We must confront the use of the ‘N-word pass’

When I was a little boy, I remember my father saying, “We do not use the N-word in this family.”

He would say, “Too many of our people were murdered, degraded, and treated as second-class citizens by some white people, inflicting this nasty and derogatory word on them.” My father’s words have stayed in my consciousness throughout my personal and professional life. I would always wonder what is America’s obsession with the N-word? Why are people so intrigued with this hateful word?

Recently, I was surprised to learn that students across our nation and in Connecticut have been using the “N-word pass” in their schools. The N-word pass can be a physical ticket or just a verbal agreement that gives the holder, typically a non-Black student, permission to use the N-word in conversations. Sometimes, the non-Black student asks the Black student for the “N-word pass.” Once given, they perceive that they have the permission to use the N-word whenever and however they would like to use it because “they have the pass.”

Many people do not know the violent, tumultuous history of the N-word.  This can lead to people using the word, trying to copy others they see on social media, in movies, and in the music they listen to. It is not a benign word; it is a complex word, filled with the historical hatred that was used against Black people for centuries.

A study conducted by Dr. Emmanuel M. Ngui, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Public Health, found that Black students attending predominantly white middle and high schools were frequently asked for an “N-word pass.” This and other microaggressions they experienced created a stressful learning environment for the students.

What has drawn young people to using this word in schools or a desire to ask for permission to use the word? Many things influence our children today: social media, music, movies, books, limited historical context, etc.  In less than 20 years, social media has become widely influential on young people.

According to a Pew Research Center survey among teens ages 13 to 17 years old in 2022, 95% of the teens surveyed use YouTube, 67% use TikTok, 62% use Instagram, and 59% use Snapchat. Furthermore, 77% reported that they use YouTube every day and 58% use TikTok every day. Videos about the “N-word pass” are numerous on social media.  Searching hashtags shows there are over 3.2 million uses of the hashtag #the_n_wordpass and 39.9 thousand uses of the hashtag #n_word_pass.

Additionally, some students see the use of derogatory words as more gray than black and white as they once were.  The lines of what is appropriate in their world have revolutionarily changed with the explosion of social media.  They watch videos that use derogatory language casually and are promoted to be humorous.

But this dynamic can be successfully challenged. This summer, a colleague of mine shared an experience with me that happened at their school between two students.  The students were close friends; one was Black and the other was white. The white student asked the Black student for the “N-word pass” so they could use the word in conversation. The Black student obliged to the request. During an afterschool activity, another student overheard the white student using the N-word and confronted the student about it, reporting it to the supervising teacher.

When the teacher and administration first addressed it, the students did not see that what they were doing was offensive. They stated they had seen it on social media and reasoned that they did not mean any harm.  After spending time learning about the history of the word and its use, both students had a changed mindset. In addition to consequences, the students wrote a research paper and presented it to their families and the staff involved.

As educators, we may have our own methods for addressing such incidents, but as Professor M. K. Asante, Jr. says, “When you make an observation, you have an obligation.” We have an obligation, as Connecticut residents, educators, community activities, and policymakers, to ensure that our students and children understand the power of language and build a safe school community.

Words are powerful, and as educators, we must ensure students understand the impact of their language and word choice.  Just like students, adults have different ideas about what is appropriate or allowed in their own families.  As educators, we need to set a standard for what we expect and what we stand for in our schools, consistently reinforce these beliefs through our actions and words, recognize positive speech, and address any and all derogatory language.

It is not just the N-word; it is derogatory language and harmful speech about anyone and all groups of people that need to be addressed in our school communities.

Our teachers should be empowered to address all derogatory language in their classrooms.  They are preparing children to be positive and productive members of the greater community. Students should also be empowered to address hateful and harmful language as members of the school community. They need to know they can tell a trusted adult or confront the issue head-on; students are powerful members of their community and have a significant influence on others. I also encourage parents to discuss this issue with their children and ensure they have the tools to understand the history behind the hateful messages so they can address it.

If we do not address the negative messages, we are, in essence, all giving our permission for the negative messages to be used in our communities.  As former President Barack Obama once said, “Indifference and inaction may be the two worst traits for the world in which we live.” We must ensure that our actions and words create positive school communities where we want our children to learn and thrive.

Kevin L. Booker Jr. is a member of the Connecticut Mirror’s Community Editorial Board.