Racism in SK books

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I used the N word very recently in my own writing after a lot of soul searching about it.

I suppose I could have used descriptive language to describe the character as a stupid, ignoirant racist, but frankly I thought that having them refer to a third party as 'that n*gger!' had far more power and meaning than any amount of PC acceptable language would have had.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Sigmund]

At the risk of being of being a flame-thrower........

Why is it OK for members of an ethnic group to call each other "the N word", dog, etc., but it's not OK for anyone outside that group to use it?

This is just a rhetorical question, of course. The fact that we have to use the euphemism "N word", instead of the actual word, demonstrates the power that we give to those 6 little letters. Frankly, I wouldn't want to use it if I was a writer, because of what it represents. If SK wants to use it in his works, fine and dandy, but it's a holdover from the ugliest days of slavery and does not contribute in any meaningful way to society or art. I don't need a writer (or anyone else, for that matter) to show me what racism is; I've seen plenty of real-life examples. And no, I'm not black, I just happen to agree with that point of view on this issue. All of this having been said, I don't think that SK is a racist, he just doesn't have any qualms about using the word.

And by the way, Twain, Cooper, Conrad and Dickens used the word at a time when it was socially acceptable, i.e. during the period of slavery and shortly afterward. Times have changed. But not enough, apparently.

Hi Snaggle
You said it was a rhetorical question and I guess it will have to be because I'm not Black and can't answer in that manner. However, as a Hispanic person I can say we, "we" meaning Hispanics can, will and do call each other Spic, beaner, greaser, raza, wetback, etc. because those words were used to hurt us and demean us and our culture. We, in turn decided to take back our power and not give those words the power to hurt. So now, we use them with each other to tease each other, knowing that we have all lived that experience and pain of being abused, demeaned and shunned. We use those words because we have earned the right to turn them into a goofy/friendly way of talking to each. BUT, if you are not Hispanic you don't have the background or experience (the scars) to use those words and you will be seen as malicious and racists.
Just my experience and understanding. Let me know what you think.
Peace,
r

[Snaggletooth]

[QUOTE/] We use those words because we have earned the right to turn them into a goofy/friendly way of talking to each. BUT, if you are not Hispanic you don't have the background or experience (the scars) to use those words and you will be seen as malicious and racists. [/QUOTE]

I was pointing out what seemed to me to be a paradox regarding who gets to use naughty words on whom.

If I had been born 40 of 50 years before my actual conception, then I would definitely have related to your explanation. My family (both sides) comes from Eastern European Jewish stock. Hitler did more than call us names (I won't list any, although in German there are quite a few), he gassed and burned up quite a few of us. None of my family though, we came to America around 1910 - 1915 or so. But man's inhumanity to man always starts with the language used to describe or label one's fellow man. Maybe that explains my perspective and sensitivity to the issue, I don't know.

[Sigmund]

Snaggle,
Thank you for sharing. I think we have an understanding of each others perspective. We're cool, right?
Peace,
r

[Snaggletooth]

Snaggle,
Thank you for sharing. I think we have an understanding of each others perspective. We're cool, right?
Peace,
r

Cool as a cucumber (refridgerated edition)

[KyleKarabekian]

I think your friend is wrong and should get over himself. Like you said, it's not the author, it's the characters. and if your friend is that offended, why is he reading them then? Or rather trying to read them?

[nursecindy]

I've never thought of Stephen King as being racist. This is a surprising thing to me. I've thought a few times he was a little hard on children but so was Charles Dickens. I guess if you look hard enough you can find racism in anything you read. If that is the kind of person you are. You won't be able to change your friend's mind so I would just let it be. They are missing a wonderful author however.

[Snaggletooth]

Everyone is racist. Everyone. The only difference between us is whether we try to suppress our evil nature, or revel in it. I like an author who isn't afraid to put human nature under a microscope and give it a good poke with a stick. SK doesn't advocate racism, but if he ignored it he would be a fraud.

You might point out to your friend that his refusal to read SK, because of perceived racism, is PROOF of HIS racism.

...even Mother Teresa? Even Martin Luther King Jr? Even Gandhi? Everyone? Really?

[randallFlaggfan1]

Hi,

I used the N word very recently in my own writing after a lot of soul searching about it.

I suppose I could have used descriptive language to describe the character as a stupid, ignoirant racist, but frankly I thought that having them refer to a third party as 'that n*gger!' had far more power and meaning than any amount of PC acceptable language would have had.

Long days and pleasant nights

John, you really used that word in your writing? WOW.

[randallFlaggfan1]

John, you really used that word in your writing? WOW.

As a fellow writer, I honestly don't think I could do that.