Use of n-word leaves conflicting impressions
January 5, 2007
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The floor was open for debate Monday night in the University Union as Ahjamu Umi, a member of the All-African People’s Party, hosted the 3rd annual “N-Word Forum.”
Sponsored by the AAPP, the forum was an open debate for the audience to discuss the use of the “n-word” in celebration of Black History Month
To start off the group discussion, Umi showed a presentation concerning the use of the “n-word” and the positive and the negative affects on today’s culture. In his presentation, he showed how some blacks claim the “n-word” as a personal identity in response to years of miseducation of African-American culture.
“(It’s)trying to create a positive image from something negative,” Umi said.
After the presentation, the question posed by Umi was whether or not the “n-word” serves as an identity, and what should be the use of the “n-word” in today’s world.
The audience took control of the forum as participants shared their opinion with each other on the use of the “N-word,” and what the word meant to them.
Criminal Justice Professor Cecil Canton ?” who is also Sacramento State’s CFA chapter president ?” participated in the forum and viewed the “n-word” as a negative word considering the word’s history.
“It’s a powerfully negative word that invokes a war mentally,” Canton said.”[Where] you can fight it or become subservient.”
Another concerning issue was the use of the “n-word” by the music industry and its affect on the youth in the U.S. and in the rest of the world.
This is an instance in which younger blacks were attempting to create a positive image from a negative stereotype, according to Umi.
Mark Thompson, an engineer with the Sacramento Department of Water Resources, disagrees with rap artists who insist on the use of the “n-word” in their music.
“Whether it’s with a ‘er’ or an ‘a,’ at the end you can’t recast that word,” Thompson said.
The goal of the event was to bring people together and to define the self-identity of blacks, according to Umi. Shani Ellington, a senior in women’s studies, came to support the presenters and to listen to other people’s perspective.
“It’s important to educate people of our belief and what type of impression the ‘n-word’ brings on our society,” Ellington said.
Matthew Beltran can be reached at [email protected]
