[benjaminjjones]

"We say nothing when it's in rap songs, but we want to burn the books of history," Netter said [former chairman of the Legal Redress Committee for the Western Wayne County chapter of the NAACP]

Almost, but not quite, the first thought that occurred to me. Since I don't listen to rap, I wouldn't know about that part. I was thinking I hear "the racial epithet" used in casual conversation by African American kids on the subway or the street all the time.

Next I thought that the non-African American kids in the class would be more traumatized having to hear or say a word that's been drilled into us is a bad word. I remember how embarrassed I was when I first heard it used in a pejorative fashion by someone in public.

Also from the Detroit News article, "In earlier years, it was targeted because of its sympathetic portrayal of African-Americans". How ironic. I wonder if Mama Offended is aware of that little fact.

[Stoat]

"We say nothing when it's in rap songs, but we want to burn the books of history," Netter said [former chairman of the Legal Redress Committee for the Western Wayne County chapter of the NAACP]

Almost, but not quite, the first thought that occurred to me. Since I don't listen to rap, I wouldn't know about that part. I was thinking I hear "the racial epithet" used in casual conversation by African American kids on the subway or the street all the time.

Please see posts #39 and  #98 for some cute cartoons pertaining to this silly double standard.

Next I thought that the non-African American kids in the class would be more traumatized having to hear or say a word that's been drilled into us is a bad word. I remember how embarrassed I was when I first heard it used in a pejorative fashion by someone in public.

Agreed, and the fact that the SINGLE COMPLAINT came from one black parent is interesting.  If the teacher of the class had somehow failed to provide context for the work and explain to the class prior to teaching the book about what was forthcoming and how the language was intended to be perceived at the time it was written, I would expect that complaints would have come rolling in from numerous hypersensitive white liberal parents.

Also from the Detroit News article, "In earlier years, it was targeted because of its sympathetic portrayal of African-Americans". How ironic. I wonder if Mama Offended is aware of that little fact.

Since she obviously had zero understanding of the work to begin with, as evidenced by her complaint, then my answer would be 'probably not, and I doubt it would have made any difference to her even if someone had explained this to her".  Which, by the way, I'm sure that they did after she made the complaint.  But, the Race Card trumps all.

"We say nothing when it's in rap songs, but we want to burn the books of history," Netter said [former chairman of the Legal Redress Committee for the Western Wayne County chapter of the NAACP]

Almost, but not quite, the first thought that occurred to me. Since I don't listen to rap, I wouldn't know about that part. I was thinking I hear "the racial epithet" used in casual conversation by African American kids on the subway or the street all the time.

Please see posts #39 and  #98 for some cute cartoons pertaining to this silly double standard.

Next I thought that the non-African American kids in the class would be more traumatized having to hear or say a word that's been drilled into us is a bad word. I remember how embarrassed I was when I first heard it used in a pejorative fashion by someone in public.

Agreed, and the fact that the SINGLE COMPLAINT came from one black parent is interesting.  If the teacher of the class had somehow failed to provide context for the work and explain to the class prior to teaching the book about what was forthcoming and how the language was intended to be perceived at the time it was written, I would expect that complaints would have come rolling in from numerous hypersensitive white liberal parents.

Also from the Detroit News article, "In earlier years, it was targeted because of its sympathetic portrayal of African-Americans". How ironic. I wonder if Mama Offended is aware of that little fact.