Tom Hanks' Son Says He Should Be Able to Use N-Word

Tom Hanks’ son, a rapper and Northwestern University alum, defended his use of the N-word via a video and written message he posted to Instagram Tuesday morning calling the slur a word that “unifies the culture of HIP-HOP across ALL RACES” and “a word that can be used out of camaraderie and love, not just exclusively for black people” among other positive references.

Chet Haze, nee Chester Hanks said in the video as reported by the Chicago Tribune and others:

“Look, I know the majority of you all are not going to get this because the history is still so fresh in our country. But hip-hop isn’t about race. It’s about the culture you identify with, and can’t no one tell me what I can’t say.”

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Haze, known for “White and Purple,” his Northwestern anthem that went viral in 2011, accompanied the video with a post that included a viewpoint the country should move on from the negative connotation of the word.

“But what I’m saying is this is 2015. ... And even tho we are still far from where we need to be and black people are still being literally KILLED by a RACIST and (expletive) up system ... We have also reached a point where the word can no longer have a negative connotation if we so choose,” he wrote.

more via the Chicago Tribune

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Photo: Instagram screenshot