tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096542202337983432.post7722078523147678410..comments2023-04-12T11:44:07.736-04:00Comments on Columbia Writers' Workshop II: Making My Peace with the N-WordColumbia Writers Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15846592477590083597noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096542202337983432.post-10437257146968469842014-06-10T18:31:01.118-04:002014-06-10T18:31:01.118-04:00I think some time ago the NAACP had a burial/funer...I think some time ago the NAACP had a burial/funeral for the N-word. It is amazing how the word catches on like a phoenix and arises from the ashes and breathes unhealthy life into the conversation. <br />Like Len said, the word means nothing good for any black person--and white and brown....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096542202337983432.post-17519967458961119242014-06-01T09:30:23.816-04:002014-06-01T09:30:23.816-04:00What about the customers of the whore house? What ...What about the customers of the whore house? What do we call them? Politicians?Laura Puccia Valtortahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917599468871696280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096542202337983432.post-73094877599989793342014-05-31T09:54:07.227-04:002014-05-31T09:54:07.227-04:00Len, Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing t...Len, Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this. You have added a voice of reason to the n-word fray. <br /><br />The word is a burden from our history and a painful one to bear. Removing it from our vocabulary may numb us to the pain, but it won't remove it.<br /><br />BonnieWritePersonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03367262555230332074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096542202337983432.post-29566155100793067502014-05-25T14:26:52.560-04:002014-05-25T14:26:52.560-04:00Great post, Len. I have been struggling with this ...Great post, Len. I have been struggling with this issue in a story I'm writing, and your thoughts have helped immensely. I abhor the word, was raised to never use it, but in order to accurately capture a certain time and eliminate of our history, there seems no other word that works for those particular characters. Thanks for your insights.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16639552058373186380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096542202337983432.post-11106164639930851812014-05-25T13:59:36.379-04:002014-05-25T13:59:36.379-04:00" I have known that the word meant nothing go..." I have known that the word meant nothing good for any black person, and I never used it. "<br /><br />That's a powerful sentence Len. This is a great, great blog, and I intend to share it. <br /><br />As far as authenticity, I experienced a challenge from my creative writing teacher in college. In those days, I did not cuss. Period. That was my choice. In my class, I had written something with the term, "house of ill repute" avoiding the obvious phrase. My professor went nuts, and I had to agree with him. "Marion, it's a whore house. A whore house. You've got to use the right word if you are going to be a writer." That was a good lesson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096542202337983432.post-3818604757562363942014-05-25T11:49:15.249-04:002014-05-25T11:49:15.249-04:00Len - During the "relationship," when so...Len - During the "relationship," when someone was trying to get you to retaliate, why was that person unsuccessful? That is the real question. When I was very young, I tried to use another word as a weapon. I was unsuccessful and learned something.<br /><br />Your self awareness is the answer to many of these problems.Laura Puccia Valtortahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917599468871696280noreply@blogger.com