Discipline Over The Use of the N-Word
Today’s burning question: Should the penalty for a firefighter who uses the N-word be termination?
Answer: I am not sure that question can be answered in the abstract, given all the possible variables. Was the statement made while the member was on-duty or off-duty; in what context was the term used (hate-filled threat, quoting another person, said in jest); is the member an officer or a firefighter; was it directed toward a coworker in a threatening manner; and perhaps the most paradoxical question of all, what is the race of the person who made it?
The New Haven Fire Department is struggling with yet another difficult problem: disciplining a fire lieutenant for using the N-word in a social media post related to an incident that occurred in England. The unnamed lieutenant was suspended for fifteen-days last week by Fire Chief Allyn Wright prompting praise from the New Haven Firebirds Society, an organization of minority firefighters.
However, William Augustine, president of the Firebirds, wants to see the lieutenant terminated, or at least demoted, when the case goes before the Board of Fire Commissioners.
Incidentally, recall the case last year of Jacksonville (Florida) Fire Marshal Kevin Jones who was suspended for 10 days for using the N-word when discussing plans for an upcoming concert. Fire Marshal Jones is black.
To echo what I said a year ago, if I as a white cannot use that word, why should an African-American be able to? If it is so highly offensive to blacks when uttered by whites, what is the mysterious aspect of black patois that renders it harmless?
It’s an offensive word, like “retard”, no matter who utters it and it has no place in the American business/work environment.
Curt, you do ask a series of questions. Obviously, the suspended Lieutenant made the comment and since been disciplined.
Here’s another question and this should include Black firefighters also, to answer.
Some, Younger Black firefighters that I have worked with, listen to “RAP” music during the course of the normal work day. Some of the musical lyrics contains the “Offending” word written by the musical artist as part of the full song. So is the person listening to the song, without headphones (or watching it on “MTV”) in which everyone else on the crew can hear it in violation of the rules, if someone doesn’t want to hear that word used in the work place?
What would members of the “Firebirds” say?
Having known one or two Firebirds, they would probably feel that it’s okay for them to listen to and to use it amongst themselves, but feel highly insulted if a non-black were to use it.