Should I say an offensive racial slur outloud when reading a book with students?

[WomanInTheWindow]

We are planning to teach Of Mice and Men at my school next year after not having used it last year. It is no longer a GCSE text and we use it with the younger year group.

It is a predominantly white school, but also has a significant percentage of BME students.

The highly offensive racial slur "the n word" is used often throughout the book. Colleagues a bit divided over whether to say the word, or leave it out, or some other strategy. What would you want for your children? At the moment I do not want to voice it in class, another colleague does.

*Use it. Whitewashing history and censoring any related fiction is unacceptable.

The character crooks and the use of racist language is representative of the times. It shows how racism had infected America, it shows what it was really like. You don't censor that. You teach it.

Absolutely this. I've taught OMAM loads, gcse and yr9. Always, always taken this line. I've been consistently impressed with the reactions of the students too - they are uncomfortable with the word, but they get why we don't just ignore it or leave it invoiced. It's absolutely a necessary part of the writing.

Agree with a PP that it is much harder to get them to recognise the misogyny built around the character of Curley's wife though. They always think it was her fault

Agree with a PP that it is much harder to get them to recognise the misogyny built around the character of Curley's wife though. They always think it was her fault.

Yes. I tried to persuade DD to feel sympathetic to Curley's wife. I don't think I succeeded.

The rule I have is that they can directly quote it in their writing or verbal discussion, but not use it otherwise. Never been a problem. So, writing or saying something like 'Steinbeck emphasises the viciousness of Curley's wife's attack on Crooks when she addresses him as 'nigger' and threatens him with lynching, 'I could get you strung up on a tree so fast'. They need ti be able to fully engage with all of the writing - you can't do that if they can't examine all of the language.

Teach it. Use it to remind a new generation of the racism, misogyny, isolation of the elderly and treatment of those with learning difficulties that were common place.

You can get an entire lesson out of the symbolism of the objects that Steinbeck placed in Crooks's room - all intended to challenge the racial stereotypes prevalent in Steinbeck's time.

He wrote for newspapers on the conditions the itinerant workers faced but only dared to directly address prejudice in the safety of a fictional construct.

Pupils really engage with it which is important for me.

Maybe just explain the context of why you're not going to be saying it then say 'n-word' instead?

Having said that, part of me is thinking you can't mess with literature like that, and another part is saying "you can if it's racist - look at Enid Blyton!"

I did OMAM at school in the 90s and i can't actually remember how our teacher got round it - i think perhaps we only read selected excerpts in class.

Your students will be listening to music where the word is used. They will be watching american movies where the word is used. But in those, it's been said as a nickname... as a way one black person addresses another (obviously not historical movies but in movies with gangs). That's their exposure to the word. They hear it. So what does their education gain if you refuse to use it in the context of that book? They lose the opportunity to really understand the history and meaning.

The Sandman - maybe the OP was concerned about overstepping MN talk guidelines?

Christ alive, do not "ask the students what they're comfortable with". The purpose of teaching this book is not to make the students comfortable!

Teach it. All of it. I get that it feels challenging. I read "The Nigger of the Narcissus" as part of my degree and I felt awkward as hell just walking around with the book. But all this is food for the discussion.

Ruffle I think the difference between OMAM and Enid Blyton is that Steinbeck consciously made his characters act the way they did in part to portray the racism. Whereas Enid Blyton's characterisation was more general unconscious stereotypes / racism of its time?

“Teach it. Use it to remind a new generation of the racism, misogyny, isolation of the elderly and treatment of those with learning difficulties that were common place. “

Were?

If it is a diverse class there will be students who have very racist language directed at them, and hear racist views about people like them. And experience or are aware of racist behaviour against people like them, individual and institutional.

It is fair to say that such behaviour is now largely unacceptable / hate speech / etc. Which is the change. But don’t consign the fact that it happens to history.

It's part of the book, it belongs there.
It doesn't belong in recent times as racist, just make sure the students realise the consequences of using such words.

I'd agree with that, teen.

What about the feelings of black students in the class listening to it? I’ve had a video on that included the word and gave a talk before hand about when it was set and how it was used. A student who was black still jumped up when he heard the word used - he seemed to have completely zoned out when I was pre-warning everyone! And sometimes we have students with very limited comprehension, or very limited English. It’s not always as easy as doing it to educate the class.

I always start teaching omam with the context. Students research and present back on a range of factors, great depression, wall street crash, dustbowl, Jim Crow laws. They aren't in any way suddenly confronted with the word without knowing why.

There is a difference between being called it and discussing the use of the word in the context of understanding the roots of Racism.

(Which recalls the black student who thought Arnold Wesker's Roots was cultural appropriation.)

Tbh I’m shocked an English teacher orfaculty would even consider censoring the word

It is hugely important in understanding Crooks’ utter all encompassing loneliness and isolation among the other characters. The entire chapter which focuses on his room (stable really because he’s not allowed to bunk with the others) and belongings is heartbreaking.

The book is about 1930’s America, the word was used all the time. Steinbeck has his characters use the word because he wants us to view the reality. You can’t erase that reality by erasing the word.

Talk about it. Set it up. Explore context. Watch videos and look at images. Discuss the origin of the word etc.

There is so much to teach and learn here.

It's fine in context. Stop and discuss it. I would get them to refer to it as 'the n word' in discussions just to avoid any problems.