Non-black people can say the N word because a book says so!
By: Demi Odeyemi
Tags: Of Mice And Men, Teenagers, BlackLivesMatter, Racism, Department Of Education

Throughout schools all over the UK, there’s a lack of Black British history in the curriculum and whenever taught… It’s portrayed under a negative limelight. When I am forced to learn about slavery in school, it seems like a token of ‘respect’ the Department Of Education are trying to send through. This is not only providing students with a negative perception on black history but it’s closing the gate to learning more about the people who also PROVIDE to society.

May I ask, why are we not learning about black contributions to the British society? Why are we not learning about Mary Seacole as much as Florence Nightingale? Why do we not talk about the BLACK soldiers in the war, as if only white men fought for Britain? Why do we not talk about police brutality? Why do we not talk about the achievements, the inventions, the intelligence of black people, do you think slavery sums it up? Why do we read books with the n word?

Why do we read books about the n word?

In year eight, I hated English lessons.

I felt disrespected and uncomfortable. The book ‘of mice and men’ was assigned to us and I made sure to read before classes start. I remember my very reaction when I saw the n word in the book, I almost screamed, I ran downstairs to tell my parents who were also very anxious of a book with such a word to be taught to a class of majority white students by a white man. Do you see the problem?

In class I counted down the pages until the word was to appear, it was scary and nerve-racking. After weeks of nail-biting, the lesson came and the reader stopped in shock. However the white male teacher had the audacity to tell the student he can say the word only ‘because it’s in context’. Rightfully, the boy refused to continue, instead with the teacher asking the class who was willing to read the word. I being one of two black people amongst thirty, kept my head down feeling the stares of my peers engulfing my body. Shivers ran down my spine not only due to feeling uncomfortable but also the increase of anxiety in that very situation.

But who cares…at the end of the day, the class grew more confident in saying the n word when in ‘context’, not to mention the ignorant smirks and laughs, still gaining little to no knowledge of the history the word holds.

Well I mean I guess I have to give some credit to the teacher for informing the class it’s a ‘derogatory slur’ used against black people. In my opinion, he really dug deep to find the whole meaning and history of the word.

The main problem in it all is that black teens have spoken out about the problem on social medias such as Tik Tok, Snapchat, Twitter, and there is still no progress with the issue. Personally, my teacher was very timid and almost pathetic when speaking to the class about this, almost as if he was embarrassed.

Surely if you have the confidence to claim it’s right to say the n word if in ‘context’, I think you should also understand the CONTEXT behind the word and explain it to everyone.

In the 90s the rule of white people not being allowed to say the slur, no matter the condition, was introduced and is now supposedly normalised. So, why is this rule not carried through within the school ground for staff to understand that the n word is not to be splashed around the room, unless if the Department Of Education agree with their actions?

This is the same word which was used to dehumanise black people as presented in the book, yet is made a joke in thousands of classrooms.

Don’t get me wrong I understand that the portrayal of Crook’s character was to oppose to the racial stereotypes behind an uneducated black man, however why did my majority white class not get a proper lesson on the black history at the time, WITHOUT stuttering and stammering from my teacher.

Of mice and men is a book I believe should be chosen to read, not forced upon thirteen year olds. Not everyone is serious enough to respect the depiction.

This is my take on the issue, what is yours?

-Demi Felicia.