Is there really a difference?

Question

Is there really a difference in a white person calling a black person ni**er, and another black person calling a black person ni**a? I understand that to each race they mean something different, but I don't understand why either one would be acceptable? These words were used to demean black people and take their sense of humanity. Why would it be okay to perpetuate this, no matter who says it, or what you want it to mean.

Answer 1

there is no difference and the majority of people do not even know what it means. it was not always used as a derogatory name towards black people. you dont see white people walking around calling each other cracker or "cracka", mexicans don't walk around calling each other spicks. if the n word is so offensive why would you use it to call each other. that is just about the dumbest thing i have ever heard. i hate when they say we can because we are black. well then the word doesn't offend you that much if you lovingly call you little brother or best friend that. i think that if it's not ok for everyone to say, then don't say it at all.

Answer 2

I suppose because its politically correct. I can see no difference but then I'm not politically correct. It is very easy to lose sight of what racist behaviour really is in condemning the entire white population. Racist behaviour is demeaning any person on the grounds of his race. It does not matter who is doing it or who the target is. So, I suppose it really comes down to what is meant by a black when he says that. And I'm not sure what that meaning is.

Answer 3

nobody should take offense to any word, no matter what the intention of the user is, words are only words, and will only become offensive when used in a offensive context, so if a black person calls a white person whom they know ****** , the meaning is different than when a white person calls a black person whom they don't know ******, but the thing is some people will find offense in almost anything

Answer 4

I agree that the word is demeaning and should not be used, however it's pronounced. I do think the meaning can be different depending on the intention of the user. It can be used to communicate hatred or familiarity and the intent of usage isn't always based on the race of the person using it. But at base, it's still a slur that should be consigned to history by all of us.

Answer 5

These words were not invented to demean black people they are simply what they were called 150 years ago, someone 65 years ago decide that the name was offensive and in today's times in our politically correct society people are free to choose any word in the English language and say it is offensive. But I agree with you on how the word is only offensive to them when it benefits them, and they use the N word freely amongst themselves to show the rest of the world just how simple minded they really are.

Answer 6

You need to understand that language is amorphous, and thus can mean whatever you want it to mean.

I have a ring of friends, several of them black, where the word '*****' is frequently exchanged, often as an offhand or lighthearted greeting, black to white and white to black. We're all friends, and we wouldn't insult each other, so it doesn't matter.

Answer 7

Yes, a black calls a black seems to be ok

Answer 8

Only in the spelling and the emphasis of the -er

Answer 9

It's like this.....I can talk bad about my mother, but no one else can. Same sort of thing.

Answer 10

My thoughts exactly. They use in every other sentence of their music too. So if its ok for them, then its ok for me. Thats how I look at it.