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Gary K's avatar

wonderfully written. I too spoke thoughtlessly and abhorrently as a teen with no knowledge of the impact of my words. I was simply following the lead of the adults and movies I watched as a precocious teen in the early 80s. Oy vey. Thanks so much. I think more dialogue like this is itself the elusive answer.

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Ben Cossar's avatar

Well done! Loved the personal reflection and can absolutely relate. While I was usually careful about what I said in HS (I am white), I did attend a multiracial school and the n-word was used liberally by white and black students. But mostly intended in a friendly or funny way. However, when I got to college and met my first black college friend, I made a joke using the n-word and it went over like a lead balloon with everyone in the car. But instead of banishing me, they told me

It was wrong and why. They let me off the hook and taught me a lesson. We need to teach more and punish less.

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