I have my own perspective based on the fact that one of my sons is
adopted and black, my other born to us an white. They're both all grown
up now, but when they were kids in the 60's I decided to read Twain to
them at bedtime. The "N" word ruined it, and I couldn't continue
reading either Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer to my own children. There's an
operational definition of "appropriate"!
Hank Chapin
U. of Hawaii-West Oahu