This is a very interesting question and dilemma that you face. My concern with choosing to not publish the N-word in direct quotes is that when you write pieces that are focusing on topics where the N-word plays a direct role in reinforcing the oppression of Black people, then showing the word helps to cement the weight of just how cruel these people were. But by watering down the word, placing it into some footnote at the bottom of the piece, it just tells me that we are again trying to water down a period of time when we need to show just how cruel it was if that is the intention of the piece. Yes it is going to make some people uncomfortable, but isn’t that the whole point of the piece?