Here we are post pandemic and life has changed. I don't know if many of you know, but I am a veteran teacher. I have been in the industry for 25 years, and I am tired. When the pandemic hit, it was like a reprieve. We had to teach from home and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I teach Health, and I had the best time teaching. A lot of the students who did not talk face to face, were involved virtually. They did not have to have their cameras on, and I do believe that encouraged many of the shy students to participate. Sometimes it was challenging to get some students to show up, however, those that did were in for a treat. One of my 8th grade students who was so engaged wrote a play and had the students read parts. She was also very active in class when we were face to face. When we returned face to face, she and her brother remain virtual students.
Returning face to face was a challenge because many of the students were OFF the fucking chain. Apparently during the pandemic they forgot how to act like decent people. Where were their parents during the pandemic? If we were at home, they should have been also. Anyway, the students came back cursing like sailors, and using the "n" word like nothing. I absolutely cannot stand that word. I hate the fact that black people use it as a term of endearment then justify it. I am at war with that word being used, and I think it is time we take it out of our vocabulary.
Black people (I am not African American), will never be able to really move forward until we get rid of that word. I do not care if it ends in an "a" or "er", it is demeaning and totally derogatory. I bet if the rappers took it out of their vocabulary and start saying brother and sister, so will the school children.
I do believe it is time to start a campaign to get rid of that word. No other group that I know of, has taken a derogatory word and made it a term of endearment. If they have, they must only use it in privacy.
