I don’t think we know, and I’m not sure we’ll ever know, the exact details of this incident that caused the coaches to agree that Coach Gundy’s behavior constituted a failure of character and respect and that his resignation is an appropriate way of atoning for that. But I don’t see why we shouldn’t default to taking their word for it, unless and until we know of specific evidence to the contrary.
Some studies show that 1/3 of white Americans and 2/3 of African Americans regularly use the N-word in their everyday language. That’s about 67 million white Americans and about 28 million African Americans. So yeah, more white Americans use the word regularly than African Americans. And roughly 30% or more of our population use it regularly. Which is sad. There is an unwritten rule that it’s okay for African Americans to use the term and it shouldn’t be considered offensive…yet I posit that it is this continuation and acceptance is what perpetuates the overall use in society.
Wow! Then yeah: a high-profile event that says, “Hey, White people, if you use the n-word in your professional life, there can be professional consequences, so maybe don’t do that” is probably a real good thing. It’ll discourage this one particular type of racist behavior in a workplace–and, more broadly, might get some White people to think a little more carefully about their behavior, for selfish reasons if nothing else.
(I’d love to see a cite for your “some studies,” tho)
Oh, cool, White people saying the n-word is Black people’s fault. Cool cool cool.
The thing is, the “don’t be so silly, it’s only a word” argument cuts both ways.
To be sure, if I ruled the world, we’d all be a lot less determined to take offense at particular words. I prefer the Lenny Bruce approach of divesting such words of their power by exposing them to the sunlight until all their ugliness gets bleached out.
I don’t rule the world, though, so that’s not happening. I only mention it so readers of my comments don’t think I am personally shocked by most any word. I’m not.
Having said that … the fact that a word is “just a word” should mean it’s pretty darn easy to observe cultural norms about it, right? Certain forms of micro aggressions are pretty hard for some people to steer clear of, because they are subtle and require an understanding of nuance which some people, even well-meaning ones, may be ignorant of.
But a word is … just a word. Is it really so hard to avoid it, if you KNOW it’s verboten? I would NEVER utter the n-word myself, because I understand what it would say about me, even if I didn’t set the rules. Nor do I feel oppressed by the restriction, since it’s “only a word,” any more than I feel oppressed by the cultural norm that if I want to apply for a prestigious, high-paying professional job, I’d better show up dressed properly, not wearing flip-flops and shorts even if that is my preferred attire. Yeah, humans are social animals who create cultural rules. Being an adult, I can deal with that.
“Don’t say word x” seems like an awfully simple rule to follow. Inability or unwillingness to follow it speaks volumes.
There is no need to concede any attacks on individual freedoms though. It’s like letting the fear of being bombed stop one from publishing religious satire. Mob violence can’t govern society.
I knew someone would howl that their freedom was being restricted because they couldn’t use that word.
No, your freedom is restricted when you can’t express ideas or can’t walk safely down the street for fear that you’ll be attacked based on your race or gender identity. I could go on, but I won’t.
Being expected to substitute one phrase - “the n-word” - for a term that is pretty universally considered unacceptable for White people to say is NOT a restriction on your freedom, any more than being expected to wait for the “don’t walk” sign to change to “walk” before you cross the street is a form of oppression.
It’s a great source, but it’s from a study that’s ten years old, and shows that 31% of White people “Have used the N-word in past five years,” not “regularly use the N-word in their everyday language.” I’m sure glad I asked for your cite, as it definitely doesn’t say what you claimed it said.
I have never used that word “in everyday language,” and haven’t heard it used casually or as a slur since about 1980 (and even then it was jarring). This statistic may be true, I have no way of knowing, but it’s incomprehensible to me that so many people are using the n-word commonly. We all live in bubbles I guess, but no one in my bubble talks that way. Ever.
As was pointed out, the cite given does not back the claim of “regular” use or “everyday language”.
Though, I’m sure that there are lots of white people who do use it regularly, as they are racists, I am unfortunate enough to be acquainted with a number.
Of course it is. Not only is it an implicitly violent threat constraining one’s individual liberty it’s also intrinsically a racist attitude to dictate solely because of one’s perceived racial categorization what is acceptable speech or thought.
I cannot see any way to parse what you said without it specifically coming to say that the reason that it is used in society, and by white people, is because black people use it.
Did you simply misspeak there, or how do you try to quibble against the plain meaning of the words that you used?
Well, now that’s nowhere near what @Left_Hand_of_Dorkness said, and it is entirely and exclusively demonstrating your opinion and biases of the use of the word. It’d require some pretty motivated twisting of words along with passing through your personal biases to manage to come to what you said.
But, the whine and cry of, “They can say it, why can’t I?” has been the cornerstone of allowing racist rhetoric. I posit that it is that attitude that perpetuates the overall use in society.
You must feel violently oppressed every waking moment, then. After all, it’s intrinsically a classist attitude to dictate solely because of one’s perceived status in a workplace that it’s unacceptable to call your boss a fuckwit. It’s certainly an implicitly violent threat constraining your individual liberty that you have to wear clothing, especially when it’s hot out and you might die from it.
I could go on, but I worry that I might hurt you emotionally, given your sensitivity to oppression.
Why does this sound like lamenting how it’s so unfair that white people aren’t allowed to use the word “n—r” in casual conversation while black people say it all the time?
Fact is, the things we say and the words we use to say them are as representative of your character as anything else we do, so everyone is as free to shout “n—r! n—r! n—r!” all day long to your heart’s content. You will never be arrested, fined, or deported for doing so. Just don’t be surprised when you have a reputation as the guy that shouts “n—r! n—r! n—r!” all day long, with the social ramifications that come along with that reputation.