Chapter 1: The Classroom Incident

In a recent language class, a moment unfolded that highlighted the complexities of racial terminology. The instructor prompted, “Good job, Laura! Now can you please read the second line from exercise number three on page two?”

The phrase she needed to articulate was “Ellas Niegan la verdad,” which translates to “They deny the truth.” She articulated the pronouns flawlessly; however, when it came to the verb “Niegan,” she inadvertently substituted it with the notorious “N-word” in English. I momentarily questioned my hearing.

She repeated the problematic phrase multiple times, attempting to master her pronunciation:

“Ellas ‘N-word’ ‘N-word’ ‘N-word’ ‘N-word’ la verdad.”

I was taken aback. She had invoked the “N-word” without any context.

“Is it ‘N-word’?” she asked, grinning, eager for confirmation.

While it’s true that the Spanish word “Negar” bears a resemblance to that term, there's always an opportunity to seek clarification from a teacher on pronunciation before making such mistakes.

“No,” I replied firmly. “That’s the ‘N-word’ in English. We don’t have a similar-sounding word in Spanish. The correct pronunciation is ‘Niegan,’ not ‘N-word.’”

Regrettably, this wasn’t an isolated incident. Her use of the term “Negro” often prompted uncomfortable corrections during class, revealing a pattern that needed addressing to prevent her from unintentionally using racial slurs around Latin American peers.

This issue extends beyond the classroom and into broader conversations about race and language.

The first video, "Randall Kennedy discusses 'Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word,'" dives into the complexities surrounding the usage and historical context of this contentious term.