Racist terminology in the classroom

[longleggedgit]

So I'm about to teach an article about a sort of institutionalized hierarchy of racism in a North Carolina slaughterhouse, and I was wondering how it would be best to proceed regarding some of the racist terminology in the article. It's got some pretty incendiary language, including the n-word among many others. The student who I'll be teaching is

Comments

[sylvanwitch]

I've been teaching Huck Finn for at least a dozen years, and I always begin the unit by talking about the n-word, its context in our culture, etc. I explain that I prefer us to use the word in its context when reading aloud but that if there is a student uncomfortable with us using it in class, he can see me privately and I'll adjust the lesson/instructions accordingly. Only once have I ever had a student approach me to ask that we not use the term. I've found that using the word, talking about it, and contextualizing it offers the students opportunities to discuss race relations in the U.S. today in a way that they otherwise don't often get--mediated and appropriate and *honest*. I've found it enormously educational for myself, and my students always surprise me with their insights. I think your measured approach is just the thing!

[longleggedgit]

Sounds like a great way to do it. :) That's how it's generally been done in literature classes I've had, too, and I do think it's usually a good method--it's important that that language is understood so it doesn't get abused, I think.

But yeah, I'm just hoping if I do go that route I can properly convey the seriousness of it to him. I really think I can--he's a remarkably mature kid with a lot of interest in social issues and the world around him, and he's actually been to the U.S. before (that's what brought up the race relations there in the first place; he was talking to me about racism he encountered while abroad).

Thanks so much for the advice. )

[lion]

I think this is probably more of a personal decision than any other. For me personally, I probably would struggle to teach racist language to a Japanese person, unless I was absolutely confident in my ability to convey the cultural and historical weight of that word. That also kind of depends on the student - it's a good sign that he is curious about race relations and on the other hand, I would love to try and have a discussion about race issues with my students. I just. Augh. I think the n-word in particular is really hard to explain in a second language. And I think it is really important, if you're encouraging someone to use the word aloud, that they really do understand what it means to use that word in public. As much as I can admire the angle used in the lecture theatre, outside of the academic realm using the n-word has a very, very different kind of power and IMHO should be treated with extreme caution

[longleggedgit]

It is a struggle, and I wish I knew what the "right" solution was. I'm actually guessing that he's already read this word somewhere before, because he's read a lot of U.S. literature and political articles on his own time, but of course I don't know. He's definitely familiar with some measure of racist tension in the U.S., though, because the reason I printed this article off for him stemmed from a conversation we had about racism he encountered in the U.S.

But regardless of whether he's read it or not, yeah, that still would leave me with the immense task of making sure he understands the complexity, history, and weight of words like these, which is an intimidating one.

I would definitely do the same as you in those situations--but I do think there's a big difference between allowing a student to use derogatory language and teaching the meaning of derogatory language to be read in a scholarly context.

Of course, like I said, I'd love to get anyone's opinions on the matter! Thank you for your input. :)

[longleggedgit]

PS, looking back on a couple of my replies, I hope I don't sound overly defensive of my initial impulse to read it out loud. I'm mostly just still hashing out these pros and cons in my own head, so if it sounds like I'm trying to argue with you, I think it's actually me trying to argue with myself. Your input is very much appreciated. (This is a c&ped comment so my apologies also for that, haha.)

[lion]

♥ Not at all! I think a lot of this is really personal and based on our own experiences with teaching and with our students, so I didn't read it as defensive at all! :)

[tailoredshirt]

I think the idea of using the n-word in an academic setting means more when the students are completely aware of the meaning of the word, its context, and the effect it has on people when it's used in everyday conversation. There's so much history in that word, and so many things that I think would be difficult for someone to grasp if English is not their first language and/or they are not from the U.S. (where they know first-hand how much weight it carries). I think it's just different teaching a student about that word in that setting as opposed to teaching it to American students who more fully understand the impact it's had on our culture. So I think I would be careful about teaching someone to be okay saying that word, even in an academic setting, but I think you will know better than anyone whether or not he grasps the importance of it and how to go from there.

