PC World

"When people of any age are too afraid of saying, doing, or reading someting wrong, the tendency is to...withdraw int o a frozen state of immobility; then learning dies. Fearful silence...would seem to do more harm than any speech of text I can imagine!"

Let me start by saying that I can't deny the fact that Black students might feel uncomfortable in the classroom when Huckleberry Finn is read aloud with no omissions. And perhaps they might be upset by it if a White person (or a non-Black person) is the one who utters the word. However, if the word "nigger" is only to be used by Black people, and is never meant to be said by anyone else, why does the same group that promotes the non-use of the word proliferate it?  Movies, music, slam poetry, stand-up comedy, and a whole host of other mediums highlight it. Some 4:00 songs probably use it as much as Huck Finn. Some might say, Well it's their word now, so why shouldn't they use it? My answer is that if a word is taboo, it better be taboo to everyone. You can't make music that you know will be purchased and played primarily by Whites, say nigger 300 times on an album, and expect them never to use the phrase even if they are only singing the words written by a Black person.

I am absolutely opposed to anything about the political correctness movement, regardless of whether it has anything to do with race. I don't think people should be out shouting words that will likely be offensive to people, but it's in the book. It's meant to be read. It can't be changed, even when it is. Mental retardation is a legitimate disease diagnosis, just as people are handicapped. When we become "older Pennsylvanians" maybe we'll know more "differently abled" people because something has left them "with an intellectual disability." Senior citizens will tell you that most kids these days have plenty of intellectual disabilities, and many of them are differently abled, but that doesn't necessarily make them mentally retarded or handicapped. (This reads like a rant, but trust me that it's typed in complete calm.)

Though some of you may disagree, it is our job as English teachers to fix misconceptions about euphemism and encourage precise language. "African-American" does not mean Black. Plenty of Whites are African-American. "People of color" does not mean non-White, nor does it mean Black. I like to think I have plenty of color, thanks. I've met lots of art majors, too, and they're very differently abled; I can't even draw a tree and they're drawing waterfalls surrounding by forests. I think my point has been made. For issues regarding legitimately offensive language, it is preferable to use something in its place if the use of an offensive word will incite problems; similarly, it's important to teach why those words are deemed offensive. I don't think I've yet had a teacher who would say "nigger," regardless of what we're reading (Huck Finn, Light in August, etc.), and I don't know if I'd be doing any kind of service by reading it 213 times. However, it would certainly be said and discussed in the classroom. And I'd love someone (besides an older Pennsylvanian like Bill Cosby) to truly speak out against the use of the word by Blacks if they expect everyone else not to use it. If it's an oppressive, hateful word, why use it amongst yourselves? I know there's the who co-opting argument, but I don't feel like it holds any water whatsoever.

"Those who rock the boat or question the status quo are viewed as trouble-makers. Being 'good' teachers--like being good students--often means accepting the authority of others, not resisting or challenging it."