Why do some black people call each other the "N Word"?

Question

I'm primarily interested in hearing from African Americans on this issue: The "N word" is racist and ugly and great progress had been made towards eliminating it from use in American society. So why has this word be resurrected as a casual greeting between blacks? Isn't the continued existence of this word offensive? Why is it OK for actor Samel Jackson to use it more often than "the"? Why isn't Jessie Jackson all over this issue? (He would be if whites were saying it - in life or on screen.)

Answer 1

Well, I'm part African-American and I feel this term used as "slang" in the Black community is wrong as well.

We don't see Jews call each other by the racial slurs others hurled towards them-most Asians don't call each other by racial slurs, nor do most Hispanics, East Indians, Africans, etc.

Some Black people feel that to use the "n" word is to take possesion and ownership of the term, away from Whites. But I don't agree at all. I think it's just a constant revival of a hateful term of really, GIBBERISH that was created by a white person to put down another culture of people. I think it's making some Black people look bad to constantly call each other by a term that whites for hundreds of years called them as they enslaved, lynched, and disenfranchised them.

It's a stupid hateful term and should be utterly rejected by people in the Black community, not celebrated!

Answer 2

It's because the context of the word changes. Just like the word
b i t c h. If you look it up, it means a female dog. But, some women refer to each other as b i t c h e s when they see each other, and sometimes it's used as an insult. It's all about the context of words. You could call somebody swimmer, and what does it mean? Someone who swims, but if somebody were to come up with a nasty slang meaning for that word, then it would become bad.
Words are just words. I'm black, and I know plenty of other people who aren't black, who use the N word, but they don't use it in a rude or offensive manner, they don't change to context to make it racist at all, and I don't have a problem with it.

Answer 3

This is their way of keeping each other down, by reminding each other how inferior they are and how they should be treated with inequality. Though they may not see it that way, that's exactly what they're doing. (but many minority groups do this to each other) So get over it, grow up, and make your ancestors see that everything that they went through actually made a difference!

Oh, and PD, keep separating yourself. You weren't a slave and today's generation of "white" people don't own you and don't owe you. Everyone in the history of the world has owned slaves, including other "black" people. It is a small minority that could conciously own and be cruel to another human being and it's the rest of the reasonable majority that has given us equality today.

Answer 4

I'm White, but I think it is because it was a word used to oppress people for many years. By taking that word back, and making it their own, it becomes a tool for empowerment, as in, the sting gets taken out of it, and it develops new meaning.

Answer 5

Its a word we use amongst ourselves. Its definitely an ugly word if its used in an ugly manner.
Some people say it shouldnt be used period.
"What up my *****" is a common phrase that its used to show love and when its said it not offensive amongst us.
On the other hand "*****" comin from a white person is unacceptable because whites dont relate to us.. whites owned slaves and created the name and it would be offensive for whites or anyone else to use the word.

Answer 6

I'm not black I'm Italian but I just wanted to say that I agree with you....I don't know why anyone thinks it's okay to use that word...I don't care if you're black you shouldn't use that word....Because, if it isn't that bad (as in people are using it as a loving thing) what's to stop white people to use it???? Why shouldn't they use it if it's a "nice" word???

Answer 7

Im black an the n word dont bother me
cause im not one ! for num 1
but that word need to stop ,by rap people an common
cause many of my people got killed over that word.num2
it not good that my people calling each other that
where a man called us before, that name is not funny
people lost there life of that name ,which was my ancestor's.num3 WE NOT N*****'S WE LIVED AN
CAME FROM N--I--G-R---A-- AFRICA LIKE SOUND OF
NIGERA.

Answer 8

There are two types of the word the racist term and the slang friendly term. We use the slang friendly term to each other.

Answer 9

It always seems fair for each race to call their own race a word that other races call them. But it really dosen't make any sense. When you look at it it's better than calling each other "Dogs" and other common words that are being used.

Answer 10

**** doesn't just refer to blacks its just the context it was put in a **** can be a white person if we will stop excepting ****** as just being for blacks and use it as its true meaning we would not have a problem with that.