Banning Quote by Jay-Z
““To me, its just a word, a word whose power is owned by the user and his or her intention. People give words power, so banning a word is futile, really. 'Nigga' becomes 'porch monkey' becomes 'coon' and so on if that's what's in a person's heart. They key is to change the person. And we change people through conversation, not through censorship.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Breakfast Club, 2015
Words gain power from the intentions of those who use them; changing attitudes, not just language, is essential.
In simple terms: Words are powerful because of intent; change people, not just words.
Focus on personal growth through dialogue.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- community building
- conflict resolution
- media commentary
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can conversation foster genuine change?
- What role does intention play in language?
Changing language alone may not shift deep-seated biases.