The N-Word as a Comma

Authors

• Deshawn Vega, University of Massachusetts Boston

Abstract

Deshawn Vega is a Biology major from Boston, Massachusetts. Drawing on his experiences as a mixed-race Black man, his essay examines racism, cultural appropriation, and the ways prejudice can operate both inside and outside the home. Because part of his family is not Black, Deshawn has experienced racism in complex and sometimes unexpected ways. He describes the essay as “an opportunity for me to tell my story and exemplify the ways in which racism has impacted not only myself, but many others just like me.” The project’s creative freedom allowed him to combine personal narrative with a broader analysis of racial prejudice. Deshawn is especially interested in confronting racism, implicit bias, and inequity within medicine and society. He sees writing as a way to make systemic problems understandable to a wider audience and to begin the difficult work of challenging them. As he explains, “It’s not until we begin to dissect and understand the system that we can then destroy it.”

Recommended Citation

Vega, Deshawn (2026) "The N-Word as a Comma," Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 8.
Available at: https://scholarworks.umb.edu/undercurrents/vol5/iss1/8