Why is it socially taboo for a white person to use a racial slur but OK for people of other racial backgrounds

Question

With regards to the Michael Richards thing, which was very unfortunate, why is that so different than the comedians I've seen on BET using the same racial slur towards members of their own race and using other slurs towards, let's say, white people?

Answer 1

I think it's because the "n" word has historically been such an oppressive, negatively-charged word... it was used in a very derogatory way back when slavery and segregation were a normal part of life. For white people to use the word in modern times is like giving a nod of approval to the way black people were treated back then. Black people using racial slurs to refer to white people is still a bit unpleasant, but it doesn't have quite that same historical undertone to it.

Answer 2

Oh, come on. I don't know who Michael Richards is (is it an American thing?) but to say that a white person using a slur against a black person is racist but a black person can call a white person something derogatory and that's ok is the most blatant double standard I have ever heard. I personally had nothing to do with slavery, given that I wasn't even born for decades after it had been abolished and to say that a black person can call me names because of it is total rubbish.

Answer 3

Well I think alot of this has to do with the "old south" the stigma that whites carry even today is that we were all slave owners and if we make a racial slur that in our heart of hearts that we must still agree with owning slaves and making people of color fill like lower class citizens. Racial slurs in general are just a way of saying what you mean to say just with a lower use of intelligence because you didn't have a more intelligent way of saying what you meant to say......

Answer 4

Reverse Discrimination.

You can call a white person whatever you want and that is ok and must be tolerated but let someone white say the word "economics" and all the sudden it is a huge conspiracy to bring back slavery.

Just another example of why the entire human race needs to be destroyed by Jupiter crashing into the Earth

Answer 5

properly, i don't be attentive to. i'm not a racist, I definitely have associates of all races and nationalities and that i be attentive to the real evil is Hate. I desire everybody could only provide up hating. i'm white, and that i assume i'm variety of universal so i don't think of that assertion is a racial slur. by utilising the way, I married a Puerto Rican gal simply by fact she exchange into so appealing and had a fireplace warm temper.

Answer 6

When a person uses a "slur" about their own race, we can assume they are joking. When they use it about someone else's race, we have to assume they are not joking, unless proven otherwise.

I had two friends who used to play at being superheroes. They referred to themselves as "Nuclear ******" and "Mighty White." (Watch what the censor does to Nuclear ******'s name.) Anyway, plenty of people got offended when MW addressed NN, but not when NN addressed MW. Why? Because "white" is not a slur. Had they used "Paleface" or "Honky" or some other word, it would be known to be a slur, but the censor still will not edit it out.

It is NOT OK for black people to call white people dirty names. It is NOT OK for white people to call black people dirty names. It is NOT OK for Asian people to call black people . . . but you get the idea. Joking with your own folks is one thing; crossing that barrier, you had better be very close friends.

Answer 7

The way Michael Richards did it was mean and insulting. Comedians on BET use the n word in a non-offensive way.

Answer 8

You can use slurs in a funny way towards your OWN race,,,like you said in your question dummy! So whiteys can make fun of themselves and eachother, just like other races do of them selves and eachother.

Answer 9

First off noone should be saying it, especially if your not black, see when a white person say it they mean it in a racsit way, but when another black person say it to a black person , that just the way some talk to each other. So lets all stop saying it

Answer 10

I think that is more offensive when a white person says it because of slavery, but when black people use it, it a term od endearment. I think that when white people use racial slurs, it good back to ancestor,who feel that "white skin is superior".