Why is there a double standard for the "N word"?

Question

Why is it that Black People can say the "N Word" but White People cannot? You know it's true. Chris Rock actually said something about it once.

1. White people wouldn't want to say it. It's the principle of the matter!

2. How is the "N Word" offensive? It's just another word for a black person. In fact, why is there such a thing as a bad word? That's stupid. I hate society.

Answer 1

Personally I don't like the word at all its just a ugly word with a ugly history even though it derived from the Latin word for black"Niger". Some black people say that the reason blacks say "n*gga" to each other as a term of endearment or take away the satisfaction of whites calling them the "N word".

At the same time it still rattle a black person up when a white person says it to them, so that can be a contradicting reason. It also depends on the context if a black person called me a n*gga in a angry manner then I would be just as offended if a white person called me a n*gga.Also, it can offended a black person if white people say the word without any hesitation or thought and will come off racist.

For example I was walking to the bus stop from school one day and there were a few whites kids in car mocking me by saying "whats up OG" "do you listen to 2pac" Then they top it off by saying "do you enjoy being a true n*gga?" and that came from awhite girl and her gang-bang posse.It had nothing to do from what I was wearing or how I acted that way it was just because I was black and that pissed me off because of the fact they perceived me as just another stereotypical black person nothing more.

There is no real right answer for this double standard it is just embedded into society and American culture just like theres a double standard with men and woman. In my opinion it seems kinda petty that white people would want to say it even though the re precautions it can have on person of any race.

Answer 2

It's a privilege of the group... that's just how it is, and I suggest you abide by it unless you want to get into some serious trouble. Just like JFK stated so wisely, "Life is unfair." And as my geometry teacher stated once, "Cry me a river, build me a bridge, and GET OVER IT!"

It's really the same for all other groups, too. Any minority group can call themselves derogatory terms, and no blood is shed. It can also be because they're trying to "negate" the power of such an offensive term. For example, during the Riot Grrrls scene, a lot of women were feeling empowered what with all the female punk rock bands, zines, and the D-I-Y attitude that made men seem obsolete. Because of this, a lot of males started slinging really rude terms like "Sl*t" and "C*nt" at the women. How did they react? Women started writing those terms on themselves in order to render such words powerless.

As far as the "N" word being just another word for a black person... why don't you try THAT excuse out on a random African American and see how he or she feels about that?

Answer 3

because some people really want to keep the enmity going, and political correctness somehow demands that one side gets a pass on hate speech


why does every black comic feel the need (and more importantly the justification) to include a "y'all know what funny about white people.." bit?

For some, like bernie mac, this is pretty much the whole act


on the street it often manifests as "YO! whassup white bwaii?!?

I can only imagine the reaction if a white person were to return the question verbatim, while inverting the race.

Answer 4

It is what it is. Lots of history there. I still can't figure out why white people would want to say it, knowing how much it offends people. I certainly do not say racist words about any other race so I hope they would extend the same courtesy. I'm black but I don't just run around randomly saying it.

Answer 5

unless you are looking for something, this should not ba a problem to you. Americans don't have a problem with Bush thats why they voted him in a second time. Jews are victims but they refused an independent enquiry into the holocaust. there has not been any formal apology to blacks in south africa during aperthied, talk less about the stigma of slavery that black folks live with everyday till today. How many can I mention. do you best to share the love that you know.

Answer 6

Did you know that in some Spanish speaking cultures it is a term of endearment to call someone (even if they aren't black) "*****" or "negra" (or "negrito" or "negrita")? It's never botherd me.

Answer 7

I used to witness this in my home town.

Its kinda like, "I'll slap my kid if I feel like it, but I'll kick your a** if you touch him!"

White guilt for slavery contributes.

Politically correct Police working hard to influence our culture.

Don't let it ruffle your feathers though.

Answer 8

It's not just the N word.

It's ok for a fat person to call themselves fat, but you'd never agree or call them fat to their face.

Answer 9

Because we can! you're not black.

Answer 10

You are always welcome to curse yourself.