I'm white so ya... Most cough I mean all black people take the quest why cant we use the n word too literally we not saying we going to say it if its okay just saying hey your a racist idiot for using it. For many reasons:\n1. white people long ago made it duhhh (words are like fades they get old)\n2. It has no double meaning no matter how many times black people call them selves the N word. (yes this means your degrading your self over and over again)\n3. White people dont go around calling each other Honky or seen black people refer to it as the H word haha cute or the C word ya Cracker. ( yes no matter how many times you insult one another no one really wins)\n\nSo why does the N word get used so much why should anyone be allowed to use it seeing how it has one meaning and its hurt full yes stop pretending N word users it only has one true meaning its not special in any way at all just cause yall use it.  Main point wise up dont insult each other.
131148
Your question is a strange one. Are you asking because you want to get in on calling blacks niggers?\n\nI can only tell you why it's not ok for me. First, the word is offensive and was created and used by bigots as a means to express their hatred toward blacks and destroy their esteem. The person using it is assuming a position of superiority over the person that they are directing it to. Second, there is no way to use the word nigger lovingly. To use it is to tell the other person that they are subhuman, the lowest, dirtiest, most worthless piece of crap that you have ever laid eyes on. There is no racial slur that can compete with it.\n\nTo use it as a white person is to subscribe to hatred. To use it as a black person shows profound ignorance (of the history and meaning of the word). Imagine kids who were born to a single mother. She resents the kids and calls them bastards all the time and beats them. Then one day the kids all get out of this bad situation and grow up to have kids of their own, and grandkids, and so on. Three generations later, all of the members of this big, extended family refer to each other as "bastard".  They adopted the hateful slur that was used by their oppressor in order to destroy their esteem to define themselves - anyone in their right mind would think that they were crazy.\n\nIf you hate black people, think they are scum, and believe you are superior to them, by all means, use the word nigger.
561299
I LOVE this question. Absolutely love it. I believe the "urban" vocabulary (or the lack of it) is destroying what little is left of good English in this country. I agree with all of the above, except the one about the "N-word." I hate that word too. However, the fact that our sister has implied that people who are black can use that, and us blanco's can't, is pure hypocrisy. Hypocrisy and stupidity. \n\nThe fact that that word carries any negative connotations at all is entirely because of who invented it (redneck southern plantation owners, who didn't CREATE it...they merely changed the pronunciation). n--i--g--g--e--r is simply a white rednecks way of reading/pronouncing the spanish word (LOOKITUP!) for black, niger. So I very firmly believe that no one should use the word, INCLUDING people who are black who don't respect themselves. The use of the word by them and not us "whites" is also hypocritical because it is reverse-rascism. So because you are a person who is black, that means that the blancos are racist, because they're white? Did anyone stop to consider that when you play the color game the insults run both ways? Hypocrisy. If a person who was black called me white-trash, that wouldn't bother me. It's true. If I said "black trash" to a person who was black who lived in the gutter, they'd probably kill me. There's something wrong with this picture! A person's skin tone should not change the way we interact with them.
77727
Well, I have been discrminiated against and racially profiled. I am a militray wife and been just about every where and because of my fair skin I have been assumed to be Everything but, black. Because they say I "sound" white. Many people are under the assumption that all black people are "brown skinned". NOT TRUE. we come in different shades. I am mixed with Seminole Indian, African American, German and Irish. Despite of my many mixed nationalities I am abdominatly "Black". But, it's ashame to see that people still use the "N" word even within the black community. But, as soon as a person of a different race says it, it's offending. So, why call eachother that. It is a sticky discussion and can go on for years to come.
403927
Why JUST the "N" word?  We "need" (please note the quotes) to have words that hurt.  Some people would not be able to speak if they weren't able to deride somebody else in doing so.  Small minds produce small ideas.  The answers lay in the Bible.  IF were were to follow its (God's) word, we would all be treating each other a whole lot better.  God bless.
102885
I think a little creativity on your part could certainly make the "n word" non-existant in your learning environment.\n\nHave you considered writing a lesson plan about the origin of this derogatory term, it's original usage, and how it is being "reclaimed" by newer generations in popular culture?  Have the students write a paper what the word represents to them prior to beginning the lesson, and then have them write how they feel about that word after you teach them the origin and history of this term.  \n\nOpen it up for discussion in your classroom, or even stage a debate as to why it should or shouldn't be used in everyday language.  Pose questions to them like, "How do you feel when people who are not African-American use the 'n word' in everyday speech?"  and "How does it make you feel when people use that term in a negative connotation to demean people?"\n\nYou can conclude the lesson by sharing your point of view on the matter and saying, "Because I do not believe this word has a place in our classroom or in any other profession setting, I will not be tolerating further use of this word in this room."\n\nToo many teachers turn their back on this subject.  Thanks for taking a stand and wanting more for your students.
16736
there is a lot of history behind the n-word. It was originally used to hurt black people, and to make them feel inferior however, some black people have taken it and flipped the meaning in an effort to give it a pos. connotation, like how women sometimes refer to each other as hoes, b*****s, etc. but if you'd like more info on the topic read "N*i*g*g*e*r: the strange career of a troublesome word" by Randall Kennedy.
298703
I don't want to use it.. I think it's a tasteless word in my personal opinion.. but I have seen instances when I have been around black people where they use the word like I would say "Dude" in my own personal slang.\n\nI wouldn't want to use that term, it just isn't in my personal vocabulary.. I've asked this question before because I was curious as to why is it ok for this term to be used, or even accepted.. it appears to be sometimes.\n\nI know when I hear a word that is set in different tones what the meaning behind it is. When I have heard a white person say that word, it bothers me because I see it as a negative racial term.  But when I hear the word between two black people, it makes me curious as to why why why?\n\nCultures are different.. I don't know why others would want to use that specific word...but I do know there are many slang terms that seem to be universal in meaning.. this one is not one in my opinion.
