It all came out on Friday when students and faculty discussed the meaning of the “N” word.

The group spoke about the implications and historical meaning of the word and what it means in America today.

EOP Counselor Jerry Blake stressed that you cannot make people stop saying the offensive term.

“Constitutionally, people can say whatever they want to say,” Blake said.

Club president and senior criminal justice major Amber Scott thinks that the word has become a term of inclusion that brings black people together.

When asked why the word is still used among young black people, communications studies professor B.J. Snowden said, “because we are lazy, we don’t want to think of another word for friend.”

“The word will be perpetrated as long as we have the trends and it is marketable,” Blake said. He thinks that the music industry is a driving force behind the “N” word’s continued use in our culture.

Blake recalled this event as his 15th “N” word forum on campus.

“There has been more and more education . . . I think there has been progress, people understand the power of words more now,” he said.

The forum was hosted by the Africans for Re-education, Innovation, Consciousness and Achievement club.

The club may host a second part of this heated debate. To learn more about the club and get information on the next “N” word forum, the next A.F.R.I.C.A club meeting is scheduled for Mar. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Division of Social Work’s conference room.

Crystal Kirk can be reached at [email protected]