Am I wrong? Ok I have white friends and?

Question

they just joke around and say stuff like "Whats up n-i-g-g-a?" or they will say stuff like "i love you like a n-i-g-g-e-r loves chicken"and stuff like that. I'm black and I dont take offense when white people say n-i-g-g-a or make jokes like that. But one of my black friends heard one of my white friends call me a n-i-g-g-a and she got soo mad and she was like "Katie why do you let them talk to you like that?" I was like I dont care, its just a word. Like i know they are joking around with me now she won't talk to me and calls my white friends racist. Am I wrong, i really don't see anything wromg with them saying n-i-g-g-a

Answer 1

well if they are your friends, you know what they are like, and you know that they are joking so you dont take offense to it, like probably you shouldnt, im sure they dont mean anything by it, like you said its just a word. You can tell when a person means it or is saying it as a racial put-down so if they arent saying it that way, and you dont mind it, then its ok. Your friend that got mad about it just doesnt know your friends like you do so it may make her feel angry because she sees it like they are being racist. Some people are just more sensitive than others. Some people dont like to play that way. Others dont see what the big deal is. Thats a natural response though, she probably has had negative experiences before with people that ARE racist and that might have made her react that way

Answer 2

You should definilty feel it's wrong to be called that if they are using that word in a context of demeaning you. It's just like if someone calls you gay when your not. You should feel offended if they are using that word to say your weak or stupid or not who you say you are. If someone calls you gay in a positive way, which I've never heard of, then by all means don't take offense. It's exactly like if someone calls you stupid, or a retard. You will take offense if someone calls you a retard. Sure, you not retarded, but that doesn't change the fact that you should feel bad if they are trying to demean you when calling you that.

So, if someone like your friends call you a N.i.g.g.a and they're white, you should make sure you really do know for a fact that they are just joking, and not testing out how far they can go with calling you names and thinking it's funny because you want to pretend it's all fun and games. People do make fun of others and pretend it's just fun when all they're really doing is getting more of a kick out of doing this to you because your buying that it's just meaningless jokes.

Make sure your not being gullable.

Answer 3

I personally don't think the word should be used at all by any one. Okay now this is just my opinion here, but for a word to loose it's power is has to stop being used. It has to die (the word I mean), it has to be let to die. Continued use of the word in any context only gives it power (joking or other wise). What if some other kids (or adults) that truly are racist start calling you that, kids that are not teasing you. They would assume it's okay.

Answer 4

I think it's wrong for white people to call black people that, but I'm sure that your friends aren't being racist, they just mean it as a joke. What I don't understand is why it is acceptable for black people to call other black people that? Talk about double standards!

Answer 5

noun
1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

a. a black person.

b. a member of any dark-skinned people.

2. Slang:
Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.

3. a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.


Look up the history of the word and you just might not like being called this by anyone.

Answer 6

you are very wrong in my opinion and in my opinion those are not your real friends or they would not be saying those things to you. and just for clarification, i think that it is also wrong for fellow blacks to call each other that as well. that word has all kind of racial and negativism attached to it and it should never be used by anyone. we as black people are a proud people and we should never lower ourselves to that level at any time. i think you should approach your white friends and tell them in love that you don't appreciate that. if they stop and respect what you are saying cool. if they don't then they are not your friends and you should leave them alone. they would not like it if you were to turn around and start calling them ugly things in return.
***‧ger  /ˈnɪgər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[***-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
—Usage note The term ****** is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. Definitions 1a, 1b, and 2 represent meanings that are deeply disparaging and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. Definition 1a, however, is sometimes used among African-Americans in a neutral or familiar way. Definition 3 is not normally considered disparaging—as in “The Irish are the ******* of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments—but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile.
–noun 1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a. a black person.
b. a member of any dark-skinned people.

2. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.
3. a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.

***·ger (ngr) Pronunciation Key
n. Offensive Slan.

Used as a disparaging term for a Black person: “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a ******” (James Baldwin).
Used as a disparaging term for a member of any dark-skinned people.
Used as a disparaging term for a member of any socially, economically, or politically deprived group of people: “Gun owners are the new *******... of society” (John Aquilino).

Answer 7

ok, I'm in a interracial marriage, I've been married for 20 years, i have many black friends, i have never said anything like that to my friends, now, i know of some black people who say that to each other, but that's up to them if they want to do that , i personally would not, now, your friends, who are young , probably don't mean any thing by it they probably hear other people say it , & they just think its ok to do that, we just had an incident with my grandson, most of all his friends are black, he is 8 years old & he went to school where he did it all the time when he greeted someone, but then he moved & started going to another school, well i guess you know what happened!! he was greeting everyone in that mannor, needless to say the school went bezerk, but my point is, i really dont think your friends truly mean you any ill effects, but it is up to you to stop it, if your uncomfortable, or you feel disrespected.

Answer 8

hmmmm, i'd never call a black person that. there are just too many negative connotations---its a hurtful word to a lot of people.

by the same token i would not like to be called whitey or honkey--and that's happened plenty in my life. i was also called poop-duck a lot by some blacks---but then again they didn't like us white folk and called all of us poop-ducks. can i ask? what IS a poop-duck, anyway?

i wouldn't like it---you can do as you like---but i don't think its a good idea. i don't know of any whites who would say such a thing to a black person---i think my circle of friends is just too uptight for that kind of talk.

Answer 9

Yea that used to happen to me but I did take offence and one day I got fed up and broke my friends jaw. There obviously not your friends if they say that and making jokes like that aren't funny. If you don't take the slightest offence to it then maybe you are just an ignorant n igger. Don't let people insult you like that and stop hanging out with them. Yes it's just a word, with a meaning. You go up to a girl and call her a b itch and see if she just laughs at that or beats your a ss then you will have your answer of "it's just a word"

Answer 10

Hi Katie,
I don't think you're wrong. You look nice people and your point of view about the joke is so friendly, peaceful, conciliatory, kind, but I think that your friends could be more "original" and to do jokes on other things, i mean it seems that they have a very simple/easy/vulgar sense of humor (that's only under my opinion).
Hello from barcelona, Spain.