Lincoln Brown, a 48-year-old caucasian Chicago Public School teacher, was suspended for five days without pay for using the “n-word” in his predominantly African American sixth-grade class in October 2011. In a Chicago Sun-Times article, Brown said he began discussing the word when he intercepted a note being passed by students with rap lyrics including the “n-word.” He thought it was an educational opportunity and “attempted to give his own denunciation of the use of such language.” He gave an example of how the racial slur was used in the novel Huckleberry Finn “in an attempt to show how upsetting such language can be.” Unfortunately at the precise moment when Brown said the “n-word”, the Murray Language Academy’s principal, African American Gregory Mason, walked into the classroom. Upon hearing the slur, he decided to stay in the class for a few minutes to observe Brown’s behavior and take notes.
Two weeks later, he charged Brown with “using verbally abusive language to or in front of students” and “cruel, immoral, negligent or criminal conduct or communication to a student, that causes psychological or physical harm” in violation of the Chicago Public Schools’ policy. Brown’s suspension was declared after a hearing in late October. Brown is currently suing the school for violating his First and Fifth Amendment rights for merely trying to “teach his class … an important lesson in vocabulary, civility and race relations,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times article.
Under these circumstances, I would agree with Brown in believing that he was unjustly punished. He did not actually use the word with the intention to hurt, but was simply saying the word in the context of teaching his students not to use the word because it is offensive and hurtful. It was just unfortunate timing that the principal walked into the classroom at that moment.
However, that was not the extent of Brown’s use of the word. According to Principal Mason’s account of the discussion that took place in the classroom, per the Chicago Sun-Times article, Brown then asked, “Can anyone explain to me why blacks can call each other a n*****, and not get mad, but when whites do it, blacks get angry?” Mason also recorded that fifteen minutes later, Brown was teaching grammar but went off topic to ask “have you ever thought about why blacks are killed in movies first?” These types of comments that have nothing to do with teaching students about how racial slurs can harm others are rather questionable and have racist connotations. I therefore can understand why Principal Mason had problems with Brown’s comments and decided to suspend him.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times article, Brown insists that he had no intention of harming anyone with his use of the “n-word.” “It was so hard for me even to say the word,” Brown said. “I told the students it hurts me when I said it.”
Nonetheless, it is evident that the use of the “n-word” in any context is not to be accepted in the Chicago Public School District.
This situation made me realize how interesting it is that the “n-word” is a major issue in the United States but not as significant in other countries, for example the Bahamas. I grew up in the Bahamas, which, according to the CIA World Factbook is a predominantly black nation with 85 percent of the population being of African descent. Growing up, I heard people saying the “n-word” to each other all the time, sort of as the equivalent of “bro,” “homie,” “dude,” etc. This word, stressing the ending with “guh” rather than “ger,” is used in a friendly sense and not intended to be insulting or demeaning. So for me, moving to the states was a shock as this word is a taboo here. I even found myself in situations where I would say the word, like I would always do with my friends in the Bahamas, and then realize my mistake and have to quickly apologize.
Mitch Carey, a UT biochemistry and finance sophomore and a Bahamian, gives an explanation as to why the “n-word” is more accepted in the Bahamas than it is in the United States, and how the reaction to Brown’s use of it would have been different. “I think it wouldn’t have been a big deal back home because slavery was never such a sensitive issue in the Bahamas,” he said. “Apparently we had some of the best treated slaves in the Caribbean and slave masters usually had better relationships with their slaves. And quite frankly I don’t think the Bahamas ever had a major segregation problem because blacks outnumbered the whites. I guess when you say it back home everybody knows it’s a joke. But in America I could see why it would be so sensitive.”
Matthew Kemp, a UT international business and finance sophomore and Bahamian, says that the manner in which the word is said is important when determining if it is offensive or not in the Bahamas. “[The word is not offensive] only if you are friendly with the people that you say the word around,” he said. “As a white Bahamian I wouldn’t dare say it around people that I don’t know or am not close with.”
Unlike in the Bahamas, however, the “n-word” is a sensitive issue in the United States that stirs many controversies and is deemed degrading in any sense of the word. Thus, Brown’s use of it in a classroom resulted in his suspension. “It’s so sad — if we can’t discuss these issues, we’ll never be able to resolve them,” Brown said as he prepared to begin his suspension, according to the Chicago Sun-Times article.
I agree with Brown on this. It is important to teach young people about racial slurs and how they affect others. The first step to change is knowledge. If we teach our children about racism, we can help them become tolerant adults.
Paola Crespo can be reached at polly.crespo@hotmail.com.