I think that literary text should omit terms that are derogatory, as long as it is clear to the reader what the word has originally been. I think that language such as the “n” word, especially if not written by a person of color, has no place in literary text in modern day. A word of that nature, used years ago when the original text was written, would have been used in a degrading way, especially if written by a white person. Reading things like this in a classroom setting, or in an educational institution, is almost giving people a pass to say the words out loud, even if they are white, which I find there is no reasoning for. I believe that if it is clear what the word was to the reader, that maintains historical context, while the lack of the full word being present reminds the reader that saying this word is not necessary, nor acceptable, especially if they are not black.
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3 thoughts on “Daryen Rubin Discussion 9”
Daryen, I completely understand where you’re coming from, and I actually felt the same way when we were reading in class. Hearing or seeing those words can be really uncomfortable, especially in an educational setting. However, I personally think that keeping the authentic form is important because it helps us truly see how things were back then. It gives us a raw and honest look at history, even if it’s painful to confront. For me, it’s not about excusing the language but about understanding the reality of the time and learning from it. Your perspective is valid, though, and I appreciate you sharing it. It’s such an important conversation to have.
Daryen, you make a great point here. It is possible to indicate what the racial slur is, just as Commonlit chose to substitute the derogatory word with n__. Readers know what word was there, and I agree that it can be desensitizing when words like that are used in texts. And I totally agree with what you say about white people using the word. As a white instructor, I was always incredibly uncomfortable reading it aloud. I’m honestly glad that Commonlit handled it, as it did. But I think it’s important to have a marker for the word to indicate that it was part of the original text.
Hey Daryen, I totally agree with your point. The “n” word, especially when not written by a person of color, should not be included in modern texts. While historical context is important, using these words in a classroom setting can normalize their use, which is harmful. If readers understand the original meaning, we can preserve the context without including the full word. Excluding it sends the message that such language is not acceptable, particularly for those who aren’t Black.