I doubt that I'm the first African American to chime in here, but I will. The N-word has its roots in early American culture. It was common to think of a black person as being everything from sub human to no more than property. Despite the fact that blacks and whites both had 2 arms 2 legs and so on making them equally part of the human race. That being said the n-word has origins of bigotry and hatefulness. At some point it became unacceptable for whites to use such terminology in open public company, though it was still ok behind closed doors. Well again time passes and children of those that use such a word freely, having black friends, take personal offense on behalf of their black friends. Hell is now breaking loose as Grandpa says it, father says it, but son refuses to accept it. That whats happening on the white side of things.


(origins now, follow me close)

As for blacks the n-word was a curse word coming from an angry white dude who, if one rebuts could have you killed or worse. Time passes, and now it becomes a word that's pretty much a giveaway for the true inside feelings of a person, ie jim crow days. Time Passes. The white dude saying it may now have to suffer some scorn when he says it, but only if the right people hear. More time passes, and the n-word becomes unacceptable language period. Enter the acceptance of blacks using the word. Now that a white man cannot/should not say it, its the perfect tool to wave around proudly in their faces. For blacks it represents an ugly hatred at the core of the human heart, and coming from a white man it would be intolerable. However its so well known that there are white people who still use and want to use the word so a black man is aware that when he hears it from a white man he means it in the nastiest way.

There's the answer for the double negative affect.


Present day. The n-word is used "as a term of endearment" I don't believe its endearment more like "you know what i mean when i say this". Truly i find you can replace the n word with dude. Wherever you can do that, the n-word is being used passively. Rap artists use it because their listeners have an acceptance for it not cause they want to further its use. I use the term in rare occasion to exclaim in a sentence ie: That (N)'s crazy! He drank the whole thing! Its good for curse word emphasis as well ie: (N) F-U. F-U carries its own weight but add the n word and you're sure he means it. Neither of these instances are racial if the (DUDE) in question is white or otherwise. n-word use still shows exclamation, not racial frustration. That's from a black perspective.

When the n word is used in plural it lends to the thought that one is speaking of a group, perhaps blacks. All you (N)'s can go back where you came from. That will start some S* Usually racial use is accompanied by intense feelings on a large scale.

Look, is it a nasty word yes, do i want my 3yo son using it no, is it acceptable for a chancellor, president, or prime minister to use, no. Will the word cause me to curl up in a ball and die, no. Will i take offense if i get the slightest inkling you mean some harm in your use? You better believe it. One last thing, does anyone miss being able to use the word? I can insult any man on earth never use the N word and start a fight. The N word is just one that has so much baggage its use could incite violence in and of itself. Use it at your own discretion.

The funny part of that is, I recently had the pleasure of the company of a "half black half Porto Rican" fellow, who didn't just call himself that, he called me and everyone else that...

It became silly

Shim: what stage of the inherent racism of the word Nazi (ie. racistly using it against a German) are we?

The misconception is that this generation started using it as an endearment term. The thing is, if your not black, you probably dont hear older people say it. Theres never anything new, its just a continuation of the past. You're wondering why you cant say it because your parents probably did too. Look up the "Fighting Words Act" lol. Say it to me and i'll beat you. Literally but just because I can not because it bothers me. o_o. And I kno thats wrong. ( I wouldnt really do that... probably) but its the mindset. Because I can.

In response to Sturmrabe

Nazi to me refers to a person, perhaps of German descent, or maybe one who shoes the views of the supreme race mentality. To think another race is substandard to your own could classify you as a Nazi. Its clear KKK members adopt some portions of the third Reich's views, in that blonde hair and white skin equals supreme breeding.

I think the word Nazi has become a blanket statement or term for someone who has beef with others solely based on race. I myself watch the videos of WWII and the emaciated men in those camps and I felt a deep hatred for Hitler and all Germans. Later I realized, not all Germans felt the same as him. With the SS makin dissidents disappear its hard to say "no thanx i think Jews are people too", that woulda got you a bullet. I realized my hatred was misplaced. I'm sure today no German wishes for the old days to return, and with them such ruin. So I had to curb my frustration and in truth, I do not use the word Nazi at all. Either you're racist or you accept the differences of all people. Its that simple.

Ps: The idea that Hispanics and blacks have no problem swapping slurs may be explained as this: The one thing they have in common is that at some point, whites do/don't/or didn't like them equally. I know white men present day that talk all kind of dirty to Hispanics right i their face. never would they do it to a black in this day and age, but i witnessed it first hand and it angered me.

nah. i dont care. im not racist or anythin, honestly. but i dont really care when someone says it, wether that person is white or black or whatever....i just think its a word that black gangsters use to sound cool, and when they here anyone else say it they just over-react....

I don't think no one should use it.

No. They just get the most attention when it comes to that particular subject.

Ditto.

honestly, as a black female i DO NOT USE THIS TERM AND SOME RETARDED BLACK FOLKS ACTUALLY FIND IT ENDEARING. The word nigg8r was used to address blacks as sub-human and inferior. why some (ignorant) black people go around calling each other this term idk?

THE BLACK COMMUNITY DOES NOT FIND THIS TERM ENDEARING, ONLY THE WORST (WHICH THE MEDIA LOVES TO SHOW) actually use it regularly and find it okay to use. even if you change the word to have an "a" at the end instead its still offensive. Not only are you using degrading, dehumanzing slavery terms, but you also can't spell. it's really dumb.

Any black person with half of a brain and a minor idea of what went on during slavery can understand what the word means.

Basically....

Is it offensive? YES
Is it offensive when citing historical wrongdoings? NO

I DO NOT go around using mispelled version of "sub-human/inferior" or "nig*a" to describe myself or any other person of African descent

END

I don't hear other groups of people using historically racists terms to address other people of their group. It's really dumb for anyone black to use such words. Ignorant blacks who use it in every other sentence anger me.

Im Black and i dont like other people using the N word only blacks are allowed to use those words. It sound bad that how ii feel.

Agreed, as a black female, I too find it inexcusable for anyone whether they be black, white, asian, latino etc to call me or another person a n*igger whether its in slang or not, it is offensive, rude and completely disrespectful. I don't care if its a replacement word for another more light hearted word like dude. If that's the case just say dude. If a black person calls another black person a n*gger you are just insulting your own race. A stupid thing to do.



I know. At my college, only black people call each other derogatory terms, luckily its only a few.

I'm a little late to the party, but I thought I would also chime in.

I am Black as well, and I wanted to point out a few things.

First off, I am curious as to why many people in this topic seem to think that black people saying the "N" word is some sort of epidemic. Sure you hear it in rap songs, and some other places as well. But, if you were, to, say, immerse yourself in Black people (which I doubt many of you have done), you would find that usage of the word is not actually that common.

Frankly, I find that the higher the education of the black person, the less likely the word is used. But, that's just from my experiences.


A second thing I want to point out; If the word is so derogatory, which it is, why does anyone care who gets to use it? Why is it that I hear people complaining about "words that only Blacks can use". Why are you complaining for the right to use a word that really shouldn't be used at all, by anyone?

i say nigga all the time but if someone says nigger they best duck they head i mean shit people are hateful

Actually, what's the difference between nigger and nigga? Both of them were point to people who have dark skin, yes?