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Video Transcript 1

This is a transcript of an actual class discussion led by a former MSU intern.

 All names and references to the community have been changed to protect the identities of the students and teachers.

[The teacher is engaging students in a discussion of offensive language,including the “N” word in preparation for reading The Adventures of 

Huckleberry Finn.]

Ms. T: There are four girls in this class. Well, six if you include us. There is

a word that is used for girls all the time. Actually there are quite a few of them. Do you get offended when someone sits there or calls you a slut or

calls you, I wont say it, but the B word? Is it offensive?

Anna: Some people try to joke around but they don’t say it in a joking way.

Ms. T: Exactly. So how is it any different?

Juan: (inaudible)

Ms. T: Well Juan are you going to say that’s ok if you were to come up and

call me that it would be ok?

Juan: If you act that way yea.

Class: (Oooo. Oh my gosh!)

Juan: I’m just saying. If people know me then they know I’m not afraid tosay what’s on my mind. I’ll tell you straight up.

Ms. T: So you can come up and call me the B word and I should be ok with

it.

Juan: If you act like it.

Class: (Oh my god)

Ms. T: Wait, let’s let one of the girls in this class talk and respond to this.

Celeste how do you feel about it?

Celeste: I think that’s ridiculous. (Inaudible) Just because I’m acting like

one, you have no right to call me one.

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Juan: Well then don’t act like one.

Josh: Look ok. If you’re a real gentleman then you shouldn’t be going up tosomebody and saying that anyway. You know what I’m saying.

Matt: It’s called self control.

Class: (lots of inaudible talking)

Celeste: You don’t always have to say what’s on your mind.

Juan: But if anybody knows me they know I do.

Ms. T: Ok here is a question for you Juan. You say you speak your mind allthe time. How does that work out for you?

Juan: So far it’s good.

Ms. T: It’s going really well? How’s it going in school with you when youspeak your mind in class?

Juan: I haven’t had any trouble for it yet.

Brad: Yet!

Ms. T: Because I seem to remember. Dr. D do you remember this? Sixthhour, are you ever in the classroom?

Juan: That doesn’t count.

Class: (laughing)

Ms. T: It does and that’s what I’m trying to say. You’re putting these things

out there. You’re saying these things and maybe you don’t realize they’reoffensive to people but they are. And that’s why you end up out of the

classroom. That’s what people end up very upset with you. If you were tocall me the B word, if I were to ever hear you call me the B word I would be

very upset with you. And it’s not just because I am a teacher and youshould have respect for me but it’s you should have respect for other people.Ok.

Class: (inaudible talking)

Ms. T: Ok so now this word is used throughout Huck Finn quite a bit, do you

think that it’s going to be ok?

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Juan: Yea

Josh: Well we’re reading a book that is back from those times, so that’s like

how they talked then and nobody is going to go through and rewrite these

books just because one word is used.

Ms. T: Yes?

Jason: Back then when they used that word they really didn’t care how the

African American’s felt. So back then it would be ok but now it’s not.

Delton: Now they still don’t.

Celeste: They care more than they did.

Josh: (inaudible) if you use it now it would be a force to be reckoned with.

Ms. T: Go ahead.

Josh: (inaudible) That would happen back then. So now we got more…

Brad: Yea me and you can be friends.

Josh: Yea we have more equality and more of an um even chance.

Brad: Yea like we can be friends and we can go to school together.

(inaudible)

Josh: Wait what?

Brad: I’m saying back then I wouldn’t even know you.

Celeste: because of the way things were.

Josh: I’m not gonna lie (inaudible) I would be fighting somebody.

Ms. T: Ok let’s hear what Nina has to say.

Nina: People have different views on things. Back then people were raised

not to like blacks, like during slavery. Now people are raised like everyoneshould be equal.

Ms. T: Is everyone raised that way?

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Josh: No

Nina: But still most people are.

Delton: I know that like a bunch of my friends parents like hate certain

cultures like I can’t even walk in their house because I’m Caladian.

Ms. T: Yes Justin.

Justin: I think it’s just different because say me and Josh have different

views on that word it’s because Josh was raised in more black schools andmy parents took me out of a black school and put me in a white school

(inaudible). Since I’m the only black person in that white school I feel like…

Brad: Wait repeat that one more time.

Josh: Basically, he’s saying that sometimes background and influences and

where you come from determine what outlook you have on certain words.Something like that.