why is it ok for black people to call each other ****** but not for others to call them?

Answer 1

Cuz blacks never owned other blacks

Answer 2

The reasons why there is so much apparent controversy over the word has to do with history and racism. Fair and reasonable, equitable usage is irrelevant!
The word niggur is of Roman origin and means: an inanimate black object ( read David Walker's "The Appeal in Four Articles"- 1829 ) Niggur, historically, represents the 'wholesale-dehumanizing' of all Black peoples, especially descendants of slavery.
Richard Pryor (RIP), first artistically exposed the word with his albums, "The Niggur's Crazy" and "Bicentennial Niggur". Now it's used in any number of ways in music, movies, jokes, in the streets, in the homes, and amongst friends. It can be funny, of no consequence at all, can be a term of endearment, or could get you killed.
The very simple answer is - "If you have to ask...don't use it!". There are many other inflammatory words. This one gets so much attention, because Black Americans are so prolific. Black people (sometimes referred to as African-Americans or Afro- Americans) constitute less than 15% of the U.S.population, yet dominate so many areas of American culture. White America has continued to marvel at this. Many really wish ******* were an afterthought like Indians.

Answer 3

Personally, being black, I feel as if the word is degrading and shouldn't be used. There are a lot of black people who just find something to fly off the handle about when it comes to white people. We call whites "cracker" and don't expect white people to care. So personally, I don't think it's okay for the word ***** to be used at all because it's a slave term and we're out of slavery.

Answer 4

Well I have my theory:
It's sort of like a family thing. Look at it this way: you can call your little brother or sister "stupid" or an "idiot" and it's OK because you're a family member and they "get it". They know you don't really think they're an idiot. But if someone from outside of your family calls them an idiot, you'd probably be offended and want to defend them. So why is it OK for you to tease your brother or sister and call them an idiot, but not some stranger on the street?

Blacks see themselves as a family and some blacks are OK with calling each other "niggga". Some blacks aren't OK. That's why it would be pretty stupid for some white guy to walk up to a black guy and assume he doesn't mind be called "niggga". Just like it would be stupid for me or some other stranger to walk up to you and say, "Hey, your little brother's an idiot."

And I have heard Italians call each other dagos, Jews calls another Jew a "Hebe" (there's even a magazine for young Jews called "Hebe") , I've heard southern whites call each other "cracker" and "redneck"... other races do it too, they just don't get as much publicity for it or put it into songs like blacks do.

Answer 5

thats not true, there are instances of blacks owning blacks. and not all whites owned africans either. regardless of what history taught you, only the really rich owned slaves. others, like my Irish family, worked in the fields with slaves. but its not ok for you to call african american a ***** because they (those that use the term, not all those of african decent) are hypocrites. anyone that wants to argue that, good luck. the meaning of that word is an ignorant person. and only those that fit the description still say it. others have risen above that and dont use hood slang.

Answer 6

First of all the only race who can't call them ****** is white folks.If you mexican,asian,european,canadian,any race besides being white.You can say ******!But if you whick HELL TO DA NALL.Yall can't say ******!White people caucassions cant say ***** nor nigge*.Nigge* is the the slavery way white people said it.***** is the way us folk besides being black use as a commplement.Or use when we approach,and in conversations.***** is mo gansta like.

Answer 7

It's still a racist word,but we just changed the ending.
Every race is some what a ***** cause all are really ignorant.
If you white don't us that word around us.It's cool if ya'll say ****,cause we say that down here in Mississippi.

From ya *****

Answer 8

Because it was used as the nastiest put down for a whole race of people who were drug here in chains from their homes in Africa and made to work under the worst of conditions by rich whites. Again, belittling someone else makes the ignorant feel better about themselves.
I am personally ashamed of my forefathers.

Answer 9

Kind of like when some women call each other (b) itches. Certain terms can only be used in certain ethnic and gender groups. It's not fair but that is reality.

Kind of like you can call one of your friends an idiot but a total stranger couldn't without it turning into a bad situation.

Answer 10

It depeneds on the the connotation associated with the word. Coming from a person of another race, the general connotation is that of a negative, it's a racial slur. Coming from another African American person, the general connotation is positive, it's a greeting between friends.

Answer 11

That is a very good question. I would like a good answer for that too. You never here of white people calling there own race names like that, unless it is white trash, calling each other white trash.