26/08/2025
*Why Filipinos Should Not Use the N-Word as a Joke*
The n-word is not an ordinary word. It carries the painful history of slavery and racism against African Americans. In the United States, it was used to insult, dehumanize, and control people who were enslaved. Even today, the word continues to remind African American communities of inequality and discrimination.
In the Philippines, some people think saying the word is harmless. One reason is history with language. During Spanish colonization, Filipinos were often described by skin color. Words like “negro” (Spanish for black), “moreno,” and “negrito” became normal and were often used without negative intent. Because of this, many Filipinos do not realize that the English n-word carries a much heavier and offensive meaning.
Another influence is hip-hop and African American music. Some artists use the word casually in their songs, and young people in the Philippines repeat it without context. But when African American artists use the word, it is part of their cultural expression and history. Outsiders, especially non-Black communities, do not share that history and therefore should not use it.
What seems normal in Filipino speech, or casual in music, is deeply offensive in reality. For African Americans, the n-word is tied to centuries of slavery, violence, and racism. Using it as a joke ignores that painful history and disrespects people who still live with its effects.
As a nation that also experienced colonization and discrimination, Filipinos should understand the harm of labels. Respect means knowing the weight of words and recognizing which words are not ours to use. The n-word is one of them.
-Abraxas