[longleggedgit]

I'm struggling with that concern, too. But then I also feel like it would be better to learn about the word in an academic context, where its significance is stressed to the utmost, than to read it on his own/hear it someday and not really have had any background for it? Because just casually overhearing it would lead more to potentially misusing it, I think. Which, okay, this student would absolutely never do, but regardless--I'd just rather he learn about it and have someone to hash out the racist implications of it with than read it on his own and not really know how bad it is.

For background on this guy, he has spent a little time in the U.S. (just a study abroad), and felt he encountered some racism there, which is why I picked the article in the first place.

Anyway, like I said, I do share your concern to an extent, too, so it's a tough call to make. Thanks for the input!

[tailoredshirt]

Well, you'll already be teaching him about the word, right? It's more a question of whether or not he says the word in class with you? Is there something you think he'll gain from saying the word out loud in this context, rather than just from learning about it? My only concern would be the practice of using it. When I say that word out loud, it's hard and emotional, like my mouth doesn't want to let it out because of how wrong it is. And I think that's difficult to convey unless someone has first-hand experience with the word. So to have him say it out loud feels unnecessary to me if there's no clear objective there, because I don't think anyone should ever feel comfortable saying it. I think the reason it's such a good learning tool in the U.S. is that it is uncomfortable for most Americans to say, so we connect with the text on an emotional level, so if someone isn't uncomfortable with it then they shouldn't be using it at all

[longleggedgit]

Well, I guess I do think that there is something to be gained out of saying it--again, in this context. He's not going to go out of the classroom saying it, I'm certain. The goal isn't to get him comfortable with saying it; it's more to get him uncomfortable with saying it. If I were teaching a novel with the word in it, like Huck Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird or something, I know I wouldn't want the word getting censored in the reading, because I think it's so important to the context and the magnitude of the work. I think it's important for us to look back on text written in a time when it was okay to say the n-word in casual speech because it reminds us of precisely why it shouldn't be okay anymore

[coffeejunkii]

i think explaining the context etc. is a good idea. you might also ask him if there are similar taboo words/expressions in japanese. perhaps that might help him to understand the significance/impact of the word.

i've had an interesting experience getting students to use "queer" as a perfectly okay word because they were too worried about it being offensive. of course they thought it was much better to use "homosexual" instead (which always makes me cringe). so we had a little talk about the history of those words :)

[longleggedgit]

Getting him to compare it to his own culture is a great idea for contextualizing it. Thanks. :)

Oh man, I know, "homosexual" is the worst. That's nice that it's become safe and comfortable in your class. Not a lot of queer discussions going on on my end, but I did use biracial gay couples in an activity with my favorite eleven-year-old yesterday, and he didn't bat an eye! I was so proud.

[cherii_emrei]

Here by way of geewhiz

Second this one. While it might not be exact, he'll understand the general idea. Then you can explain the differences.

For example, foreigners who settle in Japan. They know the language, they have the citizenship, but in some eyes, they are not Japanese. Add another layer to it by having this foreigner marrying a Japanese and having children. How do people view those children?

Another example is to ask him what Japanese people think of Black people. My time in Asia showed me that Blacks, and dark-skinned Japanese/Korean/Filipinos/(insert Asian) aren't liked.

[cmere]

i think your approach sounds good! idk if you remember in one class last year i had a kid that threw around the n-word all the time because he had learned it from rap, and i tried to explain why it just wasn't ok to say, and he never got it. his english was also really poor and he was really badly behaved so skdfljs the setting you'll be in sounds much more ideal for actually learning about it~

[longleggedgit]

Ugh I remember you talking about that kid--what a little shit. Yes I think "Akinobu" as the fiction world knows him will handle the word with a little more grace, whether we decide just to read it silently or say it out loud in the end alkjfae