Correction added: 2/21/08

For Jantelle Horton, the “N” word is nothing more than a word that fulfills the meaning of cruelty.

While some people use the word as a part of their vocabulary, Horton, Academic Affairs Chair, believes it is unacceptable to use the word under any circumstances.

“I’ll never get immune to this word and whenever I hear it, it makes me sad,” Horton said. “I don’t know how anyone could ever get immune to such a cruel word.”

Questions about where the word “nigger” came from and what separates the meaning of the word, were discussed last night at the “The N word, friend or foe” panel discussion as part of African American History Month, held in the Charleston/Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

According to the Abolish the “N” Word Web site, the term is taken from the Latin word “Niger” or the French word “Negre'”, both meaning “black.” When used as a noun, it means “black person.” The “N” word was documented as first being used in the 1700s to refer to slave masters’ hate toward slaves.

Assistant Director of Judicial Affairs Shawn Peoples, started the presentation by having the audience close their eyes and imagine what they saw when she said the word “nigger.” When Peoples asked the audience about their thoughts, responses like “black person,” “Barack Obama,” “gold teeth” and “ignorant” were announced.

When she asked if anyone saw a white person when they heard the word nigger, the audience immediately responded “no.”

But when Peoples asked whether this word was portrayed in a positive or negative light, the audience had different feelings. One audience member said she viewed it as a negative word when people associate it with the word “ignorant,” while others said it could be viewed in a positive manner when Barack Obama is associated with it.

Amanda Bush, president of Eastern’s chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, said even though African Americans use the word towards each other sometimes, it shouldn’t be used if they don’t want to hear it from someone else.

“We shouldn’t use the word around people if we don’t want it to be repeated,” Bush said. “It’s like you wouldn’t say a swear word in front of a kid if you didn’t want them to repeat it.”

Peoples ended the presentation by using the word in different ways to determine whether the “N” word would be considered to be used in a “friend” or “foe” way.

When Peoples said “Nigga, you trippin’,” the audience responded it was a “friend” way. However, when Peoples said, “We don’t want any niggers in here!” the audience determined the meaning of the word was used in a “foe” way.

Bush believes the word itself may not always have a negative influence on some.

“It’s not always the word itself,” Bush said. “It’s how it’s used in a sentence and the words surrounding it that determines the meaning and effectiveness of the word to others.”

Krista Henry can be reached at 581-7942 or at knhenery@eiu.edu.

Assistant director of Judicial Affairs, Shawn D. Peoples, asks the audience about what words come to mind watching a short video during “The N word, friend of foe” lecture at the MLK Jr. Student Union in the Charleston Mattoon Room. (John Bailey/The Daily

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