As we draw closer to the end of the first season of EMPIRE, the show’s star Terrence Howard is speaking up about utlizing the n-word on the show.

During a recent appearance on Access Hollywood Live, Howard explained how his character ‘Lucious Lyons’ is a Black version of Archie Bunker (i.e. racist, bigoted, homophobic) and he weighs in on why he feels using the n-word on EMPIRE could be a means a defusing racism.

For the record, Howard’s view differs from costar Taraji P. Henson, who has said publicly that she?s against the of the word, but he feels it?s time to get real. The Oscar nominee wants to drop the stigma surrounding the word which he believes would make the Lee Daniels hip-hop drama feel more authentic.

I believe, if we?re gonna really tackle racism? If we?re gonna tackle bigotry, if we?re gonna tackle homophobia ? we need to tackle it dead on.

Since ‘n*gga’ is used in almost every conversation in most Black neighborhoods why is it that we don?t hear it on TV anymore? Are white people afraid of it? Did they create the word? But if this is something that we use on a daily basis, then let?s address what it REALLY means?

Interesting… what DOES the n-word mean exactly? Howard explains his take on it in the video below… Continue Reading…