As a child of Filipino and Mexican ancestry, growing up in a nearly all-white, upper-middle class neighborhood in La Mirada was not always fun. Though I did play with the other neighborhood children, whenever some became mad, they would say some words that would really hurt me. They would sometimes cuss at me or call me "brown boy", "ching-chong", or "dirty yellow". Although the cursing started a few scuffles here and there, it was not really too much of a problem to me because it did not make me too angry or sad. What did hurt me were the racial slurs that they used on me. Before moving to this ne

Many times, the people who use racial slurs do not realize the impact of their use. They may justify them by thinking that they are just joking around, not realizing what they are saying, racial prejudice, ignorance, or lack of understanding. Sometimes people who have not experienced the receiving side cannot comprehend what kind of pain they can cause just by using hate words. It is these people who continue the cycle to their children and grandchildren.

Within an ethnic group, the racial slurs may not be as deep rooted because that culture or family may use some name calling and labeling to show affection. Many times, people of the same race endearingly call each other names that racial outsiders may get beaten for saying. For example, sometimes some Blacks call each other "Nigga'". Though "Nigga'" may not be advisable for a white person to speak, a black person would not be beleaguered if he used it in the right context. As American Society begins turning more and more into a melting pot, we see and hear other racial groups picking up the endearing racial slurs. Often times they pick up the word "Nigga'". Even while walking down the school hallway, I hear Latinos, Filipinos, and Asians calling each other "Nigga'". Would that be considered a racial slur, or would we say it is just an "endearment"?

ighborhood from Cerritos, I had never heard bad words from other children directed towards me, nor had I even had a concept of what race was. Hearing things that degrade someone who is "different" can make a profound impact on their well being. It made m

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Approximate Word count = 1065
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)