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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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 Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject: White guilt and using racist words in context... |
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So, I've started reading Sounder with one of my classes, and I've run into an uncomfortable issue. I feel very awkward using the n-word, especially with elementary/middle school kids. I realize that It's in context and that it doesn't make sense to use another word under the circumstances in the book. I just feel weird and guilty saying it.
Anyone else encountered a similar situation? Did you just say ninja? I wish I could remember how my teachers handled profanity or racial slurs in a literary context.
I know this is pretty petty, but I don't want kids going back to their parents and telling the new colorful words they learned from seonsengnimble teacher. |
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ytuque
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Location: I drink therefore I am!
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: White guilt and using racist words in context... |
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| seonsengnimble wrote: |
Did you just say ninja? I wish I could remember how my teachers handled profanity or racial slurs in a literary context.
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You don't have any cojones which is another word that you can add to their vocabulary. |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: White guilt and using racist words in context... |
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| ytuque wrote: |
| seonsengnimble wrote: |
Did you just say ninja? I wish I could remember how my teachers handled profanity or racial slurs in a literary context.
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You don't have any cojones which is another word that you can add to their vocabulary. |
Thanks. I have no problem using these words or reading them, I just feel weird using them with kids. |
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ytuque
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Location: I drink therefore I am!
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: White guilt and using racist words in context... |
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| seonsengnimble wrote: |
| ytuque wrote: |
| seonsengnimble wrote: |
Did you just say ninja? I wish I could remember how my teachers handled profanity or racial slurs in a literary context.
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You don't have any cojones which is another word that you can add to their vocabulary. |
Thanks. I have no problem using these words or reading them, I just feel weird using them with kids. |
Don't take my last post seriously! They can get a definition from a dictionary, but from you they need context.
With as much American pop culture that young Koreans are exposed to, your students have heard it all many times before. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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OP,
It's a good thing you're not teaching sex education.  |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
OP,
It's a good thing you're not teaching sex education. |
It's odd. I realize I should just explain the language and the context for this one, and I probably will. With sex education, it's a little different. Sure I feel uncomfortable talking about sex with kids, but I don't feel as guilty. I don't feel like a bad person for talking about sex, but saying words that I actually find offensive makes me feel considerably more uncomfortable.
I guess it just comes down to rather hearing the kids run around using words that talk about anatomy rather than hearing them say the n-word. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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See... you're a product of your culture and probably grew up thinking Oprah was God (she isn't ).
I don't dispute the fact certain words carry (sometimes emotionally-charged) meaning. However, for one group of people to claim 'exclusive use' of certain words because of history is ludicrous. How can one discuss in an academic, rational manner the history in question if the teacher/professor is not 'allowed' to use certain terms based on his/her skin colour? |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 12:07 am Post subject: |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
See... you're a product of your culture and probably grew up thinking Oprah was God (she isn't ).
I don't dispute the fact certain words carry (sometimes emotionally-charged) meaning. However, for one group of people to claim 'exclusive use' of certain words because of history is ludicrous. How can one discuss in an academic, rational manner the history in question if the teacher/professor is not 'allowed' to use certain terms based on his/her skin colour? |
I hear you and agree with you. Regardless of what I think, the way I feel about certain words are still a product of my upbringing. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| seonsengnimble wrote: |
| I hear you and agree with you. Regardless of what I think, the way I feel about certain words are still a product of my upbringing. |
I understand. We are all products of our cultures... and thus the norms & morays learned through such.
Language is (I believe the most important) part of culture. However, words themselves carry no harm - it is only in the context uttered they damage others. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:02 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I have no problem using these words or reading them, I just feel weird using them with kids. |
You are being overly sensitive.
If your students are capable of understanding the sentences in that novel, they are capable of understanding the meaning and context of the word.
It's time you taught your students a lesson on wop, gook, spic, big nose... |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| big nose... |
Hey... I'm offended.... only because I resemble that remark. |
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Tundra_Creature
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
| See... you're a product of your culture and probably grew up thinking Oprah was God (she isn't ). |
Pfff... you non-believer! Heathen! You should be burned!
Honestly... doubting the one true Oprah...
On a more serious note, I do have to agree with you. Though I personally don't like the word, I find it ridiculous that one group can use it, while the others, not matter how serious the discussion, would be considered horrible, depending on the context. I can use it up and down, for whatever reason, without a big stink, but if one of my friends were to use it they'd be considered 'racist' even if the context was a valid academic use.
Either way, Seonsengnimble, you shouldn't feel bad about using it if it's in the book. I mean, if you're afraid that it'll be used the wrong way or something with your students, then you just explain more about it, why you're using, it, blah, blah blah.
P.S. I'd still like to be a part of Oprah's audience. That crazy woman offers some damn awesome gifts. |
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Koveras
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| cruisemonkey wrote: |
OP,
It's a good thing you're not teaching sex education. |
This is how the very first sex-ed lesson I had went:
Teacher: Today we're going to learn about sex.
Class: [Ten seconds of total silence. Could cut the tension with a knife.]
Teacher: *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep*!!!! VAGINA!! VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA!!!
The tension vanished instantly, the lesson proceeded smoothly. OP, you should try this method with your word too. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
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People should just agree to call each other by racial slurs so we can all get over it and get on.
This would probably reduce racism far more effectively than any PC crap.
"Today in art class we are learning about (white racial slur)Painting and in geography we will study the (asian-racial slur). In literature we will read some (black racial slur) poetry by Nikki Giovanni, oh and music class we're listening to works of (hispanic racial slur) jazz."
After 12 years of that people would either stop using racial slurs or not care or maybe even, lighten up and get along better with each other.
Or maybe I'm just a moron, but the present way isn't working out too great. People are too afraid to deal with each other. |
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alphakennyone
Joined: 01 Aug 2005
Location: city heights
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:37 am Post subject: |
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I think the problem is the kids might think it's ok to use the "n-word" casually to refer to Africans. I had a group of college kids who were bound for university in San Bernardino who loved using that word. I just laughed because I knew they were in for it soon enough.
Set boundaries. It is ok to use the word in a literature setting, but make sure they understand it is not OK to use it in today's context. |
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