Why is it socially acceptable for black people to use the "n" word, but not for any other race?

Question

Isn't the fact that making a word appropriate and acceptable for one race and not another is indeed racism in and of itself? Is it really a matter of what's being said, or who is saying it? Why are there double standards in society? Am I a racist for asking this question? Does racist mean the acknowledgment of being a different race, or viewing one race as superior to another? Will racism ever really be dead? How much importance does it hold in today's society without the average person even knowing? Why is there a B.E.T. (black entertainment television.) Are we instilling racist beliefs on our upcoming generations? Why must schools have a certain % of nationalities in each district? Have we gone overboard with the term "politically correct?" Is the fact that a hate crime even exists racist?

Answer 1

Are you kidding me?

Answer 2

You ask a lot of questions, for thinly disguised race-baiting... that just wants to stir a senseless pot, over the "n" word. People use it, because they are conditioned to.. like any other slang, and they KNOW the audience that they are delivering it to.. they wouldn't use it around an office, or around grandma... but, in the streets and out at night, it's done.

Should you? No.

It's also now a quasi-law in NYC to not use the term, and the black community is speaking against use in media, and music especially in a gratuitous way.

Hate crimes exist. BET is a business, it's a better question why there's an NFL Network if there's NFL already on CBS, FOX and ESPN - and the Packers/Cowboys isn't going to be seen anywhere but the NFL Network.

And no one's overboard, but you.

Answer 3

once upon a time, other races used the "n" word to put black people down, so when it's said by someone who is not black, there is still that instant almost instinctive threatening response of "what did you say?" It's a like a reflex a black person can not avoid.

being black myself, I can not answer why it's "okay" for blacks to call each other the "n" word. Personally, I think it's stupid.

I don't think you're racist for wanting to know why.

A person is racist when they hate another entire race.

Programs like B.E.T. exist because black people have been excluded for so long (separate drinking fountains, separate schools, separate tv stations etc) that they've learned to imitate their abusers and thus justify their own racism with the racism of others.

Because there will always be ignorant people and because fear will always exist, no, I'm afraid racism will never truly die.

(as a side note after reading some other responses, no one race is responsible for racism. black people were selling rival tribes to the white people who took them to america. black people are just as guilty as white people and every one else in the world when it comes to racism. I think this person has been misunderstood by many. they aren't whining and they probably aren't racist. I think their question is sincere. And even if they WERE racist, responding with anger and hate is not going to help the situation.)

Answer 4

Jeez, I'm so tired of that question.

I'm old enough to remember when we had segregated schools, restaurants, bathrooms and drinking fountains in the 60s.

My wife is from India, she has dark skin, and she worked in a small town in Missouri where nearly everybody was white. People called her N----, and dumped garbage on her front door step. This was only 20 years ago.

My wife and I both worked at the same mental hospital; some of the really old medical records were labelled "colored." No kidding.

And spoiled, self-centered white people are whining because they want to use the N word. Why is it so freaking important to you? Lame.

Answer 5

Why are dark Black men more socially acceptable than dark Black women? Not true. You need to fix your own mind and stop perpetuating BS. Next.

Answer 6

I hate this question. White people created all this racial confusion now they want to cry about it. Get over it.

BET was started because networks like NBC, ABC, CBS (damn that's all the majors) weren't giving black shows a second look. I can count on one hand, how many black shows were aired on these particular networks. Now that BET is owned by a white corporation, look at all the garbage they show. They got rid of the news and put hell date in its place. They act like black folks don't want to be informed about whats going on in the world.

Answer 7

It's not socially acceptable for Black people to use the N-word. Why do people keep saying that? It's as if you've decided for us that it is socially acceptable even when we say otherwise. Only a small percentage of Blacks use this term casually as you'd like people to believe.

Political correctness is irrelevant. Common sense always prevails. Use it and stop worrying about being PC.

Answer 8

Thank you SO much Kelly4U, you could NOT have put it in better words! I don't consider myself as an American Black person (I'm from another country) but I get so annoyed when people start whining about that word. Like, is it so hard to understand that NO ONE should use that word? Do you understand that the black people you see on tv DO NOT represent all of them? use your brains people! geez! and quit whining!

Answer 9

It`s Dumb for anyone to use that crazy word. and racism will live to the end if people don`t open their eyes and see life for the great things it has to offer them. well hate crimes crimes have been around for centuries. when the black people were taken out of there home and Hung, Beaten, Tortured. for enjoyment to the K`s. we really need to stop the violence period.

Answer 10

I'm getting really annoyed with this question. It's like every other race is whining.

You seriously want to say that one word THAT bad?

Why is that hispanic can call other hispanic people **** and not getting heat for it? I've seen white people call themselves crackers - are they racist toward their own race?

Answer 11

It's alright if both people are black because if one were insulting the other he would also be insulting himself. I've heard Polish people call each other Pollocks.