by changing the words of a master wordsmith to meet modern views of morality - we may lose a lot of the power that this book possesses.; Reply to this comment

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