Why is the "N" word a bad word?

Question

I am not trying to insult anybody or be a racist but black people use it among them but when a non-black person says it it is wrong.

Answer 1

it represents centuries of racism towards blacks

Answer 2

***·ger ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ngr)
n. Offensive Slang

Used as a disparaging term for a Black person: “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a ******” (James Baldwin).
Used as a disparaging term for a member of any dark-skinned people.
Used as a disparaging term for a member of any socially, economically, or politically deprived group of people: “Gun owners are the new *******... of society” (John Aquilino
Besides looking up the word and seeing thier meaning isnt it common courtosey to call a person by thier birth name.
And also you would be offended if someone were to call you a cracker.Or white trash it is all the way around degrading even in play i is also ignorance. which is not knowing better ,or stupidity knowing better and doing it knowing it's wrong.

Answer 3

It was a word that came from white ignorance. Not being able to pronounce and African Country correctly, but you have to know that this word was used as derogatory word by slave owners, and thus is a bad word. Black people can use it amongst each other, because it is not used in derogatory manner, or meant that way, it is more of a respectful thing, but if a white or other race uses it, it does not mean the same.

Answer 4

I'm black and it's ignorant for you to say black people use it to refer to ourselves. Alot of black people don't use the word. And when they do they mean it in a negative way. Mainly only young black men use the word. The word is a bad word. I know you know where it came from and why it is looked down upon. Some Black's try to justify the word, but it can't be justified.

Answer 5

because of its history and the fact that it was used to degrade people of color. some black people today think there's a difference between ni**er and ni**a. personally, i don't. i'm uncomfortable saying either and i don't think it's necessary. some people say ni**a was a degrading term and was taken by black people and turned into an affectionate term amongst each other but i think that since the english language is extremely large and growing everyday that there is most definitely some other words that people, black or white, can use to show affection.

Answer 6

For so long, white people used it to degrade blacks. Because it is a degrading word and has always been used as such, the stigma attached to it is never going to go away. Blacks can say it to one another because they are not degrading their own race. When anyone else says it, it comes across as a racial slur. It's kind of like when you can tease and make fun of your own family members it's okay but when someone else does it, you become defensive.

Answer 7

African Americans feel it is a bad word b/c it really all dates back to slavery days when they were considered property, not people. So when a white person says the "N" word, they take it as a derogeratory term.

Answer 8

Because black people are as racist as anyone else. They just use the word ****** as a means to practice their racism.

Answer 9

travis is ignorant just becuz one black person does it doesnt mean evry one does i dont and i dont care what way u use it white people a long time ago made that up to degrade blacks becuz they felt that black people were so dumb they werent even human black people do use it but no one should use it very good question

Answer 10

maybe becuase only black people have the right to say it to each other, remember in history when the white people took most black peoples rights away and treated them like slaves, lucky for them the black people didnt have acess to a computer otherwise they be moaning about stupid things like that aye???

Answer 11

not all the time.....when the usage of the word started, it had a mean intention...and so people over a time associated the word to an emotion...the emotion of supression, oppressive attitude, treatment of a person,sub-human....so that is why it is bad to use it....as the word rekindles all those emotions...even in these changed times....times sure have changed...but quite unfortunate that, still that attitude remained.....