The “N” Word

by Peg O'Neill, M.D.

“Mom, that kid just called Joey a nigger!”  Jimmy, my fair-haired eleven year-old, his face flushed with anger, stood before me on the elementary school playground, trying to process the insult that had just been hurled at his darker-skinned younger brother.  “I was going to fight him, but I decided to come and tell you.”  […]