May the N-Word rest in peace?

Use of the "N-Word" has been heavily debated about since the start of the Civil Rights movement. And, more recently on college campuses across the country efforts have been made to, literally, lay the "N-Word" to rest in memorial services. However, since the readings have introduced the concept of racism as a social concept, the question I ask is, can the "N-word" ever truly be laid to rest? Or are the recent efforts to cease use of the word simply futile?