The N-word is hateful. No good comes from a bad word.  Schools are entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing safe, supportive, and equitable learning environments. This cannot be fully achieved if harmful language is allowed to persist unchecked. Schools should ban the use of this derogatory word.  

Many Australians take pride in living in a prosperous multicultural society, cherishing values of fairness and equality. I eagerly want to share this optimism, but the lived realities of many marginalised communities tell a more complex story. 

The Australian Human Rights Commission reported that people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds continue to face racial prejudice and discrimination. According to the latest Scanlon Report on Social Cohesion in Australia, nearly two-thirds of respondents said racism is a big problem. 

My research, along with that of others, reveals  racial slurs directed at African-heritage students are widespread in Australian schools. The prevalence and normalisation of the N-word within school environments raises important questions about the responsibility of educational institutions to promote respectful communication and ensure safe learning spaces for all students.

The N-word is not just a word. It is a historical relic of dehumanisation. The N-word “should be odious to anyone.” As an African-heritage Australian educational researcher, I understand the damaging impact of negative racial representation on school engagement and outcomes. I have written about racial Othering and its negative impact. 

Here are four key reasons why schools should prohibit the use of the N-word by all students.

The historical weight of the term is too heavy to bear

Although the N-word originated as a neutral descriptor of colour, over time, it took on a derogatory connotation. Born out of the dehumanising practices of slavery and colonialism, the word was explicitly constructed to degrade and diminish the humanity of Black people—to inflict violence on Black psyches. 

Its continued use perpetuates the weight of generational trauma, serving as a painful reminder of historical injustices while reinforcing racial hierarchies. 

Schools, as spaces of learning and inclusion, must reject the presence of such harmful language. The banning of the N-word is, therefore, a moral imperative to uphold the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of all students.

The use of the N-word in schools normalises racism

Language can perpetuate stereotypes, prejudices, and injustices. The use of the N-word in educational settings, regardless of the speaker’s racial identity, risks perpetuating division and exclusion, undermining efforts to create a safe and welcoming space for all students. 

When used within educational spaces, the term creates a hostile environment. It undermines the sense of belonging and safety for racialised students, particularly those of African descent. Research by Tatum and others shows repeated exposure of Black students to racial slurs in classroom materials can normalise casual racism among their peers. 

Using the N-word as a racial slur is more than just offensive. It is a deliberate attempt to dehumanise and diminish the person targeted. The message is clear: your identity and individuality are irrelevant, and you are unworthy of respect. In a just society, such dehumanisation has no place.

What derogatory racial epithets in the curricula do to students

In Australia, texts like Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird feature in high school English language units. These texts include the N-word and other racial stereotypes. In an ongoing national research project, I documented how African-heritage students experienced these portrayals as deeply disrespectful and alienating. 

Drawing from his experience in a Year 9 English class, one secondary school student reflected on a troubling double standard that reinforces racial insensitivity in the classroom:

When it comes to sexual slurs, they bleep them out; they don’t say them. But when it comes to the N-word [in the text], they’re so quick to say it, which really confuses me. What sense does it make for a White person to say the N-word [out loud]? This type of stuff can really stop Black students from wanting to go on to university.

Alienation, anxiety and diminished self-worth

Exposure to racial slurs in the curricular materials has adverse psychological effects on racialised students. This  includes feelings of alienation, anxiety, and diminished self-worth. In my study, students reported that being called the N-word by both teachers and peers deeply undermined their sense of belonging and engagement at school. They stressed that, regardless of intent, the term created feelings of discomfort and exclusion.

Before introducing such texts, teachers should explicitly inform students about the presence of offensive language. They should identify the specific term and its context within the material. Teachers should also briefly explain the term’s historical background, its harmful impact, and the rationale for its inclusion in the text. They should emphasise that while studying the text, the term will not be spoken or read aloud by anyone in the classroom. 

Without proper contextualisation, those texts could reinforce stereotypes and further alienate students of African heritage. When students are exposed to racial slurs without proper contextualisation, some non-Black students are likely to feel emboldened to use the term, often without understanding its historical significance or the damage it causes to their racialised peers. 

Permitting Black students to use the N-word challenges consistency in enforcing anti-racism rules

The question of who has the right to use the N-word is divisive and contentious. Some argue that banning the use of the term denies Black students the agency to reclaim and reappropriate a word historically weaponised against them. 

Others, including scholars and public figures, reject its use entirely, regardless of who says it. I agree. As Randall Kennedy says: “There is no compelling justification for presuming that black usage of nigger is permissible while white usage is objectionable.” 

In fact, if a substance was once used as a poison to harm your ancestors, taking that same substance from your own hand does not make it any less harmful.

Allowing African-heritage students to use the N-word in schools creates inconsistencies in enforcing anti-racism policies. Teachers and administrators would be required to navigate the tension between respecting cultural practices and upholding a zero-tolerance stance against racial slurs. This creates ambiguity, as the term’s use by African-heritage students may inadvertently normalise it, inviting non-Black students to appropriate it or use it provocatively.

Research shows that a consistent and unambiguous approach to addressing racism is critical in creating safe and inclusive educational environments. A universal prohibition of the use of the N-word eliminates ambiguity and ensures consistency in enforcing anti-racism policies, providing a clear framework for teachers and students alike.

The broader challenge lies in striking a balance between upholding individual rights to self-expression and fostering communal standards of respect and inclusion. While racialised students may perceive their use of the N-word as an act of cultural or personal empowerment, its presence in school settings can inadvertently normalise racism.

Racism should be unequivocally unacceptable

In Australia, race is a legally protected attribute so the use of racial slurs in schools should be unequivocally unacceptable. Recent anti-racist initiatives, including the National Anti-Racism Framework and Victoria’s Anti-Racism Strategy, aim to foster a more inclusive and harmonious society. Schools are uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role in this effort.

Prohibitive laws play a role in addressing the issue but are not a complete solution. Raising awareness is essential. Teachers must develop racial literacy to navigate these issues effectively, students should be guided to become respectful and empathetic citizens, and parents need to engage in timely and thoughtful discussions with their children about the significance and impact of racist language.

Tebeje Molla is a senior lecturer in the School of Education, Deakin University. His research areas include student equity, teacher professional learning, and policy analysis. His work is informed by critical sociology and the capability approach to social justice and human development.