Racial slurs?

Question

Why is it ok for a black man to use the word 'ni**er' on tv, yet not ok for a white man?

surely if a word is offensive, it matters not who says it?

Answer 1

What matters is that someone is offended. If there is a possibility of offending someone, even if unintentional, just stay away from that kind of language. It doesn't just apply to the "N" word, but could apply to sexually charged statement in mixed company or religious jokes as well. Just because it doesn't matter to you who makes the comment, doesn't mean it won't matter to someone else.

As a commander, I had just his situation come before me. One soldier called another soldier the "N" word used as a term of endearment. Another soldier overheard him and said that it bothered him that he used that word, but the other two kept on calling each other by the N word and laughing it off. So the offended soldier approached his sergeant and asked him to intervene. The other two were still laughing it up, so he asked me to administratively punish them (Article 15 for those of you that know what that is), and write a letter of reprimand.

I should add that all 4 soldiers were black (or at least claimed that on their paperwork).

In the end, I issued the letter of reprimand like the sergeant requested.

I hope you speak up too the next time you hear it.

Answer 2

The word is not "made up." It originally is a term meaning "ignorance and slow-mindedness." It was coined to describe black people because racists thought that all black people were ignorant, which was true in many cases given that at the time, black people didn't not have equal education opportunities.

The term has been mutilated because of this and today's society only knows it as being derogatory towards black people.

In fact, if you look at an old edition of Webster's Dictionary (maybe 10 years old), you will find the real definition of the word, however, if you looked at Webster's today, you would see it defined as "a derogatory term used for black people."

And by the way, the "term of endearment" or slang that it's "ok" to use if you're black is spelled with an a, not an er.

Answer 3

lol, what a silly question. look, when white people say it, it's usually offensive. I mean, c'mon, what business does a white person have calling a black person ni**er? i mean, seriously. i hate the word no matter what, but if a black person calls me that word, i know it's in a friendly way. that answer your q? buh-bye now!

Answer 4

I agree that word is offensive and should be banned, but some people think that it is a terrm of endearment, and white people made up the word to be offensive, so it brings back anger when white people say ( I to me), and I am disappointed when black people use it

Answer 5

Because when slave owners said it to us we didn't like but because we own our blackness and understand what is associated with the word we can say it. Just let it go, obviously if you don't understand it you don't need to worry about it. I suggest you not say it, because you might run across the wrong person to be letting that cross your lips!

Answer 6

I agree, how can the same word between races have such a different meaning?

Answer 7

its in reality not ok! its a form of insecurity, and offense to one another. of the same self proclaimed class. birds of a feather flock together.