The "N" word....?

Question

Why is it that black people call eachother the N word all the time but if any other race (especially us white people) say that word we have to watch our backs?! I've grown up with all these rap songs, N this and N that and N what?! And it is just another word to me, when I say it it's usually not in a derogitory way and my best friend growing up was half black, but still get so offended, and you hear it said amungst themselves, but god forbid we say it! What's the deal? Is it really that offensive, especially with all the rapers now a days use it in almost every song that's on the radio?

Answer 1

I guess the same reason I call my girlfriends bi.tches and hoes and sluts and whores and they don't care but if you did it you'd get your a.ss kicked 'cause we don't know you and you don't get to be a part of our inner circle name calling.

I don't like black people calling me *******, but I know they don't hate my black a.ss, if a white person I don't know did it, I'd feel like they don't like me just 'cause I'm black.

Sorry, but everyone else has to sit this one out, you don't get to use the word ni.g'ger unless you are one!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Only when white people say it is it offensive. Otherwise it's cool. It's kinda like if your brother called you an 'a ss hole' you wouldn't be that offended, but if a total stranger called you one, you would probly be upset-and that doesn't even include the history of the 'N' word, which makes it so much more powerful than something like 'butthead'.
Generally that word gets white people beat up. As a black person, it always feels really good to beat up someone who calls you that, and it's even better when other blacks are around because you can let them get a piece of the action too.
America censored the word because of its roots. America is ashamed of its past (as it should be) and is now trying to change

Answer 3

Wow! Rapers using words on the radio! We should be jailing them instead!

Any rate, I'd say that it has a lot to do with context. One black person to another, depending upon inflection of said word as well as context, may not be a subject of offense. I'm white, I've got black friends, and I'll pop off with the "***** please!" and "***** WHAT?!" and I haven't been shot yet.

Also, to address your question a bit more directly, think of how the word was used back when. Enslavement, beatings, the word used as a description of that condition. So, if a black person hears you calling them by that term, yes, they just may be offended. Does it bother you if (depending upon your derivation) a black person calls you a cracker, whitey, honkie et al?

Answer 4

Well its like this. I try not to use the word, because the way people act when they hear it. They think we are Niccas, because we call each other niccas. But its llike this. If you aint a real nicca, you cant call someone else a nicca. But a black person can call a Nicca a nicca. But a white person cant because they are to far away from being a nicca. But I got a nicca thats white. but that MY Nicca, and we are niccas. So its okay. But if sees anothe black person, and calls him nicca it may be another story cause they aint niccas. Niccas is a.k.a friends. Like if you got a friend name Jim, but all his friends call him Jimmy. How does it look i walk up and say hey Jimmy, like im a friend. He has to let me know, that its okay.

Stop trying to look at it like, we are making a big deal about. The word has history yes, so be more careful about it.
If you walked up to a stranger and called him friend, He might take it offensive right. Well us blacks turned a bad word, and made it good. So we are funny, when the people who made the word bad, start calling us by it again.

Hope it helped.
GB

Answer 5

Ok, I do know something of this, when a black person is saying it to another its spelled with an A instead of ER. I also know that if you called me a redneck I'd be hugely offended, even though I freely admit I am one. Does that mean that I'm racist, heck no, I just happen to live in an area known for its backward ways is all. So please do us all a favor sweetie, try to be more tolerant and don't call others by racist or derogotory names.

Answer 6

Please understand and realize that most rap artists do not control the product released to the public. This control is exercised by record company executives. Secondly, rap artists do not use the N word it is a shorter word that is, albeit unfortunate, embraced as a term of endearment. In addition, most successful rap artist come from very hard backgrounds where this word is used without thought as the people the rappers run with are/were street hustlers or equally hard individuals. When a non-black person says it they generally do not pronounce it correctly and their intentions are not apparent therefore their use of the N word is considered offensive.
I have had my share of altercations growing up where non-blacks have used this word when referring to me and in every situation it was meant to be deragatory. That was some time ago and things have changed dramatically but I know for a fact that altercations still occur daily as a result of non-blacks using this word.
I will go one further. If you saw any current rap artist today and said to him/her whats up my N. Do you think he/she would welcome the comment from you simply because they use the word to sell records? The answer is no and you might find yourself on the business end of several boots. Most rappers travel with an entourage)
I do not use the N word personally but have many friends and family members that do. I am known for blowing them up verbally for using the word in my presence or in the presence of children. I do not approve of its use in any form unless it is to describe a persons character:

Ni**er (word)
The word N is a highly controversial term still used in many countries to refer to people with dark skin, particularly those of African origin. It was once used freely in standard English.
It carries a strong connotation of personal worthlessness which makes it so highly pejorative that most people would no longer use it, particularly in public.

One theory of its origin (or etymology) is that it came into English via French from the Spanish ***** (meaning "black"), and it is therefore related to, but not derived from, the English word ***** (ultimately from Latin niger, also meaning "black").

Answer 7

if we all come down to earth the n word is a word a man , made up to call a Africans Americans slave , the German's
so again , if all y'all Americans wont to make that word
in put it in the dictionary ,people want call each other that , don't it mean ignorant ,i will get offend out the blue if someone call me ignorant,not just the n word , so we need to look who talking
''WHAT MAN PUT THE N WORD IN THE DICTIONARY'' ????IF EVERY BODY WANT IT TO STOP,
YES PEOPLE USE IT IN RAP SONG EVERY WHERE
I'M PRETTY SURE WHEN SOME RACE 'S GET MADE AT US THEY SAY IT TOO.

Answer 8

If white people say it it means something totally different then if black people say. I think you know the difference and why white people shouldn't use. why would that be a word that you would want to use anyway.

Answer 9

I think it is offensive, because it has been used in such a derogatory manner. But for blacks and rappers to use it and not be offended, it is a double standard. Just another show of racism.

Answer 10

Its a black thing! best way to put it is, as a woman you and your girlfriends may call each other bitches but if a guy refer to you as one , all hell breaks loose. Its the context its used and by who. Is your vocabulary so limited that that one word have your panties in a bunch for useage.

Answer 11

If someone doesnt want to be addressed by YOU as *****, who are you to question it? It is a basic human right to be comfortable in an interaction with other people, and if they dont like YOU to use it around them, then dont. Why would you want to? Get your own identity.