In light of recent violence over seas (not to mention continued violence here in the States)—further examples of sad economic and cultural conflict—I wanted to write about something I have always wanted to express: my thoughts on the N word.

Whether you say it nigga or nigger, the N word is likely the most emotionally loaded word in the collective American psyche. The word brings up all kinds of feelings within people. I, myself, have experienced anger, confusion, laughter, sadness and comfort when hearing this word. The N word can be a stamp of inhumanity on another human being and it can also bond brothers in connection to one another through the lowest common denominator.

A moratorium or cessation of the word—which one of my heroes Professor Cornel West has suggested—is merely topical. I believe we are called to look at the energy underneath the word—to confront it. The pain and the violence within the human condition must be examined as long as we hold in absolution the belief that we are separate from one another. We must confront the following questions collectively and individually if we are to truly integrate and evolve beyond the weight of this word.

The questions are: what makes human beings encounter each other’s uniqueness and distinction with fear instead of curiosity? And a deeper question is how can we as human beings with distinct cultures and experiences converge to meet and share in enriching ways? Rather than engage in brutal violence and conflict.

War, colonialism, imperialism and immigration have all been ways that cultures have engaged. And independently of the insanity of the violence, relationships, art, culture have emerged. The black American experience, which is truly one of the most American, doesn’t exist as it does today with its rich culture without this convergence. Blues, Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Funk, Hip-Hop don’t exist without this convergence. Indeed, may I say, the core of this publication doesn’t exist without this convergence.

The N word has arisen out of this convergence too, and many find the word deplorable. When confronted with an opportunity to converge, take a moment to wonder: do you want to be on the side of the negativity that helped create the N word, or do you want to be on the side of the positive energy that helped create the art forms mentioned above. Do not gloss over whatever emotion arises, FEEL that emotion, feel it fully. Whatever it is. Then make your move toward understanding.

In Joy and In Love,

EFB