Is "the N-word" bad when anyone uses it?

Question

Do racial insults always hurt?
If I call myself an "ofay" or "honkey" or a "cracker," is that okay, or am I demeaning myself and others?
Are racial insults or slurs ever acceptable?

Answer 1

The N word is bad no matter who uses it. It still carries the meaning of slave even if people of color are calling each other that. What they don't realize is that they are cursing themselves. It's not right for anyone to use the N word. It's a derogatory word that just should not be used. If you're calling yourself those names then you ARE demeaning yourself. Racial insults and slurs are never acceptable.

Answer 2

The "N-Word" is bad...all the time. Nobody should be using it for any reason...ever.

"It's in rap music?" That's no justification. When's the last time you heard 50-cent, the Game, Young (fill in the blank) say something positive? I would hope these guys are not anybody's role model. I know they are, but they shouldn't be. Rap music has really gotten...pitiful lately in terms of quality (rapper skill) and content (what they're saying) but that's a subject for another question. You know what many rappers call women..."the b-word". Would you ever use that word when talking to or about your mother, sister, girlfriend, wife, daughter? Rap is 99.95% make believe. Chances, you'd get really dead (or in really big trouble), really fast if you did any of that stuff in real life. Trust me, screaming "G-Unit" afterword wouldn't be able to get you out of it, either.

"Black people use it". That is true. Some do, and that's really sad. Contrary to what you may have heard, it's not a term of endearment. It's typical used by people relegating themselves to the lowest societal rungs. These are often really poor people or those pretending to be (rappers and a large number of middle and upper class kids acting "hood") . Case in point, why would anybody want to be a thug? Within that group, it's a general term meaning "black man/woman". I've heard "the b-word", "punk", "shady", "cheap" thrown right in front of it (i.e., "b-word n-word") and it's not meant to be at all endearing. There's some self hatred at the root of this use of the "n-word" that's hard to explain (would take a few hundred words). The truth is most black people don't use it (at least not publicly), and would never allow anyone to use it when referring to them. That includes myself.

"We can save this word or take away its power". Why would you want to? Why on Earth is this a word worth saving? It's meant to dehumanize an entire group of people. Without that element, it has no meaning. Trust me, no amount of use is going to pull the sting out of it. And no rational person will believe that it can ever, EVER mean "friend". Any attempts to save this word (I'm assuming by using it publicly) could get the saviour in a lot of trouble, seriously hurt, or worse. Is it really worth all the hassle to save a "powerless" word? If you've just got to save something, go save a tree or some species of owl.

The same thing can be said for all racial/religious/cultural slurs. It's best not to use them at all (even whenever you fall within the group). There's always a negative element and often not much else.

Answer 3

Personally I think racial slurs against whites don't bother or affect me at all. That is not to say that it is right to do it, but I think that over reacting actually shows your weakness.

To answer the first part of your question last, yes, I think it is always bad now to use the "N" word because it seems to bother blacks so much; it bothers them so much they use it themselves, but do not want anyone else to use it. I think it is an exclusive slur for them only now.

If the Blacks would stop using N I G G E R in their music, movies, comedy routines and in public, perhaps that word would eventually DIE. And that would be better for everyone.

As for me, call me anything, but not late for dinner.

Answer 4

Yes it is and a lot of people have died and fought to get the "N" word out of the english vocabulary. I think anyone who uses racial insults even if you are the same race it is disrespectful.

Answer 5

i think of it happens extra desirable than we understand, yet-------- Why do you think approximately the n observe to be the main offensive and upsetting observe you need to use. i'm useful there are different words that are basically as offensive and degrading. you won't be a racist, yet you certainly choose a stint in an anger administration type, plus maybe you may have an more desirable vocabulary. Having a quick fuse basically skill which you haven't any longer discovered to regulate your thoughts. you're no longer on top of issues. sturdy success in engaged on those issues.

Answer 6

Yes, it is, no matter what race you are. Racial stereotypes, however, (small, trivial things like how cheap some people are)should be acceptable, but for some strange reason, it is not. Stereotypes are what makes everybody unique.

Answer 7

Black people seem to be able to use the "N-word" with impunity but it is racial for other races to use it?

I think it's a word well rid of in everyone vocabulary.

Answer 8

I have never used the "N" word, but I was once called a cracker. to this day I don't know what cracker means, but I know it must not be very nice

Answer 9

the English language is so diverse and colourful, why use slurs to express yourself. try always being positive and speaking well for 1 week solid. i guarantee you will feel better and everybody around you will begin to change there opinion of you for the better

Answer 10

Technically, a word actually means what the person saying the word meant it to mean.

I think we white people should destroy the N-word forever by calling each other N-ggers.

-Aztec276