Case Analysis
Within case 6.4, a math teacher overheard a Caucasian student, Anthony, refer to
Reggie, an African American student, as the “N” word. When confronted about the situation,
the Caucasian did not realize how serious this situation was. He explained that he used the word
in an endearment way, meaning “friend”. Once Ms. Lawson asked Reggie his feelings regarding
this situation, he seemed uncomfortable, not answering the question. It is safe to assumed that
Reggie did not like to be called that word, however, allowed it to continue.
I believe that the term “nigga” or “nigger” should not be included in anybody’s
vocabulary. Our ancestors fought hard throughout the years to distinguish our race from that
word, and we should continue the same fight. It is also vital that African Americans utilize
their voices to stand up for what is right. Within the text, Reggie never spoke his true feelings
regarding his friend’s comments and “looked more uncomfortable”. As humans, we have the
right to stand up to anybody who makes us feel uncomfortable in any form. Once Ms. Lawson
realized that Reggie was uncomfortable, she could have held a separate more private
conversation with him after class. Usually, students will respond better to a one-on-one
conversation versus being put on the spotlight. It is safe to assume that Anthony does not know
that he should not use that word because his friend did not say otherwise.
Overall, Ms. Lawson could have used Keisha’s outburst as a teaching moment for
Anthony. She could have taught him how his word choices can affect and potentially harm the
people around him. If I were the teacher, I would use this moment to teach about respect. I
would teach my white students that the usage of the N word is not respectful and would not be
tolerated in my class. As the teacher, I would also let my African American students that they
