Man camps out, fasts in fight against N-word

[TexasStooge]

By GARY REAVES / WFAA ABC 8

It was one of the most offensive words in American speech, dates back to the late 16th century and all these centuries later the N-word is still a common expression among some.

But one man said it's a danger to an entire generation and he's made it his mission to get rid of it altogether.

Curtis Ferguson has set up an army tent to live in and plans to fast until the Martin Luther King holiday for his anti-N-word campaign.

While most whites dare not say it and it won't be said on the news, the Carter High School teacher said when young blacks use it they are mainly hurting themselves.

The words of Dr. King inspired Ferguson to continue King's fight and aim it against the word.

"Man, we got a campaign going on to get African American youth to stop using the N word," he said,

He used a handful of flyers and his head filled with history as a weapon to spread his word.

"Fifty years ago, a black man didn't want you to call him a boy, now for our youth to embrace this word is I think

Ferguson said he believes the use of the N-word has encouraged kids to act negatively.

In part, he said he blames the rappers who often say the word and some scholars who justify it believing the more it's said, the less power it has.

"Like you'll say, 'how you doing sir?'" said student Korin Hill, 18. "We just use it the same, except instead of sir we say n***a."

Hill said he never gave the word much thought until Ferguson showed him pictures from Dr. King's last days.

"It don't say I'm an N-word, a pimp or player," he told the teen while showing a large group of Dr. King supporters marching with signs that read "I'M A MAN." "...This was the whole essence of what Dr. King's fight for you [and] for me [was] to make sure we're respected as human beings."

His battles seemed to work as he tried to change one mind at a time.

"I'm gonna try to," Hill said when asked if he would stop using the word.

Ferguson also said he hopes his hunger strike will remind young people of how their ancestors suffered to get them equal rights and inspire them to clean up their language and lives.

[alicia-w]

bravo....

[wxcrazytwo]

good luck, but I have a feeling it is all for nothing...

[TexasStooge]

Back when I was in High School, a couple of white students called each other the "N" word during gym class.

[alicia-w]

to me it's just another nasty word like the F word. it doesnt matter what context you use it in, it is just disgusting. When I hear somebody say either one of those, I say, Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

[MiamiensisWx]

Bravo! Unfortunately, it may likely not help.

[MiamiensisWx]

to me it's just another nasty word like the F word. it doesnt matter what context you use it in, it is just disgusting. When I hear somebody say either one of those, I say, Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

I totally agree! I know many will disagree with me, but after being at the bottom of the pecking order (and I still am and always will be), I know how it feels. Nobody should use words like that. NOBODY.

[alicia-w]

This story reminds of something I saw on CSPAN the other day. A man of color giving a speech from Howard University. He was using "that word" numerous times in a very heated speech. I was stunned. It's been called: Kamau Kambon's final solution for Whites.

[TexasStooge]

N-word ban campaign heads to Dallas ISD

By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - The Dallas Independent School District will likely discuss the possible banning of the N-word after one teacher's campaign has begun to spread across the community.

Barber's at Big Mike's keep their scissors sharp, but not their tongues.

Cash is collected in a jar every time one of the barbers uses the derogatory N-word.

"It hurts your pockets," said barber R.T. Anderson. "The more you use [it], the more comes out of your pockets. You got to put in a dollar in the swear bucket over there."

The area is an N-word free zone helped created by school teacher Curtis Ferguson.

"If you don't raise good men, ain't no way you [will] have good families," Anderson said.

Ferguson's campaign to rid the streets of the N-word is a work in progress.

"A few of us have," Anderson said of slipping and using the banned word. "Ain't nobody eliminated here from using the word, but we're working on it."

Ferguson has also expanded his campaign on to the campuses in DISD.

"Our goal and objective is to hopefully get them to ban the use of the word," Ferguson said.

He has written a resolution to treat the N-word under the district's profanity rules.

However, he said some teachers find it difficult to control, especially among African American students.

"You have to empower teachers to be able to say something, regardless of what the race of the teacher is," Ferguson said.

But others believe it should be a community effort.

"That particular word is a word that should be banned," said Ron Price, DISD school trustee. "I totally agree. But in regards to setting a school board policy to ban that word, what we're doing is creating a policy that is impossible to enforce."

But at Big Mike's, the new system is already being self-enforced and they said they are being especially cautious in front of young children.

"Especially towards kids we say, 'Hey how you doing chief, boss-man, doctor," "[We use] different names instead of the N-word all the time." Anderson said.