preview

Harlem York Brooklyn New York

Better Essays

I was born in Bronx New York, and moved when I was just about to start Kindergarten. I had a lot of family who still lived in the Bronx so I would spend a tremendous amount of time visiting my cousins. I guess you could say I was basically raised in the Bronx. As a child growing into my teen years I would hangout in the school playgrounds to play Basketball with my cousins and who ever wanted to play ball. I was first introduced to the N word when I was around 10 years old. I heard it while I was playing with my cousins and a group of older kids were sitting at a table talking. The part that was odd is that some of those kids were black and white. As I grew up the N word followed me into Brewster NY where I resign currently. I had many …show more content…

I do in fact agree with Randall. “Nigger: it is arguably the most consequential social insult in American History, though, at the same time, a word that reminds us of ‘the ironies and dilemmas, tragedies and glories of the American experience’” (Kennedy 1). (Please note that my points are absolutely debatable). I do indeed believe that in today’s world, even though there is still racist lurking around us, you can use the N word if it’s in the right context. I would in no condition use this manner when speaking to an adult. I also would never use this word if I were at school or work. But I would use it with my friends, or having a casual conversation with someone my age. During my senior year of high school my English teacher asked us to write an essay using our everyday terminology. She made it clear that we could use foul language. In my essay I including the N word and the next day I was called into the office. My principle explained to me that my English teacher believed I was being racist and only chose to use that word because I had the freedom to say anything I put my heart to. I got into a big argument with the principle on how the word is used differently for my generation and I was not going to apologize or accept any type of punishment. I had to write letter for the board explaining myself. I won this conflict because I stated that if my teacher was not capable of handing this kind of paper, she should have never asked for it in the first place. I

Get Access