This is a serious question!?

Question

Why are black people allowed to say the "N" word to each other as a common greeting sometimes, but if anyone else says it the word suddenly becomes offensive and taboo? Isn't a racial slur a racial slur, PERIOD!? Isn't allowing one race to use it while condemning others for using it a form of racism itself?

Answer 1

the word n i g g e r would have died a generation ago if it hadn't been kept alive and healthy in their modern music and movies. It serves "their" purpose to have this word kicked about so prove how horribly oppressed they are. Removing n i g g e r from the black vocabulary or the consciousness of society would be like removing the Eiffel Tower from Paris.

Perhaps it would be better if everyone just began to use that word and forgot about the ridiculous expression "African American", then shortly the negativity would be lost in the word and there would be one more thing for that culture to be proud of.

Answer 2

maybe you should just understand that it's not offensive to them if it comes from another one of them because that's how ALL of them feel....one can't just get mad at another for it since none of the others do. that would be like going for a walk in a park with your dog and a dad with his 4 year old daughter walk by and say, "nice dog" and you kick his daughter in the head.
beyond that, over time (30-40 years), this whole thing has been the same...as far as it being ok for them to say it to each other and since it's history is so concrete, it will not change. because of it's history, it is now to the point where a white person should have no reason to say it, unless it's meant in a derogatory way. one more thing, just to compare it to something, the word "ain't" ended up becoming a word even though it is not a combination of any two words...it was done that way for so long, it had to become acceptable. if this question has an answer, that was it.

Answer 3

U right. I say the 'n' word alot (but I'm trying to stop using it). That word and all racial slurs are wrong to be used. You can't really ask us why we can and you can't. You had all of slavery and the the civil rights movement to say it, I guess you just missed your chance.

But seriously some black folk justify using it as tryin' to make it positive. YOU can't say it or choose not to say it out of repsect for black people. Really a n i gg er, ni gga, whatever could be anyone, any race. It's a word that tells how are acting not what race you are. You could be acting like the 'n' word if you're loud, or vulgar.

Getting rid of this word and it's boundaries will take literally forever beause not everyone wants the word gone.

Answer 4

This "serious" question has been asked before. Sure, the word 'n*i*g*g*e*r' was used for many years as a derogatory term, and it is understandable - coming from the Spanish word for 'black' (*****). I agree - a racial slur is a racial slur. If one group of people uses it, but the other group is not allowed to, this does NOT constitute racism. Perhaps it is just time to increase our vocabulary, and move beyond its limits. The only question that your question raises is - who is it that "allows" its use?

Answer 5

well, i see what you mean but over the years the "N" word has become a sort of slang.
It only really becomes the "N" word if you have a malicious meaning beind it.
Now i know this sounds stupid but it doesnt really affect anyone if you use it playfully but even then you must be carefull and you must be sure that the person you are speaking to will not take it offensivly.
but also this is where ones morals come in.
if you just dont appreciate using that word at all, then dont.
the fact that its kinda of a slang does not mean that you can go around "playfully" calling everyone the N word.
I guess you should use it (or not) at your own discression...

Answer 6

A lot of things are soon to change, because of the double standard these days. You can't be a gay married couple because you will not reproduce, well then, you can only marry as man and woman if you are going to reproduce, no, so this too will change. You cannot throw a party about another ethnic background if it is not your own, but what about the motion picture show,(and I liked it), " White Chick's", this also is the double standard and this too will change. This year a lot of things will change making this, our countries Constitution, we abide by as Americans, not revised but to be understood that it is, equality for all, as it has always stated and meant, word for word. We can not afford, arm chair warriors and their cigars any more, to try to interpret the Constitution to we, the People, not one more minute, let alone the year it may take to get it right.
God bless us all...

Answer 7

In my opinion you answered your own question, although I don't believe they mean it as a racial slur when they call each other that. I feel it is offensive no mater where it comes from and people of all races should think before they speak. Enough said.

Answer 8

I agree with you in theory BUt I heard a black person answer this questions once and this is what was said.....it is not the same thing as when a white person uses the N word because black people never had slaves...and white people did...So because white people in the past oppressed blacks it is not okay to use the N word even as a term of endearment because of all the past behind whites using that word....whereas blacks did not own other blacks as slaves so they have no past history of slave ownership or opression therefor it is okay.....

I dont think all blacks think it is okay for blacks to use the N word though.....Many are very put off and offended by it no matter who is saying it.....So maybe to say it is okay with them when really it only a certain minority of blaacks who use the word and think it is okay it stereotypical at best because I am willing to bet that the majority of black people do not think it is okay no matter who is saying it....

I get where you are coming from though....... Beleive me I do....

Answer 9

ninja is what I use and is the equivalent as the n word but not offensive. I drop a ninja here and there with my black friends. It's all good.

Why not refrain from using it all together. So what if they want to call each other that. It's part of their culture and it's okay with me.

By the way, I don't know where you live ,but here in northern Cali, it's all good because black people know that those of us who are not black and use that word don't mean any disrespect. again, it's all good.

Answer 10

sociologically it is "more acceptable" for a group member to say deregotary terms against their own group. Its more acceptable for a person say of the jewish faith to make jokes about their own group. In such case, it seems as they're poking fun of the stereotypes. If any other person does it, it seems as if that person is violating the social norms.
I know some people who are black who are offended by that word no matter the race of the person who is uttering the words. There's still a lot of feeling behind the word...