Why is it socially acceptable for black people to say n-i-g-g-e-r but not whites?

Question

I liked the movie 'RUSH HOUR" chris tucker says "wassu my ******", no problem there.
Jackie chan, OBVIOUSLY IGNORANT AND WITH NO ILL WILL, repeats it and a fight ensues.

White people invented the word by corrupting the word ***** (latin root meaning black)

If it is wrong for anyone to say it, it is wrong for all to say it!
what do you think about this?

to Sausage Fingers:
1. Stereotypes are NOT born in a vacuum
2. the few black people that I have ever heard of that protested the use of this word were called Uncle Tom by 99% of the black people I know.
3. In my experience, in the community where I lived, the'n' word is used as often as women are called b*tch, or 'ho'
the comedy film cited does have a LOT of social commentary in it, including the scene cited.

Answer 1

no one should say it, it's derogatory, but we get more when a white person says it than a black person because of the history behind the word. it was used to humiliate and honestly it still does. I don't use it and I get pissed when anyone calls me that.

Answer 2

I don't know why other races like to bring this argument up so much, but i hear it all time. So here is the answer: No race should say it! I am black and i will never say that. So don't say "Why is it socially acceptable" Why would you want to say it anyway? I mean, just cuz its a bad word to black people other races want to use it anyway? Black people don't like it when other races use that word because they shouldn't. It has a lot of bad meaning that people don't know. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are just reading a script. & fights sometimes happen but if someone says [whether you are black or white] tell them not to say it because its wrong. Anyway, hope you understand...

Answer 3

I can't believe the comments on this ignorant question. Think about it. Really think about it. "They, They, They" as though all people of one race are exactly the same, how dense.

Ask yourself some questions about yourself, and about race, here, let me help....
-Does George Bush speak for you? No?
-Maybe Bill Clinton speaks for you? No?
-Perhaps Jesse Jackson represents the way you think? No?

Are you understanding the view represented by the questioner?
Stereotyping never works, for anything.
A gay pride parade doesn't represent all gays.
Not all Polish people love polka.
Many blacks are seriously offended by the use of derogatory terms....as are Italians, Chinese, Indian, French, Polish, Irish, etc.
and THEY SHOULD BE.

On top of this, you are citing a movie comedy.
No one in their right mind thinks that "Rush Hour" was trying to break societal grounds.

So what exactly is the questioner looking for? The right to call someone something lower than low? Next time, focus on what you find offensive and ask yourself if you'd like to be called that. That way, you don't have to ask moronic questions....because you will already have the answer.

Answer 4

There will always be ignorance in the world. The word is wrong to use, you know that, so don't say it. It's like the old saying 'if your friends jumped off a bridge..." Just because there are several ignorant people who embrace the word does not make it right for all. The fact that those same people who use it get offended when whites use is slightly unfair but the fact is: it's wrong and you shouldn't try to say it at all just because you heard someone else say it. You have to be responsible for your own actions and let others be responsible for theirs.

Answer 5

For some black people, using that word is a source of empowerment, in the cases where it not used in a derrogatory sense of the word. Sure, the whites made it up during the course of slavery, but now the word belongs to THEM, not the whites.

Answer 6

Its the same scenario, I can talk bad about my family but you better not or there will be a fight. Quite frankly I hate the word. But, it sounds more acceptable coming from a black. There are some things in society that are taboo, this is one. In some countries it is offensive to cross your legs, in America its the standard. This is one of the things you just have to accept and go with the flow.

Answer 7

The Christian teaching of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (in other words: treat people the way you want to be treated) has been lost on our society.

If a black person doesn't not want a white person to use the "N" word, then they need to live the example of a person who doesn't use it either.

To do otherwise is hypocritical and wrong.

Answer 8

Personally I think it is wrong for anyone to use the word in a derogatory form... I don't think it is right to use racial slur, no matter if it is not meant to hurt feelings or if it is... there are many other words to use when playing around with friends, as well as getting the attention of another person negatively when ya'll aren't getting along. My opinion is.... it is just wrong..
and there are other words to use...

Answer 9

i think it is wrong for anyone to say it. However, assuming you are white, does it bother you if a white person calls you a cracker? ok, how about if a black person does? I think there is a double standard, and we will never get away from that. as for jackie chan saying that, well, i think it is just because scince he is chinese, that he does not understand what he is saying anyway, and somehow that makes it ok.

Answer 10

It's not socially acceptable. I think it's wrong for anyone to say it at anytime. Apparently there's a difference in er or ah. The er is taken as derogatory and ah is I guess an acceptable version amongst black people. I guess that's the best explanation. Either one said by anyone at anytime isn't acceptable to me.