Beatrice Tetteh Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. As much as we want to believe this phrase is true, growing up has taught us a different lesson. When we were children we believed that we could say anything without hurting others. We didn't understand the power of words because we didn't realize what most of them meant or where they came from. As we've grown older, however, it's become obvious that words are more than just something people say.
Words can be hurtful but have the opportunity to change over time.
By taking it back, the word no longer has the derogatory power it had over a group of people in the past. Claiming a name can be an effective force for a group's rights, but it is only effective if all are in agreement. It represents more than just a word because it brings to mind the violence and hatred correlated with its use. I might not have been alive when the word was used in its original form, but it still has a negative effect on all of us today. Instead of thinking what kind of effect it has on me, I reflect on what feelings this word created for people in my parents' generation.