Fayetteville State Chancellor says use of N-word was mistake

Monday, December 26, 2016
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Fayetteville State Chancellor James Anderson has responded to a video circulating on social media that shows him using the N-word and talking about guns while rapping with a group of students on campus, saying he should not have used the language and it was inappropriate.
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Watch the video below (offensive language removed)
Chancellor James Anderson rap


Here's his full statement.

"I encountered some students rapping one day in front of the student center. I stopped and listened and they asked me about my knowledge of rap music. They asked me if I knew any rap songs, and I simply was repeating lyrics from music with which I was familiar. Admittedly, I should not have repeated a song that contained inappropriate lyrics, especially with so much violence in today's world, and in a day and time when we trying to instill in our young men and women the importance of respect of others and each other.
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Today's college students are very astute to rap and hip-hop music. I did not want to be disingenuous and not use the actual lyrics because the students would have resented that. At the same time, I spoke with them about the importance of not limiting themselves to one component of rap music. I asked them also if they listen to positive socially conscious rap like Nas and Mos Def because it is my belief that you aren't being open-minded and you are limiting yourself to one message if you don't become familiar with the many messages being conveyed.
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