why can a black person call another person the "N" word but a what person can't?

Question

I was wondering why a black person can say the "N" word, but a white person can't. If a black person called another person the "N" word, they wouldn't care, but if a white person did, they flip out and it can even lead to an *** woopen. A white person isn't even aloud to say it at all even if its not directed to him. I remember in Highschool, a white person said the "N" in my reading class. As soon as the black person in the class, he practicly flipped out of his chair, "he was like who said that. He was pissed off. Then he said it again. If the teacher was not their he would have kick his ***. It wasn't even towards anybody. If a black person said this, he wouldn't care. I here them use that word all the time, but heaven forbid a white person said it. I just figured that is just the way it was. I would like to know the reall reason why.
I also would like to know why a black person can use the word black person, but a white person has to use aferican american.

Answer 1

A guy I worked with used this word when talking about some of his friends, and I asked him about it. To paraphrase his response, he said that it was a disparaging word used to put people like him down for years, and by people of his ethnicity using the word among themselves it took a little bit of sting from the word and made the word not seem as hurtful, mean spirited, or derogatory. Since I am white, the word would still have a hurtful, mean spirited, and derogatory meaning if I were to say it since I had never experienced being called that name.

Answer 2

I'm a black teenager, some of my friends use that word. But my friends are black. I've only seen a white person say that then get beat up. The reason white people can't say that word is b/c they said as soon as slavery started. The white people used it all the time, and it is an offense to use that word against someone else. But notice, only black teens and some black adults, say the N word. The reason why most of us don't use it is b/c our ancestors fought in a civil war so no one could use the N word against them. But black teens, and some black adults, use that word b/c they don't know their history. If they did they would know it's offending.

Answer 3

I am an African American woman and the word was used to degrade us for many years. I have been asked this question by many of my caucasion friends and the only way I can explain it is.........A woman takes great offense if a man was to call her a b!t@h! But my girlfriends and I use it alot to each other jokingly. I personally do not use the "N" word I feel like when African Americans use it w/each other it desensitizes everybody else to the hateful meaning of the word. As far as the "black" "white" thing, I personally do not mind if a white person referred to me as black, I have a real problem w/being called an Afro American! An afro is a hair style! I also have a problem w/filling out paper work and having to check a box that states "Black" when yours states "caucasion", that's when I want to be an African American. Black is a color not a ethnicity. So it's hard to get the lay man to understand where we are coming from when we can't even get huge coporations, the government, etc. to be more sensitive and aware of our feelings.

Answer 4

Honestly... it's not good for anyone to say it. I'm Black and Indian and in my family the word is used towards each other in a playful manner which really isn't cool. The "N" word was given to Black slaves back in the day to degrade them. Today the word said from another ethnicity basically means the same thing... it's degrading. But never the less saying to each other just seems like where hypocrites. It's bad either way it goes!

Answer 5

Personally, i don't think ANY race should use that word. It is a historically offensive word to black people and at the same time a historically racist term that is often directed a black people by white people. Why use the word period? It doesn't do anything but cause anger and obviously confusion. However, black people use the word amongst each other because the mindset is that "if you take the word and use it freely and amicably, then it no longer has power" however, using the term with other black people hasn't lessened the magnitude of the word when other races use it. Now, white people shouldn't use it because it was originated by that race to be a derogatory term for black people. Even in today's society, i would think a white person wouldn't feel comfortable even using that word. As for the students in your class, if the white person said the N word because he was referring to something written in a book (for example Tom Sawyer novels use the word freely) then the black student probably overreacted. However, if he was just using it to be using it, that was really bad judgment on his part and i understand why the black student got offended. Basically, it's a very problematic word that needs to be eliminated completely unless using it in reference to old literary works. As far as the whole african american, black person or caucasian, white person question....i am black and i am not offended when a white person refers to somebody as a black person because i refer to those in the white race as white people. African american makes some black people feel more comfortable but personally, i think the word is technically incorrect to use. To say african american implies that we are former citizens of africa who have just gained citizenship in the united states. Though many black people's ancestors may be from africa, over the decades...we can no longer be considered to be african americans....we are just americans. Just as if a white persons ancestors came from Germany many many decades ago...i wouldn't call that white person a German American...if they were born here, they are just americans. I guess the differences could be said that we are black americans and white americans. I hope that kind of helped.

Answer 6

I am really finding it hard to understand why people are so worried about why they can or can not say the N word. No one should use it. Black, white or any other color. True, there are those who feel that its been turned around and blacks use it with each other as a term of endearment or something. i personally don't agree with that. The word still carries a lot of weight today. If we don't want white people calling us n!ggers, then we should lead by example and not call each other n!gga. Period.

Answer 7

It's the principle of 'insider language'.
Minority groups sometimes take back words and labels that have been used against them. Using the words by reclaiming them for their own use, takes the power out of the words to do as much harm as was perhaps intended by the original name-callers.

For example, one black person can acceptably call another the "N" word, and it means something COMPLETELY different than if a nonblack person uses it, because there's no grounds for the possibility of racism between the two black people, whereas there IS between races.

A gay man can call a gay friend a "F*G" and it means something COMPLETELY different than if a straight and possibly homophobic/homohating person uses it. (Same with Queer.) Again, because they're both gay, there's no grounds for the assumption or possibility of homohatred or homophobia between the two, because both are gay.

There's no hierarchy implied, as there might be if a straight person uses such epithets.

Answer 8

listen ... let me break it down like this ..short and sweet .. a black person callin another black person .. is kinda like a sign of understanding.. if there was a white person that was "down" then in some cases..he is ok ..... another example..for females... if ur homegirl called u the b..word ..u would think nothin of it..but if a stranger called u the b word .. u would flip out ... kinda the same thing .... the n word is a sign of disrespect .. as far as black and white goes

Answer 9

If your ancestors were enslaved for hundreds of years and treated like trash until the 1960's(which last time I checked was only 40 years ago) you would beable to have words you can use and others cant. They word n igger was used as a derogatory term for centuries towards ebony skinned people, since they were liberated it was turned into a racial term that many blacks use to show their brotherhood, a bond that was built on hatred, lies and deceit.

Answer 10

I guess its a racism issue. If a black person calls another a "N" it wouldnt really matter because that person is black already and it wont be "racist to yourself" but if any other ethnic group (white, asian, hispanic, etc) says that word it would seem like a racial slur or something to do with hating blacks. Of course usually it doesnt really matter if your already friends with that black person, because it would guarantee it isnt racist.

hope this helps