Yesterday, my 9 year old daughter and I were sitting in a pharmacy, waiting for prescriptions to be filled. (She has bronchitis.)
A man and his wife came in and he left her sitting on one side of the room, and came over to sit by me and my daughter. He started a conversation, and began telling me where his grown daughters worked. One of the places was Pizza Inn. He told me that they didn't sell beer at Pizza Inn, because the "niXXers," get drunk and mess up the salad bar.
I told him that that label was disgusting, and he should stop using it immediately, and that I doubted all black people get drunk and mess up salad bars.
He went on to explain to that he had friends who were "nixxers," and they all respected each other. I told him that there is no respect as long as he uses that name. He said he has white trash friends, too. I told him that white trash is not offensive, the use of the word ****** is.
He told me he understands that he shouldn't use the word around my daughter. I told him he shouldn't use the word, period. We had quite a lengthy conversation, during which he used the word 6 or 7 times, each time he said it I cringed and told him not to use the word.
He is retired law enforcement. His first name is "Billy Ray." He has a pot gut and his eyes were only slits - he looked and acted like he was drunk, but he wasn't. It is clear to me that people who use these terrible words are completely lacking in self esteem, and are looking for someone to look down on.
Why any black person wants to live in Mississippi is beyond me.
I have made sure that my daughters understand what happens when REAL people use that word - by telling them about the Kramer thing. Under no circumstances would my kids ever utter such filth.
