Why is it okay for them to use the N-word?

Question

Why is it okay for black people to refer to themselves by the N-word, but if whites do it, all of a sudden we are labeled racists? Am I the only who thinks this is totally unfair?

I put this question in the vegan section because I am a vegan.

newgran, you got that right. It appears as they have a whole lot of special rules. One of the appears to be the ability to get a job just because they are black.

Good answer Hot Pink.

cbr60037, I agree with you and that was what this question is about. It appears as though blacks can make racist statements and it is okay. However, we even say the N-word in a private cell phone conversation, then all of a sudden it is national headlines.

David V, you are talkin giberish. Have you been eating watermelon?

Answer 1

One rule for them
And another one for us!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Why did you put this question in the veggie/vegan section? Because you are a vegan????? The whole point of Answers is that the questions in the specific sections are about that topic, isn't it? Or am I missing something?

I kinda get the feeling that you just like to stir up trouble between people. Almost every question I've seen on here from you is angry, opinionated and trouble making. Why do you do this? Some might say that your question is racist to start with! My view is that everyone is the same under their skin so what's the fuss about?

Answer 3

I don't think it's worth making a fuss about. What exactly is a white person losing by not being able to use a word that is offensive to some people?

I work with some black people who probably wouldn't care if I used the word when we talk socially, but I avoid it anyway. I just think it's more respectful. I got teased a little a couple of weeks ago because I referred to an old Richard Pryor comedy album as "That N-Word's Crazy." So what. That's okay.

I'm old enough to remember when we still had segregation. Talk about "totally unfair."

There is still genocide and oppression in the world, and some white people complain because they want to use the N word? Some folks don't know what unfair really means.

My wife is from India and she is very dark skinned. When she lived in a small town in the USA about 20 years ago they used to call her the N word and dump garbage on her front door step. Maybe you are too young to know what racism is.

Answer 4

I once worked for a west African embassy. The ambassador had 11 children. The eldest was BLACK, and they referred to him as the N-----.
Racism isn't a one-way thing and neither is discrimination. I was the only white in the Embassy. A visitor to the Embassy, obviously trying to provoke me, said, 'One day there will be a black in the White House.' I replied, 'Yes, I agree, and why not a black woman?'
He was appalled, 'A woman in the White House? Never!'
Just the other day, I was talking to two black asylum seekers. Asking how they got into Switzerland without visas, I pointed out that they could only travel with fake EU passports or South African passports. The latter because South Africans don't need visas for Switzerland. I added that this dated back to the days of Apartheid, when blacks from South Africa couldn't travel, and added that the Swiss didn't expect blacks to arrive.
They both agreed with me and neither were worried about what I had said. They said it was not racist, but reality.
I suppose it comes down to how you use the 'N' word. Personally I don't use the word, but that's my choice.
I eat meat, fish and cheese, and that's my choice too.
If you really want to offend a black, call him a 'Bounty Bar'.

Answer 5

I am not answering because I am a black person, but just as an individual. But I would have to say that N word has two different meanings or interpretations according to different races. If you recall a long time ago with the black slaves and white masters that word was used in a very offensive and derogative manner toward black slaves. If a black person says it another black person it is not interpreted in the same way. It has a different meaning. I can't really explain it fully, but I hope can somewhat understand. To be honest with you I cannot simply square out one set of race, because each race has some type racist label.

Answer 6

Words are just words...they totally depend on the context. I think the black community has taken this word back and developed it from being an insult only used against them to a term which isnt as negative. When a white person uses it it is usually insulting, but i agree it is a bit double sided and controversial, I think the best thing would be for no one from any race to use it because it can so easily cause offence, even when that isnt the intention.

Answer 7

I have tattoos but that doesn't mean I put all my unrelated questions in that category. That's stupid.

I don't think it's unfair. It's a word with a lot of power due to its past. It means one thing between black people and something else entirely coming from a white person. Do you really think you're suffering some terrible injustice because you can't go around freely spewing a hateful word whenever you want? If that's the biggest thing you have to worry about, you're lucky.

Answer 8

I'm of the feeling that slurs in general are inappropriate and I don't use them. I don't think it's unfair that "they" can use them and "we" can't, because I have no desire whatsoever to. Being white makes it really hard to understand what it's like to have a history of being dehumanized by another group of people.

Your best bet is to ask a black person (or better yet, lots of different black people) their opinion. Of course, many black people aren't down with it at all. I have had this conversation, and you do get some interesting answers.

The most common ones have to do with camraderie. An example: It's okay for you to call your friends names, or gripe about your parents/siblings/whoever, it's definitely not okay for someone who is not part of that relationship to do so. I'm not a psychologist, but I think that this boils down to respect. You know that you love your friends and family. Your friends and family know where you stand. You can be angry at them, but you still love and respect them. When someone who you don't know well talks crap, you don't know whether if's out of frustration/anger or disrespect.

Additionally, it is one heck of a loaded word and one heck of a loaded history. Since nasty names have been used to dehumanize groups for a long times, it's pretty inappropriate for someone outside of the group to even mess with it. While many people, both in and out of a group (be it any minority or marginalized group), think it's inappropriate to use certain words period, there are those who have found comfort in "reclaiming" them. Using words that have traditionally been derogatory in a safe setting can help take the sting out.

I hope that makes some sense. Your best bet, of course, is to just avoid using nasty words to describe other people, regardless of what they say. You never know where the line is, so steer clear.

Just think about some of the things you may say about yourself among friends. Maybe now and then you gripe about a bad hair day, a breakout, gaining some weight. We all do, right? Your friends might tease you by agreeing, reassure you... I don't know the dynamics of your social circle. But the fact is that it's your social circle. There's a huge difference between you or one of your friends talking about your weight and an outsider calling you fat. (Yes, it's a relatively trite analogy, but it gets the point across.)

In short, I think the key is in the Self vs. the Other. What is okay within a community is not always okay for an outsider.

But seriously... ask some black people that you know how they feel about it... I would ask people that you know, at least a little bit. If you don't have any black friends, go for a teacher at your school. Good luck to you.

Answer 9

The n notice skill lazy no solid guy or woman. It would not communicate with the colour of dermis. besides the fact that if using heritage the human beings of African decent or darker dermis shade have been called this as a placed down. i do no longer think of that's suited to apply the N notice. at some point i became walking and a team in the back of me became loud and tossing around the N notice. finally i could desire to take it no longer and circled to enable them to have it for using this notice on one yet another. once I circled I pronounced no longer something because of the actuality that i became dealing with 3 whites and a pair of Asians... i could could desire to offer a very diverse speech. The n notice isn't ideal in any type or creed of folk and human beings of darker dermis tones shouldn't undertake a word used to maintain them in a state of low self-nicely worth and poverty.

Answer 10

Here is a perfectly good example:
Say you are a big brother to a 9 yr. old girl. You are at school during lunch period, and you make fun of your sister. All of the sudden, your friends start to make mean comments to your sister. What would you do? Most likely, you will stand up for your sister, and tell your friends to back off. It is the same situation for the African Americans.

Answer 11

Ashley,
What planet do you live on that gives preference to black people for jobs?
Is it the same planet where they don't get stopped and searched as much as white people?
I would like to live there as it sounds much nicer than where I live, where people with any different skin colour have a much harder life than I do in a lot of ways.
Get back to asking questions about vegetarianism - at least you have some semblance of knowledge about that!!!!