N-Word, Please

Blame it on Imus. The debate over the use of the so-called “N-word” is back in the national discussion. Who can say it? Should anyone say it? Why is it apparently alright for some people to say it and others not?

Jabari Asim is a native St. Louisan and deputy editor of the Washington Post Book World. He has written a very timely book called “The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t and Why”. This week he appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” to promote the book and discuss (with some delicate humor) the most controversial word in our language.

Yesterday I appeared on WGNU’s “The Real Deal with Syl and Tim” to discuss a wide range of current events. And like at so many dinner tables across America recently, somehow a discussion of the Imus controversy led to a broader discussion about language and the N-word specifically.

Asim will be in St. Louis to discuss his book on Monday, April 30, at the St. Louis Public Library Central Branch, 1301 Olive Street, at 7:00 p. m.

Keep up with “the real deal” as told by Syl Wilson and Tim Person on their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/realdealwgnu920am