PIOG: The N-word on The Disney Channel?!?!?!?

[TessaBianca]

I'm a soap-boxer and a fast typer.This incident got me thinkin'. Sorry in advance but I have to write about this while it's fresh in my mind.

You know the word I'm talking about. If you don't, good for you! In my life, this particular word has NEVER come from my mouth. Ever. I find it offensive more than any other word. Ever want to get rid of me? Use it where I can hear ya.
My kids and I have been watching The Color of Friendship as a part of our character education homeschool curriculum. It is a very light, cheesy yet meaningful movie that is supposed to teach a life lesson about seeing beyond physical characteristics (skin color in particular) and friendship. Little did I know there would be a vocabulary lesson as well. The Disney channel didn't have to "go there" to explain that some words are not acceptable. That's my opinion. I would have felt better about it if there had been a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie. I would have been able to fast forward through or explain before hand as well as after that certain words are unacceptable. The writers felt it needed to be repeated 3 times!!!! I couldn't get to the remote fast enough! This is the very last thing I would have expected from the Disney Channel. I usually preview movies my kids watch or at the very least look them up online to see the reviews. Considering the source, I was sure this movie was "safe". It aired on February 3rd at 7pm. Prime time. I had saved it into my DVR.
I had to explain to my oldest that the word will get him nothing but a black eye. I also explained that even if he hears others say it, no matter who it is, it's wrong and not to be repeated for any reason...ever.

Thanks Disney.

I'll probably get some disagreement on this. Who am I, a "white person" to have any opinion at all on it? What does it matter to me who uses that word and why? Why just not say anything at all? The meaning, the history, the association of it. The derogatory ugliness of it. The way it transports the user and the listener to a shameful time in American history. I don't want to go there. I wasn't there for it and thank goodness for it. I shudder to think of the consequences my beliefs would have had back then. I have respect for all my relations, all of you reading this and those of you not. I don't use it for anyone because of that respect. Why not stop using it if you do for the same reasons...to respect others as well as yourself?
If I've made you mad, or made you think, look inside yourself and figure out why. Maybe you'll come to the same conclusions.

Click here to read about the history and usage of the n-word.

Click here for the Wikipedia article on the film which fails to mention that it has the n-word. I think that's a huge omission.

UPDATE: I think I should mention The Color of Friendship was filmed in 2000 but set in the 1970s. The point of the n-words usage in the film was to illustrate that it is offensive and not ok. I think it could have been handled differently. That's my issue with the movie. Other than that it was pretty good.

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Tags: n-word, derogatory, racism, respect, color, of, friendship, disney, channel, cable, tv, movie, after, school, special, black, african american, africa, apartheid, south africa, nonsense, r, pg, pg-13, kids, race, tolerance, acceptance, social justice

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[TessaBianca]

Apr. 29, 2009 at 1:34 PM

Lotsa views...no comments...hmmmm.

(Original Poster)

[Tawanda74]

Apr. 29, 2009 at 2:16 PM

I agree completely agree about never using the ugly N word.

As for the movie, while I understand your aggrivation for not knowing before hand.  I think it was better that your children heard it in a somewhat controlled environment with time to pause "life" and explain what it means and how it is NEVER acceptable to use it.

[TessaBianca]

Apr. 30, 2009 at 1:53 PM

You have a good point there, Tawanda.

(Original Poster)