Pace University Drive-In Conference 2007

LAID TO REST?
The N-Word and Other Language of “Dissed” Respect

Friday, November 2, 2007

WELCOME!

Greetings Conference Participants:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2007 Pace University Drive-In Conference (Pleasantville campus).

The conference theme, “Laid to Rest? The N-Word and Other Language of ‘Dissed’ Respect,” is intended to promote intellectual discourse about what is arguably the most infamous word in American culture. “Nigger” is a word known primarily as a means to denigrate African-Americans and packs such power to represent overt racial hatred that most people—regardless of race—will not even utter it.

Social scientists refer to words such as “nigger,” “kike,” “spic,” and “wetback” as ethnophaulisms—terms of disparagement; pejorative words and phrases that are either intended to be or are often regarded as insulting, impolite or unkind. Such terms are regarded by many as the language of prejudice, yet, after a period of relative dormancy, the word “nigger” has been reborn in popular culture.

Perhaps one of the most interesting and perplexing phenomena in American speech is the use of the word “nigger” by African-Americans. What was once a term of exclusion and used as verbal justification for discrimination is now considered cool. Or at least a version of it. Some attest that to take the “er” off the end of the word and replace it with an “a” or “ah” the word becomes a term of endearment. Or does it? African-Americans have essentially become caretakers of the "n-word" and have created rules about when and where its use is appropriate. Yet, for many, it doesn't matter how the word is pronounced or who says it. It is never, ever appropriate. The pain and awful memories evoked by the word “nigger” may just never go away.

The New York City Council passed a resolution on February 28, 2007 that symbolically bans the use of the word “nigger.”

On July 9, 2007, the NAACP held a mock funeral for the word, complete with two Percheron horses pulling a pine casket adorned with black roses, at its annual convention.

I am working diligently to create a forum to educate, unite and uplift those within the African Diaspora and others about what is probably the ugliest racial slur ever created. I am honored to have you as a participant for "Laid to Rest?" and, once again, welcome to Pace University.

Sincerely,

Shanelle Henry Robinson
Director, Office of Diversity Programs