I would guess that in conversation in a fictional work, it would be appropriate to reproduce the words that would be used, but in the context of explaining what happened in a historical context one would be expected to use the less abrasive terminology. Just as you would not use the term "crip" to designate a disabled person in an academic work, it is now no longer to refer to a "slave" or an "owner" without referencing the fact that we now understand that such designations reduce the humanity and dignity of the person so labeled. It takes a lot of explanation of what is acceptable today, in teaching such works of literature as Huckleberry Finn. The concern is that students will see the "n" word in common use in the praised literary work, and think it is OK to use the same term in today's world. This is most important at the high school level, and diminishes as the student moves into the rarefied atmosphere of the university where students are expected to understand the difference between literary language and every-day language. Anne Anne Pemberton [log in to unmask] http://www.erols.com/apembert http://www.educationalsynthesis.org ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html