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by MARY ELIZABETH ROBERTSON
Intern News Reporter
With racial tensions mounting following the election of Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president, the Black Student Association (BSA) decided to take action and host “The N-Word Forum” Monday.
The forum took place in Calloway Peak Room of Plemmons Student Union at 5 p.m. and was filled with an estimated 75 people.
The attendees were asked to move their chairs into a circle for the discussion-oriented forum.
 James Ivory, assistant chairperson of the English department (c) shares a brief personal history of the “n-word” and references his associations with the word to stir discussion Monday in Plemmons Student Union. Photo by Adam Dixon |
James
Ivory, assistant chairperson of the English department was one faculty
member present.
Ivory opened the discussion and gave a brief history of
the word “n-----” and referenced his associations with the word.
He then asked for the audience to help him understand their view on the word.
Glennie Sewell, English professor, was also present at the forum.
“Now it
is almost like when the word hits me, it fell to the ground powerless,”
Sewell said. “We put power behind words. If only we were to render it
powerless, it would have no meaning.”
Students shared their thoughts on what they believed the word means and why it is still in existence.
Ivory’s birth certificate states he is “negro.”
This revelation became food for thought to the audience to chew on.
“I think it’s important to know my history,” Ivory said. “This country
has a dark history relating to slavery…I’m not asking for any time of
retribution, but…it’s important to educate yourselves and know your
history.”
Ivory disagrees with the use of the word today.
With the recent racial tensions and graffiti spotted around campus,
Ivory was happy to see the forum was attended by a diverse crowd.
“It wasn’t just a black thing,” Ivory said. “It’s not about the number
of African-American students, but it was nice to see students of other
races there as well…I don’t believe that the people responsible for the
graffiti were at the forum.”
The entertainment industry plays a role in desensitizing people to what is constantly heard.
“I think there is a sense of responsibility for those in high
visibility positions to decide what their responsibility is to the
culture around them,” Ivory said of the entertainment industry’s use of
the word n-----.
The arguments and debates were positive and intellectual.
Jessica N. Murdock, junior elementary education major attended the forum.
“I felt enlightened in that many of the topics discussed were some of
the same questions I had before I went,” she said. “I now have a better
understanding of how powerful the ‘n-word’ can be and am thankful to
have had the opportunity to be in attendance.”
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