As a Black person, hearing a non-Black person of color or a White person say the ‘n’ word is such a surreal situation. Here are the five stages of realization you go through when anyone is bold enough to try it around you.
Stage One: Denial. What did I just hear?
It can’t be. It wouldn’t be. Nah. They had to be Black.
Stage Two: Deep breaths.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Don’t lose it yet.
Stage Three: Mentally go over your lines.
Walk back and forth if you have to. “You tried it… You tried it…. You tried it.”
Stage Four: Address.
“Hi, I could have heard wrong, but did I just hear you say the ‘n’ word?”
Stage Five: Educate.
“I’m sure you already knew this, but due to the history of that word, it’s actually extremely disrespectful for you to say.”
If the non-Black person you are addressing knows anything about racism, then there won’t be a stage six because they’ll understand exactly why they can’t say it.