Originally Posted by Lilith

I have used the N word in class in a similar context. My students 90% of which are African American are VERY homophobic. They hurl homosexual insults often and then say it's OK because they say they did not call someone gay only that they acted like it. Either way they are using the terms to describe negative attributes to a group of people. So I used the N word to illustrate how if the same types of insults were used in the same way but N was substituted they would be pissed and upset. Then I asked them how they think a gay student or student with gay parents would feel overhearing their insults. I tell they constantly that we don't use terms of disgrace to describe actions attributed to an entire group of people. I have *almost* eradicated both the N word and the homosexual insults from their school language but I know they probably still use them at home.

I know this is not the same situation as reading a book to 1st graders but it is what happens on an older level. At least in my experience.