The "N" word who can use it? and how is it used appropriately?

Question

The "N" word who can use it? and how is it used appropriately? I am a middle aged white salesman and work in areas where the N word is thrown around all the time. EXCUSE my ignorance,, BUT,, I feel if I ever used it even in jest it would be inappropriate. So my quandry is what EXACTLY does the word represent """NOW"""" and is it appropriate to use it by ANYBODY? and if not ""WHY"" and if so When and WHY? and I do understand in the days of SLAVERY it was DEGRADING and DEMORALIZING! So now why is it NOT ? I am not biggoted I really JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND Thank you in advance

Answer 1

Why are people so obsessed with this word? Let me dumb it down for you. The N word used to a black person by another black person is derrogatory just the same as it was in slavery times. Blacks use it sort of as an "inside joke" towards one another. But honestly, the word is so played that I don't even hear it being used by blacks anymore. It's kinda like saying the word "bling" or "wuz up dog?" People just don't say it anymore. Leave it alone already!!!! THERE IS NO APPROPRIATE WAY TO USE THIS WORD!!

Answer 2

My son and I had this discussion one day, when he called me the word in jest. I was appalled, because I know all the history behind why it is an insulting word. After I lectured him extensively, and almost grounded him, he explained to me that his black friends at school call each other that, and did not mind people of other ethnicities calling each other that as long as it ends in an "a" and not an "er". I told him I don't care what they say- I expect him to have respect for what other people have gone through, and do not expect that to be part of his vocabulary or habitual banter with his friends. While you cannot change what other people say or do, you are right about your initial feeling that it is inappropriate.

Answer 3

Words have different weight to different people. The "N" word is one of those words that is more person and situational dependent than most. As for what is represents, for some it is a word of hate used to demean and degrade black people. For others, it is a word to identify anyone (not associated with any racial identity) as being undesirable. For some black people who did not grow up in the Jim Crow days, it is a word of empowerment (although in this instance they generally drop the "er" and add an "a").

In general, if someone hears the "N" word dropped, whether it is considered "offensive" or not will be based on their perception rather than the speaker's intention.

You're welcome.

Answer 4

The word ****** is just a word. The only time it's bad is when someone is calling a black person it. And to say that it's a word white people aren't allowed to use is crap. It's not like I want to use the word, but it's the principle of the thing. Freedom of speech is intended for all speech, not just what's not offensive. Nowhere in the constitution does it say we have the right to not be offended.

EDIT: Ah, so I see it's a word yahoo answers censors, like its a swear word.

Answer 5

It is a slang for "dude". And I think the people who use the word have become so desensitized to it that it has not relation to slavery at all, and the only reason people get mad about someone else saying it is because they were informed by someone that it was degrading at one point but I think if the people that use the word really thought about it, they wouldn't care who uses it. IT'S JUST SLANG.

Answer 6

I feel that if black people can use it, so can anyone else. Freedom of speech. Though, I do hate the word. I'm part black so I hear that word thrown around in my family and it itrritates me to no end! I don't even acknowledge the person who would come up to me and address me by such a word. So.... use it if you want but just be careful who you say it to and how you say it.

Answer 7

Funny enough i think if you do a survey, most blacks (especially the young ones) might not know that ****** was a dergoatrory trem used in slavery. It has now beceome accepted in the US if another black says it to another but if a white person says it it's bad and you are degraded a black person. So here's my question aren't we (blacks)degrading ourselves by calling one another ******?

and just so you all know the spanish word for black is *****...two different things

Answer 8

umm only black people can use that word.
it is used in their language meaning brother and it shows a relationship/bond between them... it's very inappropiate for a white person to use the "n" word.
so dont say the "n" word because if it is said by a white person its inappropiate, but if it a black person saying it to another black it shows that they are friends or its like them saying brother...sometimes it can be used as an insult between them. it was derived from the Nigerian Slave trading. please dont ever use it, i think the word should die, because its mean and stupid. nobody should use it, no matter what race they are!

Answer 9

Just say the "a" word or the "b"word or the "c" word. You see what I'm saying? Don't ever say any words that start with "n".

Answer 10

I replaced that N word with Goober.
F word is Foul
S word is Shoot
C word, you just dont say that one, EVER!
B word is okies,but my mommy isnt one, she can be.
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