The N-Word Standard
Morgan Wallen, a country music singer, used the N-word and both iHeart and Cumulus took his songs off the radio. Someone videoed Wallen using the word not in anger or contempt at a black person, but in the way a whole lot of people apparently use it in casual reference to a friend.
Mimi Groves, a freshman in high school, used the N-word similarly. In a three second Snapchat clip, she proudly announced to those she referenced with the N-word that she’d gotten her license. Three years after she uttered it, in her senior year with a scholarship to the University of Tennessee, Jimmy Galligan, a classmate, used the video to destroy Ms. Groves’ academic prospects. The University of Tennessee canceled her scholarship. The New York Times wrote approvingly of Mr. Galligan ruing Ms. Groves’ scholarship.
Hunter Biden, the 51-year-old son of the President of the United States, used the same word in the same way repeatedly in text messages. The major media outlets across the country that condemned Mr. Wallen and Ms. Groves are silent. Why? Well, we know why. Had the text messages of Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, or Ivanka Trump been leaked in the same way and said the same thing, the press would have a field day. You cannot deny that.
While Eric Trump was out raising money for children’s charities, Hunter Biden was mingling with crack, prostitutes, and using the N-word. The media routinely pillories the former and his siblings while ignoring or defending Hunter Biden.
The N-word has become the one word, the use of which, can destroy a person’s career. But it is routinely used in popular music that is listened to and enjoyed across racial lines. The word has become weaponized beyond the power any word should have if it can be used to selectively target and destroy.
If the double standard cancelations continue, people will begin to use the word more, supposing the double standard is faux outrage at a word so common in parts of popular culture. Put another way, if the press will ignore Hunter Biden for the same sins of Wallen and Groves, many will presume the use of the word is not really a cultural sin and they will be bolder in use of it.
My youngest son graduated college 5 years ago. He landed a job right out of college at a suburban Atlanta high school that is about 60% AA, 25% white and 15% hispanic. Most of the football coaching staff was AA and a little short on staff. So my son was handed the JV job with one other coach and was the WR and special teams coach. In my house, the 'N' word is considered worse than a swear word (minus the obvious one). It just isn't used in any context - period. One of the first rules he implemented was "use the N word and you run". Now you need to understand that the "N" word between black folk (especially the young) is just slang.
But at 22, my son understood the history of the word, and the purpose of using the word and he would have none of it. He gained the respect of the kids rather quickly for many reasons, including his insistence of not using this word. This carried over into P.E. classes and in the Spring, his soccer team.
I told you that to also tell you this. When the African American coaches begin to push for the word not to get used, they received push back from the same kids. It was their way of saying, we do this because my son's heart was in the right place, he just did not understand the culture. But they expected AA coaches to understand. So the work after this was to get these kids to understand the history of the word. It impacted some of the kids, it did not impact others.
The "N" word does NOT belong in society. Black, white, conservative or liberal. The history and purpose of the word is undeniable. To now be used so prevalently in the AA community sends the wrong message - period. And the fact that the liberal press is once again holding two standards when the word is used, only weakens the efforts of those, who truly would like for people to understand what an atrocious word this is, not belonging in our language in any context.
The Left loves standards so much they have two sets... one for them and a completely different set for everyone else.