Derogatory language has no place in society, let alone in the classroom.
I sincerely hope that this is not, by any means, a controversial claim. However, time and time again, I have heard of unfortunate encounters with works such as Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” where the reader would stumble upon a hateful word. The classroom is accompanied by a moment of hesitation—everyone waiting to see if the teacher would acknowledge the impact of the word’s usage or perhaps suggest an alteration to the language to avoid reading the word out loud. Unfortunately, the reason why I have heard so many of these classroom tales is not due to a respectful omission but because of the teacher’s loud and proud proclamation of the slur for the sake of “education.” I believe this is entirely counterproductive; it not only makes students uncomfortable but also dismisses their concerns about the impact of derogatory language.
This topic seems to become more controversial when discussing etymology and the pejoration of words. I always feel uncomfortable encountering a word that has been recontextualized; I am well aware that the perceived racism, ableism or other microaggression may not have been the intention of the author. However, I believe it is more important to listen to the concerns of the students who may be uncomfortable with the language in its modern usage than to attempt to justify its usage in the classroom.
These words that have evolved are the main focus of my argument. I have been met with the argument that when evaluating the history of words that have semantically drifted, their original usage had no connotation with any marginalized group. Their inclusion in literature was not due to any sort of prejudice but is rather a reflection of how the English language was used in that time. I argue that while it is important to discuss the context of the work and how the word has evolved, it is imperative to acknowledge that using this class of words will cause discomfort, given how they are commonly used today.
One of the most basic facts about language is that it naturally evolves with cultural and political shifts. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines linguistics as “the study of human speech including the units, nature, structure, and modification of language.” I would like to place emphasis on the modification aspect of this definition. Words can be reclaimed: Where “queer” was once an insult, it is now an inclusive term for people whose sexuality and gender identities do not fit the societal standard. Where “dude” once referred to a man overly focused on his appearance, its usage in the African-American and Mexican-American communities has allowed it to become a colloquial form of address, used among people of all races. In the same way, words that were once relatively inoffensive can become pejorative, such as the r-slur and the c-slur. If we would like to focus on etymology, it is equally relevant to discuss contemporary contexts and usages of such words as it is to educate on their origins and history.
From an educational standpoint, I understand the concerns that may come with modifying language to an extensive degree. If we need to begin censoring all literature out of fear that it will offend someone, will centuries of creativity become irrelevant? I am not arguing for the eradication of the Western canon. I simply think that an acknowledgement of context and the impact of vocabulary should be integrated into discussions about literature and culture. It may be easy to dub students as overly sensitive or easily triggered when they find themselves taken aback by the inclusion of a word in the materials they are studying. However, I think that quickly placing those labels onto someone who raises a concern is dismissive. I believe that the role of an educator should be to inform students while being sensitive to their individual backgrounds and understandings of language. I agree that it is important to discuss controversial works to understand how different opinions and attitudes have shaped our society over time, but there is a difference between challenging a student intellectually and making them uncomfortable.I think back to the phrase, “perception is reality.” Every single person has a different understanding of language, and certain words will carry a different meaning depending on the context in which they know them to be used. Regardless of a given word’s origin and historical usage, it is never okay to use language that has become derogatory, especially in a classroom setting. I understand that the authors’ original intentions were not to discriminate, and I do not think that we should dismiss them as racist or prejudiced, as they could not predict the semantic shift of their work. Though I agree there is merit in studying the original context in which these words arose and how they came to be, it is incredibly important to be sensitive to what connotations they may now carry.