Why can black people say the "N" word but white people can't?

Question

I don't mean in a racist or derogatory way either. It seems that every other word in Rap music is "N" this and Yo "N" what's up and so on and that is completely acceptable. However, if a white person was to say yo "N" what's up (to a black or white person) in a regular way and not mean anything bad about it at all it is totally wrong. Doesn't that seem like a double standard? If black people don’t like that word and don't want people to say it why do they use it so prevalently in popular culture?

P.S. I am definitely NOT a racist...I am just curious. :-)

Answer 1

I don't think either race should. That word was and is still degrading to our race.

Answer 2

I think, in general, because they know that they're not going to mean it to be offensive. Plus, the tone of their voice in your example wouldn't be full of hate. No black person would actually use that word on another black person and mean it as an insult, because they may have heard people of other races call them that with derogatory intent. So they know how it would feel.

Back when I was in high school, some white guys who were really good friends with some black guys, would actually greet their black friends in the example like you mentioned. And the black guys would jokingly respond with a word referring to white people. I think that's pretty rare, though. I also think that some black people probably might not want to hear the "N" word at all, which is understandable.

Of course, the other thing is that the "N" word, by definition, doesn't have anything to do with any race. I can tell that you know that yourself, too, because you're not bring up the issue to be racist. I'm not racist, either, so I just think it's wrong that some people just started throwing it around at black people. It would have been wrong to attach it to any race as a derogatory word.

Answer 3

because everyone white person is a slave-owning cracker.... no, but seriously... I believe it's because we've become so afraid of offending people that we always have to watch what we say. Some people get in trouble for using the word "blackboard" in school!
I've always wondered why a black person could use the word "cracker" and a white person cannot use the word "******" (wow it censored that word... see what I'm saying) haha.
I really don't think it matters if the word is used as long as you're not using it in a derogatory manner.

Answer 4

It is called a DOUBLE STANDARD. Hypocrites use it to give themselves freedom of expression and curve someone else's opinion. The "n" word is a derrogatory term used by the slave masters back in the day so it should not be used since it is an insult. Its usage by anyone is cruel and rude since we all have intrinsic value. More appropriate terms would be: "*****" or "black." I don't like "African American" since that there are many people of different races who are "African" such as the Arabs, Indians, etc.
Mr. M on the "n" word.

Answer 5

Um, in my opinion anybody can say whatever word they want, because that's their right. But I'm not going to pity the white guy that starts yelling N*gger in a black neighborhood and gets the sh*t beat out of him as a result.

Answer 6

Maybe you should read "N*gger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word" by Randall Kennedy

He's a Harvard law professor. But I'd order it online.

Answer 7

It's the way of the world.

Black people obviously don't use it in an insulting way, and anyone who hears it recognises this. When you hear a white person say it, on the other hand, you cannot tell whether they mean this as an insult or not.

Answer 8

because white folks invented the word to disrespect the black folk. if you look up the word in an old dictionary, or slang dictionary, the n word means a dried up fruit in africa. it also means an ignorant person.so cfor you to call a black person the n word is like the slave masters calling them one.the way the black folk use it means like homeboy or bro. but its between them like an inside joke or inside term you know what i mean. im not black or rascist either.

Answer 9

i think if some one black said the "n" word to another black person that is meant in a friendly way but if a white person said it to someone that is black it is meant in a racist way. i mean i'm black and if a white person came up to me and said the "n" word to me i would find it offesive. but if some 1 thats black said the "n" word to me i would not find it offensive. i guess thats just how it is.

Answer 10

im white but i dont think anyone should say that word!! whether they are black, white, purple, or orange!! it offends black ancestors and all the slaves and other black people from history that worked so hard to earn respect and get white people to look at them as PEOPLE instead of "N"'s!!! i dont think any of them would be happy if they knew how people were using that word today!!

Answer 11

I think it's simple. You can call yourself whatever you want. And it's okay. But you cannot call the others what you want. A black person calling another black person a N. is also calling himself a N. Would you let me call you names? And what if it were a friend calling you names?