A question for African Americans...?

Question

How do you feel about African Americans using the n word? Are you against it? Do you find it offending? Do you use the n word yourself? If yes, why?

I'm looking for answers from African Americans only. Thank you.

To The Truth: No, I'm not itching to say it myself, I just wonder why you use such a negative, disrespectful word between yourselves. When a white person says it it's horrible, offensive and disrespectful, but some African Americans say it all the time like it's the coolest word ever, which just doesn't make any sense to me so I want to hear your view of it. I'm just curious how you feel about this, how many of you are ok with it and how many find it offending and why you use it so much.

Usually words are either offending or not, but in this case it's offending when some people say it and not when others say it, which is actually interesting in itself.

About reversing the meaning of the word... that won't happen as long as it's offensive when some people say it and not when others say it.

annysweety, who's being a racist? I'm just trying to understand this part of the African American culture. What's wrong with asking about other people's culture to try to understand it better?

And you're wrong, my ancestors had nothing to do with colonization and the slavery in America. My ancestors lived under oppression on a poor, isolated island called Iceland at the time. ;) Besides that, you can't choose your ancestors or have any control over the things they did. I don't think it's the fault of today's white Americans what their ancestors did. What they themselves do or tolerate now in their own lifetime is their responsibility, not their ancestors' actions.

I'm not expecting to be allowed to use the n word and I have no desire to use it either. I'm just surprised that African Americans use it themselves and want to know why.

You people read too much into things and end up with wrong assumptions and misperceptions. But thanks to those who actually answer the questions.

Answer 1

b/c it's a cultural thing now. growing up i got the hell beat out of me if i ever said ****** in front of my grand-parents or in their house.


but b/c of blaxploitation,or soul cinema,which ever you'd prefer,either one is correct,brothers and sisters could often be heard calling each other ***** in a playful yet empowering way. Morgan Freeman and his friends once referred to him as the THNIC. The Head ***** In Charge. feel my drift...

make no mistake if you come around blacks thinking you are entitled to use that word you'll probably end up worse than i did when i was a kid saying that in front of my grand-parents.
i'm just being real with you.

Answer 2

wtfh4 makes a very valid point. But what I wonder is why do other races care what the black community decides to do with the word, are you guys itching to say it a a crowed room or something. If you want to say it that bad, go ahead, no ones stopping you - just be sure to duck if there happens to be a black person around! lol But seriously, it's really not your place to question what we do. I say the word when used in a certain context, and get offended, even when said by other blacks in other contexts. I always compare that word to talking about family. You can call your sister a slut, but if some random person did it, that wouldn't be cool. Does anyone question that dynamic, no. So why question something that has nothing to do with you?

Answer 3

Hey Black Person Here,

Here's alittle street lesson for those of you that don't know.

1. The word ****** means: Ignorant person.
2. We don't call each other ******. We use *****.

We urbanized a negative word for our own usage. We took off the ER & replaced it with an A. But don't be fooled. It is not okay for anyone other than Blacks to use either term towards us. This is because racism is still alive and people still use ****** to offend us. The sad part is that we are getting over that and you people need to think of something different to call us.

Yes you will get a rise out of some black ( most) but because some of know that using this word just shows YOUR ignorance we keep it in mind that you are racist but we don't over act.

I myself use the word ***** when talking to other BLACKS. I don't find it offensive in my own race. Some BLACKS do; it's your personal decision.

It's something other races will not understand but maybe I've helped you just a little bit.

Just to let you know YAHOO took out the words I out in there. That just goes to show that it is still an offensive word. IM me I'll tell you what I put.

Answer 4

I am offended by that word, regardless of whose mouth it's coming from.
The only good thing I can say about African Americans using that word is that the over-utilization of the word will lead to de-sensitivity. Eventually that word won't mean a thing.

Answer 5

How do you feel about African Americans using the n word?

{I hate when black people use the N word.}

Are you against it?

{Totally!}

Do you find it offending?

{Yes, it's very offense}

Do you use the n word yourself?

{No! The word is unacceptable for anyone to use it. Black, white, hispanic or any other skin tone}

Answer 6

It was okay for white people to call them *******, so why do people freak out when they call themselves *******? They got sick of everyone calling them a ****** and degrading them with that name, so they took it and used it for themselves. When they called themselves ******* and changed the meaning, then the white people no longer had that power over them. White people couldn't call them a ******, because they'd say, "Yeah, I am a ******, so the **** what?" What are you going to say to that? Their whole reason for being rascist is completely bogus in the first place, so it was important to take that word away from them.

Answer 7

i live close to mexico and i hear alot of students calling eachother "*******" or making jokes about how they've crossed the river. it doesn't irritate me at all. however, when i see movies and lyrics pointing that out, like in dick and jane, it kinda hurts. maybe it's just me. i'm imagining that african americans, too, would feel offended and hurt when other people call them the n word.

Answer 8

hey little racist let me give you abit of history back then, your ancestors mistreated the black pple and called then N word, as a way to belittle them and disrespect them. so why shld you be allowed to use that word after blacks got their freedom? yes they can use it amongst themselves coz they dont mean anything else other than just saying it for that matter, but you a white devil when you use the N word you mean alot of bad negative things to a black, so dont use,unless you are looking for trouble,.

Answer 9

i say the "n" word all the time, and personally i dont care if anybody else says it too. but if ur white or any other race besides black, and u call me a the "n" word, then i'll get hella pissed. but if your just sayin, and not callin me it, then its all good. =]]

Answer 10

Don't strain to be politically correct. Black is black. As for your original question, use of any racial slur by any race whether to show hate or love, is just plain ignorant.

Understand.........whitey?