The 'N-word' and the Milton Mess

A two-century-old, K-12 independent school outside of Boston, the Milton Academy has historically been a feeder school to Harvard University. On its website, Milton’s stated values include “respect for others,” developing students as “critical thinkers,” and “learn[ing] to respect others’ differing points of view.” Recently, Milton embarrassed itself and missed a chance to show the world those values in action.

Harvey Silverglate, a well-known liberal thinker and co-founder of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), was invited to speak at Milton in April on free speech and academic freedom. During his talk, he held up a copy of Professor Randall Kennedy’s book about the history of an often-used racial slur: the n-word. Silverglate pronounced the word, prompting a significant walkout of students.

The school’s Public Issues Board sent a letter to the student body condemning Silverglate and calling his use of the word “shocking.” Silverglate asked the head of Milton’s upper school to give him the chance to respond to “the disapproval expressed by his hosts” and offer a “defense of having quoted the full and accurate title of Kennedy’s book.” The school never responded to his request.

Milton’s behavior is the antithesis of respecting viewpoint diversity. The administration missed an opportunity to showcase how vigorous and healthy debate actually works.

Silverglate and Kennedy believe that there are cases where the n-word can be said in full. They argue that if all utterances of the word are rendered forbidden, then there would be large “gaps in the writings and performances of, among others, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Toni Morrison, Eudora Welty, Mark Twain, Richard Pryor, and Lenny Bruce.”

There are many lines of thinking about how the word can and may be used. Professor Geoffrey Stone of the University of Chicago, who chaired the committee that wrote the critically valuable “Chicago Statement” on campus speech, has said that he is not afraid to make students uncomfortable if it helps them learn. But Stone announced in 2019 that while he formerly used the n-word in his courses for decades to explain the “fighting words” doctrine, he would no longer use the word in class.

Simply put, the question of the use of the n-word in an academic setting is worthy of thought and debate. Why would Milton pass up the opportunity to explore this issue in a forum intended to highlight open expression? This was an ideal moment to show students how to disagree professionally. While many students walked out from Silverglate’s talk, teachers and administrators could have modeled more appropriate behavior and asked Silverglate to discuss his thinking about the use of the word. Regrettably, the Milton staff opted not to debate Silverglate but instead to vilify him.

High school students are naturally curious; they want to discover the truth and understand differences. But today they are fearful to question others and contradict the prevailing, often progressive and woke, zeitgeist. Milton staff could have stuck to its position on the n-word while engaging Silverglate in discussion – it would have exemplified the school’s purported goal of “learn[ing] to respect others’ differing points of view.” It could have been a valuable educational moment. Milton wasn’t interested in pursuing it.

Milton proudly proclaims that it “distinguishes itself by building a vital and effective community based on…[the] and respect of individuals…[and] fosters…the open exchange of ideas.” Sadly, the school’s behavior does not live up to these principles.