Racist Internet Postings from Law Student Days hurt Yale Symposium Participant

Parents Forum
21

<p>"I really do not understand why if it is so offensive, it makes up such a large part of the vocabulary of a certain part of the population."</p>

<ol>
<li>Contrary to what one might assume by hearing some CDs and watching some movies, most black people aren't calling each other the n word. I certainly doubt that black folks at Harvard law are using the kind of terms to each other that the pimps, drug dealers and prostitutes used in "Hustle and Flow." </li>
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<p>Terrance Howard, the star of Hustle and Flow, and a former chemical engineering major at Pratt, put some of those words in the film because when he interviewed more than 100 prostitutes and pimps to prep for the term, he noticed that's how they talk. From what I've read of his interviews, I am sure that in his regular life, he'd be insulted if anyone, regardless of color, used that language to him.</p>

<ol>
<li> For black people who do use the "n" word to each other, it's something that is acceptable among their friends and associates who are of the same race as they are. It's not something that most of them would accept coming from a nonblack person or from a nonblack person whom they didn't know well.</li>
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<p>This is typical for various racial, ethnic groups, even for some groups of white people. For instance, when I was in the military, some white people in my department proudly called themselves "rednecks". I don't think, however, that they would have thought it fine if I, a black person, called them that name.</p>

<p>Similarly, I've seen some women who were good friends jokingly call each other the "b" word, and I've seen some Polish people, Hispanics, and Jews jokingly call each other some words that are ethnic slurs. I knew darned well, however, that those were insider's language for people who were good friends and shared their ethnicity or gender (depending on the slur).</p>

22

<p>to use the "n" word in class notes in reference to court cases which were then posted on the web, seems so odd to me, that I then did some research on Camara.
Not that it excuses his behavior, but he appears to have been quite a prodigy,and I wonder if that had an impact on not picking up on social cues that would have taught him what type of language is "verboten" .
He was Harvard Law schools youngest graduate ever-perhaps they need to offer a cultural sensitivity class?</p>

23

<p>*"I really do not understand why if it is so offensive, it makes up such a large part of the vocabulary of a certain part of the population."</p>

<ol>
<li>Contrary to what one might assume by hearing some CDs and watching some movies, most black people aren't calling each other the n word. I certainly doubt that black folks at Harvard law are using the kind of terms to each other that the pimps, drug dealers and prostitutes used in "Hustle and Flow." *</li>
</ol>

<p>I didn't say that most blacks were using that term- but for example when I go downtown I hear it quite often- along with b<strong><em>h, which was also used heavily in the movie.
Personally I find B</em></strong> to be quite offensive, and I get very angry when I am called that, particulary when it is a response to my not giving out money to panhandlers, or not stepping around people that block the sidewalk. But I know better than to respond to it.</p>

24

<p>Drosselmeier, very thoughtful observations, certainly.
I'm going to try to put my observation concerning your post in secular terms, but forgive me if I lapse into spiritual matters.
In a situation in which someone hurts another, as you point out, both parties actually suffer harm. A need for the person committing the wrong to seek redemption arises. I like your description about the right way to obtain redemption--sincere acknowledgement of wrongdoing, apology to the person wronged, and an effort to make things right. Whether the person you hurt forgives you or not, or accepts your efforts or not, you have still done the right thing and what you have to heal the harm you caused yourself.
For me, the person who is harmed has as much a need to forgive as the wrongdoer has a need to redeem himself. If you don't forgive, it eats at you, and as Yoda observed, it "leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering." This is true whether or not the wrongdoer seeks redemption. For me, as hard as it may be, I think it is in my best interest to forgive even the unrepentant, not for his sake, but for my own.
Hopefully, this young man will learn from his mistakes and use the rest of his life as you use yours, to lift people up.</p>

25

<p>
[quote]
what I don't understand is how language can be used by a group of people and it is totally accepted but if it is used by someone else it is "off with his head"

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</p>

<p>My wife calls me “Buns of Honey”. I like it when she does it. But only when SHE does it.</p>

<p>
[quote]
For example I just purchased the soundtrack of Hustle and Flow from which the Oscar winning song "It's hard out here for a pimp". I saw the movie and liked it. However several songs- if I can use such a broad term to describe them, were added to the sound track to fill it out. One tune is titled P<strong><em>y N</em></strong>az- and that phrase is repeated over and over again.( and again) I really do not understand why if it is so offensive, it makes up such a large part of the vocabulary of a certain part of the population.

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<p>Well. I personally think it is a sign of incivility to use this kind of language no matter who you are. But at the same time, I understand what is going on. I was out fishing on a pier with one of my kids last year when a group of Asians, about 10 or 12 of them came near us. They were loud and blasting hip hop on their boom box. I mean they knew all the songs and the words and everything. I had no clue about it at all. I couldn’t even understand a single word – and I’m Black! But basically, they seemed like regular kids. But man! They were all calling each other “N<em>gga this” and “N</em>gga that” all the time – with me standing right there! I could tell these guys weren’t trying to be offensive in the least, and if I had taken offense, they would have been shocked. What had happened was that the term between them was used as a term of endearment, oddly enough. Blacks use it (only SOME of them) in the same unfortunate way. I have even heard whites and blacks use the term together – a thing that in my day would have just been outta the question. But when it is used, you can bet that the people involved have a whole HEAP of trust and a strange kind of respect for one another.</p>

<p>When the trust and respect doesn’t exist, well, then history takes over. The N word in the mouth of a white guy is just a racist term. Makes sense? People are just these great and crazy things.</p>

26

<p>The performers on the Hustle & Flow soundtrack use offensive language precisely because it is offensive, not because its acceptable in some places. This gives it an edge, gives an illusion that it's risky to listen to. All part of the marketing.
"In your face" to the mainstream has been an effective marketing technique for a long time. Back in the day, my favorite band was Creedence. I remember my parents thinking that "It Ain't Me" and (once they found out what it was about) "Lookin' Out My Back Door" were pretty offensive.</p>