I'm Sorry…

It is considered racist because its not merely an informal descriptor for a person of African decent; it is a racial slur whose meaning is inseparable from a long and deeply oppressive history associated with it.

For someone who might be unaware, the derogatory connotation was cultivated through centuries in which black people were systematically dehumanised, enslaved, segregated and portrayed as inherently inferior. This word consequently became a linguistic instrument of humiliation, racial subordination and oppression.

The argument of "I didn't mean it in a racist way" or "I didn't mean it like that" does not necessarily resolve the issue due to how damaging it's existence has been; and this stands for all forms of slurs targeting any community. Intent and meaning are not always synonymous with impact and historical context. A person may use these words without consciously intending to express hatred, while the word itself can still nevertheless invoke a history of racial degradation to those who hear it.

And it because of this history, that the word carries what linguists refer to as a pejorative or derogatory connotation far beyond its literal reference to someone's race.

There is also reclamation and general usage, two very distinct actions. Some african communities have reclaimed a variation of the term and use it within certain social contexts as an expression of familiarity, solidarity or cultural identity. This does not transform the original slur into a universally acceptable term, entitling just about anyone to use them in the same manner.

Language is profoundly contextual and a word reclaimed by a historically marginalized group does not lose its offensive character automatically when employed by those outside of those groups, no matter their intent.

For example, imagine a term that had been deliberately used against your own community for generations to communicate that they were inferior, contemptible or undeserving of equal dignity. Even if someone centuries later claimed they were only joking or didn't mean anything by it, the historical weight of the expression would not simply evaporate.

That is essentially the whole issue here.

A word does not cease to be a slur merely with the person uttering it not personally harboring hatred. It's history, social meaning and circumstances in which it was used all dictate it's future and past.

In a large and diverse community, On Hio or IRL, there exists a practical consideration.

There is virtually no legitimate communicative necessity to use a racial slur when ordinary, non-dehumanizing language is readily available and a better accepted medium of communication.

Freedom of expression does not oblige a community to treat every form of expression as socially or administratively acceptable.

Now for someone or everyone reading this.

I encourage you all to recognise that a public community site is not necessarily the most appropriate place to seek answers to questions concerning sensitive racial issues, particularly when those questions can involve lived experiences of the people affected by them. If you genuinely want to understand the history and significance of racial slurs, consider having that conversation with people in your life who are willing to share their perspectives, consult reputable historical and educational resources. Give an ear to those, learn from their experiences.

And, if you have friends who causally use racial slurs, educate them on why that language is harmful and encourage them to reconsider it. If they disregard that despite being made aware of the harm they're causing, you may want to reconsider the company you keep. Those around us inevitably influence what we come to regard as acceptable.

In future, I hope this is something approached with a little more thoughtfulness going forward. A degree of common sense, tact, empathy and consideration for people on the receiving end.

I sincerely hope neither me nor any of my moderation team members will need to address another thread of this nature in the coming future.