Co-worker who throws "nigger" around when drinking now has his son using it in casual conversation

[handsomeharry]

@astro

A co-worker who is college educated, successful and quite respected professionally is inclined to start throwing the word “nigger” around when he’s had a few beers at company get togethers, and feels he’s in “safe” company. He’s a church going conservative and is usually fairly circumspect about his language, so it’s unusual to hear him say this. He doesn’t say it so much in the context of attacking black people directly (at least in public) but more as a negative modifier in conversational horseplay. Such as “I’m not your beer nigger” when too often asked to get some brews, or "stop being an “igger in the 100 acre wood” when someone is teasing him. How he uses it at home no one knows.

It’s irksome to some people like myself and a few others (we’ve discussed it), but no one has said anything so far. Starting what is likely to be a bitter fight in an environment where we have to work very closely together to get things done is not something we typically want to do.

As a side note we are commissioned sales people and independent contractors, not salaried employees, so the 'boss" in this case (who is present when he does this) does not have a big whip hand, and he’s not inclined to start trouble if it can be avoided with a productive employee.

This co-worker’s teenage son (who is in Jr College) was visiting the office after working hours the other day, and his father greeted him jovially with “'sup”, the son immediately got irritated and said “Don’t say that you sound like a nigger!”. So now the torch has been passed.

I was not present for the son’s visit, but I’m wondering if I was would I have said anything. I thinking that I would but after the fact musings are easy.

Would you say something in this context? What would you say?

I think it would be best not to say anything about how another person raises their child.

Best wishes,
hh