To african americans?

Question

I was always curious as to why do some african americans think its ok to say the n-word all the time. Even in a lot of rap songs you hear people say the n-word. But when a white person turns around and says it then they are wrong. I just don't get it. If some blacks don't want people direspecting them then why do they go around saying it. So it's ok to direspect yourself but nobody else bet not do it. And by the way I am african american as well. I just want opinions.

Answer 1

This based on history. When a white person uses the word, old images of slavery and degredation are evoked. This was a word that was used to insult and demean an entire race of people for so long.

However many black people feel(although I do not agree), that by taking the word and using it themselves they can take some of the "sting" out of it. Much like one white person calling another a "honky" or some of my Indian friends who use various deragatory terms when addressing each other. Many feel that if you do it, then its ok, because you're apart of the group being demeaned but conversely, they won't stand for anyone else doing the same thing.

The word in and of itself is ignorant, disgusting and wrong. I refuse to use it but have several family members and friends who do not feel it is inappropriate, and they use it to refer to both black and white people.

Answer 2

Wow I am African-American, and the n-word, has a long history before slavery. The n-word simply means ignorance, or belittle someones intelligence or ability. The n-word to me is just a disrespectful as saying stupid, idiot, dumb or using profanity at me. People do things out of ignorance, and because they don't know where the English language developed (linguistics), and how the n-word was developed. To me either everybody can say it or nobody can say it, God is not biased and neither am I. Think about it though that word is not to commonly used with older people 50 years of age - 80 years. Why? perhaps maturity may play a factor. Most rap artist are young people, thus they are going to act and behave like young people, and you should view them as kids. Once they get older, notice they stop rapping, and most of the time get mature, clean up language, quit rapping e.t.c. So, blacks say it to each other, because of simply misguided ignorance, and it is not okay. I use it myself, and when I use it, I mean it in a disrespectful way (the slave way), I use it like when I call a person a B***. As a white individual ask this to people face to face, blacks, and tell them the history of the n-word, and how either all people can use it for the original term (which is non-racial only meaning ignornace) or don't use it at all.

Answer 3

The word was historically created as a way to insult and hurt black people. However, black people were wise enough and strong enough to take the word away from those who tried to hurt them with it and made it into a word of endearment towards each other. When black people use the word with other black people, they are not using as a way to hurt other black people.

However, when those who are not black use the word, it causes one to hesitate and wonder if they are trying to be hateful with the word. That is why non-blacks should not use it. Because the way you use it can very easily be misinterpreted as hateful and racist.

I am a black man and I choose not to use the word. However, I a am smart enough to know that when a black person use the word with another black person it takes on a totally different meaning then how the word was originally defined.

Answer 4

Ok first i am white...but it's like this:::it's an inside joke between the people who have a right to say it.
Like if you were at ur grandmother funeral and u and ur cousin laughed @ how they made you grandmothers breasts stand straight up(because they never where like that when she was a live. ) Now suppose a stranger walked in and started laughing about it. It would make you very mad!!!!
Like if you were a jew and u and ur friend joked by saying hail hitler...it would be a ironic inside joke. Because they are actually hurt by it---so its funny for them to say it(IRONIC)but if someone else said it it wouldn't be hateful. Or If you and ur friend had HIV you might occasionally make an ironic joke about it to ease the tension. But if someone else said somthing it would make you mad.
Black people are making a ironic joke by saying the "N" word. But if a white person calls them that ...then that is the same as the slave owners saying it(meaning that u agree with the slave owner)....Unless you have delt with the hurt behind it...you have no right to be in on thier inside joke. It is a way of coping with the pain in the word...by being ironic!!!

Answer 5

I agree with you.

Not only the "N" word. But the "F" word and others.
The songs are so nasty nowadays.
What happened to the fantastic love songs that
blacks were known for. It's so sad.

Although I believe every race has the "N" factor, I believe that those that use that word in a derogatory way are the true "N's".

By the way...I'm not "African" American.

I am an American.

Answer 6

Wow why is this so offensive to you black man?? the word is not a disrespectful word or term at all it has just been molded this way
Now this word comes from a place not a term it is both from Niger Africa and Nigerian Africans and they have every right to use the short term it reminds them of the struggle and love and bond which kept all of the African kidnapped from these 2 regions of west African Alive and they dare not stop using the term it is all so a battle cry for freedom of speech and a dare to the white man it is a war line a battle line one dares any white man to cross now a day i understand your point of view but you are all wrong for you know not the Afrocentric beat of the true drum not what the white man deems to be right or wrong but what blacks culture allows and disallows and the term ****** should not be one of them it is ours it is unique and they have every right to use this term as they chose too!

Answer 7

Why would you need to know such a thing, if you truly are black? You would not ask such a question, just to merely get opinions. You would know in your heart of hearts why ni**as call each other ni**as because we are collectively disrespected. I bet every one of the blacks who try and make using the word ni**a a bad thing , are the same blacks who run around saying "OH WE ARE MINORITIES, WE ARE JUST A MINOR THING". These types of blacks are brainwashed, and look down on my 16-25 year old generation. How dare you.

Answer 8

becuz we say Ni99a not Ni99er it has a diffrent meaning just think off it as a bad habit like smoking cigarettes some might get killed others might get hurt

ni99a is in the dictionary as diffrent meaning look it up and since you listen to rap yoou would no what *TUPAC* said about ni99a


"Naturally Intelligent God Gifted Africans or Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished

Answer 9

I agree with you completely. I think Blacks who use the n-word outside of academia sound like idiots. The absolute worst ones are those disillusioned Blacks who are under the misguided impression that saying it repetitively, they can "reclaim it". The word was never owned by Black people to begin with! It's a disgusting word that no one should use.

Answer 10

this young little ones is yet another ploy to make you think of that American Blacks and Africans hate one yet another, they do no longer, and that's noted as an attempt at divide and triumph over, next time they'll ask "why do Caribbean Blacks hate American Blacks " or "why do American Blacks hate eu Blacks"...you get my waft....