Racial slurs and derogatory terms

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Depends on the context if it is in a history book or one that is explaining the terms from a historic viewpoint then it should be okey, but on the other hand if this is down in the south then it causes some issues. Though we are going to come across this issue time and time again as the times change slurs and derogatory terms are going to change with them or old ones will make a come back.

Indeed, some genres need to use these terms, simply because it's historically congruent or to explain them, as in history textbooks. But considering this book is a memoir, what do you think?

[Preye I]

I understand why the author used them. It gave the book a bit of reality. Just like in the old movies like to kill a mockingbird the white character uses the N word. I understand why people are offended but I also understand why the author chose to do so.

[Bibi Farheen K]

I think that the context and history behind the use of a word makes the difference between a derogatory one and a non-derogatory one. We also have to consider one's personal take on this. A term that is derogatory to me may not be so to someone else.

There are a lot of old books with politically incorrect language and scenes that will be problematic today. However, in those days, it was not an issue.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I think that the context and history behind the use of a word makes the difference between a derogatory one and a non-derogatory one. We also have to consider one's personal take on this. A term that is derogatory to me may not be so to someone else.

There are a lot of old books with politically incorrect language and scenes that will be problematic today. However, in those days, it was not an issue.

Of course, the "offensiveness" of a word depends on the context in which it's used. For example, I've heard African-American people use the N-word as a friendly term between them, but I would never dare use it.
However, let's remember that even if the book takes place during the Vietnam War it wasn't written in the 50s, so the timeline and the "justification" of a social climate in which political correctness was not a thing become blurry.

[Ashley Wood 221B]

Unfortunately racial slurs and derogatory terms are things we here in our day to day life despite the difference in time period. I think author used it to attribute the social climate of the time

Yeah I agree with you. I am part of a religious community that has to deal with derogatory terms all through different time periods.

[Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu]

Prejudice and what people consider racial slurs are a tough subject to navigate. On one hand, "redneck" may be considered derogatory, but on the other, it may not because there's no history of the word being violently used against a group of people.

I agree with your opinion completely. As a Black South African we have an almost similar situation with a k-word considered absolutely derogatory and is thus a no-go while there is the subjective "Boer" used to refer white individuals of Afrikaaner heritage. Some consider the second word derogatory but some do not and I guess the main distinction between the two of them is how the k-word has a lot of history tied to it.

[Macha Marumo Mphela]

Prejudice and what people consider racial slurs are a tough subject to navigate. On one hand, "redneck" may be considered derogatory, but on the other, it may not because there's no history of the word being violently used against a group of people.

I agree with your opinion completely. As a Black South African we have an almost similar situation with a k-word considered absolutely derogatory and is thus a no-go while there is the subjective "Boer" used to refer white individuals of Afrikaaner heritage. Some consider the second word derogatory but some do not and I guess the main distinction between the two of them is how the k-word has a lot of history tied to it.

Yep...hisrory weighs in a lot when we talk about what's offensive and what's not, who is allowed to say what and who isn't allowed. A white person saying the k-word, in whatever context, can be seen as offensive merely because that's what history taught us.

[Almira789]

Slurring is a form of extremism speech that aims to inflict pain on others. It is oppressive as well as provocative. Redneck, on the other hand, are a different story, and comprehending them will depend on our racial ethnicity.

[Laww]

Utterances of racial slurs is very common nowadays. However in 5he near past, the political climate limited usage of such slurs as the have negative effects to mental stability of some individuals. Bill Springer portrays the effects of usage of such slurs. These slurs shouldn't be perceived differently as they both weigh almost similar effects.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Utterances of racial slurs is very common nowadays. However in 5he near past, the political climate limited usage of such slurs as the have negative effects to mental stability of some individuals. Bill Springer portrays the effects of usage of such slurs. These slurs shouldn't be perceived differently as they both weigh almost similar effects.

I would've thought it was the other way around. That slurs and offensive language were much more common in the past than nowadays. Could you redirect me to your source to learn more about what you're saying?

[Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu]

I think the moment we consider any issue of racism to depend on context and who's doing things we have lost it as society. As "woke" as the world is right now, derogatory must be just that, universally, regardless of who's saying the words. The author used words that were okay for the time the book is based in but they shouldn't be okay for the time the book was published.

[Rita Nuncia]

It would have been better if he didn't use such word considering that he was totally against racial slurs or any derogatory word on his race. However, we can not rule out the fact that he might have had something else in mind as the meaning of that word 'redneck'.

[Emmanuella C Arumeze]

In the end, I believe the history of the word matters a lot. Also the general definition attached to the word should be considered. I didn't feel redneck was offensive, but I can't speak for others.

[Chinenye Achilike]

It's a combination of both incongruent and the social climate of the time. The author is contradicting himself by complaining about the use of racial slurs and still using "redhead". However, by using the term "redhead," I think then that racial discrimination was common and socially acceptable.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I think the moment we consider any issue of racism to depend on context and who's doing things we have lost it as society. As "woke" as the world is right now, derogatory must be just that, universally, regardless of who's saying the words. The author used words that were okay for the time the book is based in but they shouldn't be okay for the time the book was published.

Exactly. Even if the terms were acceptable in the time the book takes place, they're not in the time it was published. That's why authors these days have "sensitivity readers" who proofread the book focusing on these mistakes.