N Word Pros And Cons

The N word, derived from the derogatory use of the word negro by Southern white slave owners, has been a controversial topic since the rise of hip hop in the 1970s. The N-word should not be used in casual conversations because it erases history, remains offensive, and is among the many unacceptable racial slurs. Though we can't limit first amendment rights by restricting the word, it should be taken into account as offensive jargon when in conversation.
Normalizing the use of the N-word can undermine the importance of its history. As history progresses, the casual use of the N-word allows for people to forget the origin. The N-word is “most likely a White Southern pronunciation of the word negro” (Pilgrim). The word was used as a way to exclude

African Americans and the word has been used as a belittling term against black people since the 1800s. The N-word was a way to represent the value of African American lives compared to white people. However, as time progressed, the word evolved from “Nigger” to “Nigga”. As hip hop culture advanced, the N-word was used more commonly as a term of endearment amongst the black community. The common use of the word shows the evident loss of history. People use the word as if just a mere years ago, it wasn’t a term to demean black lives. Not only is the use of the N-word present in the black community, it’s used casually by a majority of hip hop consumers. “White youth feel they can use the N-word because they are amongst the largest consumers of hip-hop; a staple for the N-word” (Aime-Musoni). This shows that youth are unaware of the historical significance of the word. A word that was once used to degrade a whole race, is now used inadvertently without a second thought. People assume it is no longer negative because the word is used so often, but it could possibly go “hand in hand with those not speaking out about other issues in the black community” (Price). Those who ignore the problem with the N-word are often the same people who ignore the more significant problems surrounding the black community. They are oblivious to the painful history of the N-word and doesn’t understand how it still affects us today. As history progresses, the disdainful history remains.