A serious question about the "N" word?

Question

In U.S. history, the "n" word was a the derogatory term that whites called blacks. It still is derogatory if a white person calls a black person by the "n" word.

My question is why have black people embraced this word and call each other the "n" word today? Why would a person, or a group of people, willingly choose to identify themselves with such a negative, derogatory term?

Glorymomof3, the previous questions I found asked "How come black people can say the "n" word but white people can't?"

If you read my question again, you'll see that's not what I'm asking. My question was why black people have chosen to embrace this word.

Sedrick, you might notice that my question says "a person, or a group of people." I did not say that the entire African American race has embraced this word. That are black people who have embraced it, though, and that is what my question is about.

Answer 1

I dont use the word but just as with any term, issue, or subject you have to be able to crtically think to even begin to approach it. ****** is probably the most violent and emotional word in the english language. It has been used as pyscho warfare to literally kill the mind by reducing the person being called the term to nothingness. So to answer your question? people use it because they want to..dont know how to stop saying..dont understand what it really means..thinking they can change it to make it mean love from 1 black to another..ignoranace..and stupidity at times.

Im in an MBA program at an all black college and most students at the grad level dont use it. Its used constantly by a few but its mosly undergrads who would utter it as often as they breath. So it goes back to what i said...being able to think critically, apply the knowledge, and have the discipline to control and own your actions...I dont use it. Im not a ******, *****, or anything else. Other than Mr or Sir I dont want people addressing period. Its a respect issue as well. The word is like garbage and i dont eat or spew it. The sad part is we live in a flat world and unfortunately the media, white america and some of black america doesnt even take time to question the word and its usage.

Thanks for asking....dig deeper....***** was from necro meaning death...not the typical origin which is that is just meant black..not true..and check out THE N Word documentary..its powerful...very impactful and real...

Answer 2

That’s an unfair question, just because some young blacks use the word in this way just means that they haven't been taught the implications of what it is their saying . My father was black and in my family the "N" word was not used. We were taught of the history and evil this word represents. Those who use it, white or black don't understand what it is. As is any derogatory term towards any race. Ignorance breed’s ignorance

If your not racists or prejudice than you shouldn't make assumptions of an entire culture because of what a few of them do.

Answer 3

Oh gosh- this question has been asked a million times- i suggest you should look up at past answers- i am 100% sure they will be the same as what you are about to get.

Either way let me spell it out for you- African Americans use it more in a friendly term, meaning friend, while as it was historically started as a derogatory term. A white person cannot call them that for that same reason. They will not look at you like it is ok- bottom line- it is wrong to call anyone outside of their name given at birth- end of sentence!

It is just a part of culture- no matter how wrong it is.

Answer 4

I think because when blacks call it to each other you know what they mean by it. When a white person says it, you don't really know whether they mean to be offensive or not. Personally, I was taught never to say that word at all whether it was to a black person or not. I don't think anybody should use that kind of language. A lot of the younger generations use it by putting an "a" at the end of the word, but it still should not be appropriate. It also offends a lot of the older generations of blacks. I hope this helps a little.

Answer 5

Any word or name can be used in a derogatory manner and be offensive! For example: there used to be a little girl on our block who had a brain injury. Her name was Becky and she did and said a lot of strange things. If one of the kids said or did something stupid, someone else would say, "don't be a Becky". It was very upsetting to Becky, who was bright enough to know what they were saying. So, even after she moved away if someone was called a Becky, it wasn't a good thing.

Answer 6

There's a long history of people adopting insulting names and "wearing them as badges". It's almost a matter of pride. There are some examples I can think of in the military field:-
"Desert Rats" was originally a term of insult directed at Bristish soldiers fighting in the West African Desert during WWII but it was soon adopted and the successor regiments even today call themselves the Desert Rats.
In the first world war the original British forces sent to France were referred to by the Germans as "A contemptible Little Army". Soldiers who served during that time later referred to themselves with pride as "The Old Contemptibles"

When I was at school a group of black kids used to call each other "slave" and were proud that the ethnic group they had belonged to had endured slavery and later found freedom and made good lives for themselves.

It's not too difficult to imagine the "N" word being used in the same way - a badge worn with pride.

There is also a degree of psychology going on here - if I insult myself then someone else using the same word against me cannot upset me. It steals the word away from whoever is trying to insult me and it loses any sting as a result.

Answer 7

the philosopher Michel Foucault has called this a "reverse discourse". when a group is denied a full social or political voice and they are stuck with the labels that have been assigned to them, then one of their most powerful options is to reclaim the use and definition of these words. african americans are far from the only people who have repossessed derogatory vocabulary this way. so have gays, yankees, and chicks, just to name a few examples.

Answer 8

I don't know as it is a derogatory term if a white person calls a black person that. I have several black friends who feel free to call me that particular word, even tho I don't fit the 'profile'. I am also equally free to call them the same.
Just don't do it to someone that you don't know. It's like the old saying, 'you aren't allowed to kick my dog, that's my job'.
If you aren't my buddy, don't call me names like that.
'k?

Answer 9

I have no clue, that's taken in a harsh word if it's used by person of a different race. It's just life and history, people will just have to learn to live with things like this.

Answer 10

IT IS DEROGATORY IF A WHITE PERSON SAYS IT. BLACKS HAVE EMBRACED THE WORD THIS IS TRUE, BUT THE MEANING IS DIFFERENT THAN IF A WHITE PERSON WERE TO SAY IT.