257949
It is not OK. I don't call a white person Cracker. First of all, it would make me look like the biggest degenerate alive.  Secondly, I would be a hypocrite because i'm promoting racism and I'm black.\n\nI do know what you're referring to. I've seen blacks call white people this name often and the only thing I can think of is that some people feel they have a GO card because they're black and the whole history of racism/slavery thing..Unfortunately, this only perpetuates the problems and further points out our tainted history.\n\nI'm black and engaged to a white man and we have a beautiful daughter so I would never call a white person a racist name for the sake of my daughter's budding identity.
74348
alright people listen up..i've read a couple of the responses to this question and i came to this conclusion.  the word "nigger" only has negitive meaning because we give it this meaning,  not to say it is ever accepable to use this word for it's originally intended purpose(to degrade, insult and characterize based on skin color)it's not "your" word if your black just like cracker isn't a white people only word.  THEY ARE JUST WORDS and until our society can get passed these words of ignorance there will always be problems with race.  i'm a "nigger" & a "cracker" and so are all of us.  so i urge all of you to quit using these old words and lets think of a word that discribes us all...\n.....maybe something like "human"\n\nP.S. I think its real funny that the word nigger won't show up on the board but "cracker" will.(thats a double standard)
17934
Like many acronyms, it has evolved into a pronunciation that, due to a more rhythmic sound, people are likely to find more "catchy" and memorable.\n\nAnd simply calling us "colored" doesn't make people racist, but imagining oversimpllified explanations for racial defensiveness probably does.
416257
I don't know how long the word "cracker" has been used to refer to whites, but I remember back clearly 50 years, and to my knowledge it wasn't used then.  I only first saw it being bantered around here in Q&A, actually.\n\nThese names make little difference.  White trash is the same as the N word.  It applies to certain people and to others it doesn't.  The fact that some people put such stock in a word, mystifies me, but to keep the peace we probably should publicly go along with it.  What becomes more serious, I  imagine is when the names change often; even within generations...  N to colored, to negro, to black, to people of color, to Africian American, all within  one lifetime becomes a bore.  I don't think scienfically the race name has ever change (I may be wrong).  Whites are caucasion,  blacks are still negroes (I think), I believe Asians are Asians. And the intigious peoples of the world as well are intigious peoples of their region.\nAnd then you start mixing religions in with race names and it is truly ridiculous.  Muslim isn't a race, neither is Buddhist; Jew may be a race of people (members genetically of the 13 tribes, I suppose) or a religion (like Liz Taylor)\nAll this sensitivity is probably not very helpful to anyone's self esteme or human relations in general.\n\nAnd then finally, there's a difference between racism, and picking and choosing the people you want to associate with.  Generally in America we do it by educational levels, intelligence and economic standing.  Those people who don't fit into what we consider civilized behaviour within the group we belong, are usually, and properly so, excluded from our A List for cocktail parties.
527860
I think it's because the "n" word has historically been such an oppressive, negatively-charged word... it was used in a very derogatory way back when slavery and segregation were a normal part of life.  For white people to use the word in modern times is like giving a nod of approval to the way black people were treated back then.  Black people using racial slurs to refer to white people is still a bit unpleasant, but it doesn't have quite that same historical undertone to it.
491960
Technically, its not a racial term. It is just a term blacks used to identify whites who were abusive. Since it carries emotional hatred, it became a pseudo racial epithet but to be honest it is pretty weak and silly. It's basically using an old slang that meant "racist" as a racist term. See the problem?
575873
Many people are instantly offended when this question is asked, even in the most respectful way from a curious mind.  So now instead of getting information on your question people are attacking you for asking the question.  This is why this question and the word in fact remains a taboo, because most people will not talk about it openly with another race and automatically take offense to the inquiry.  \n\nI don't know why any race would refer to themselves with an offensive word or term.  But in the same sense a word only has the power to offend you when you allow it.  And in reference to this word it carries so much meaning historically, and not in a good sense, that Americans as a culture should make the decision to omit the word from our vocabularies.
504347
There are black people who don not like the N' word being used by other blacks and there are blacks who choose to use it with each other. However ALL blacks agree that no white person should use it EVER. Their is no word that black people can use that carries the pain, hatred, and brutal history of slavery and the struggle for  blk freedom that the N' word does.  Their are blk senior citizens who are still afraid of white people' because of what that word means.  No one will ever have the right to abuse us again. Don't get it twisted. Until your relatives are held down and raped in-front of you , your church is burned to the ground, your windows are broken out because you moved to a NICE neighborhood, Don't even consider using that word. unless of course your a racist. I prefer to know who the enemy is. I cannot give an excuse for other blacks who use it' but we don't need anyone adding to their ignorance. and I can't even begin to say what I think about that tree remark. Oh wait,  His career is hung and done just like that statement.
595422
I agree.  I don't like to use the term because I believe that it is incorrect.  It is also promoting segregation and misunderstanding.  When people choose to separate themselves by racial titles they are saying that they are unwilling to be a part of this culture.  This breeds contempt amongst other groups who feel that they are being pushed aside or belittled because they don't have a special title for themselves too.  \n\nI find it amusing that some black people are offended for being called black but then the next words out of their mouths are about white people.  If I'm white you're black.  I really don't see what's wrong with that.\n\nAlso, almost no one in this country is all of any ethnicity.  I don't want to be called French-Canadian-Belgian-Spanish-Lebanese American.  What a freakin' mouthful!  Blacks are no different.  If you go back into your geneaology you will find many different groups represented in there.  Why would you choose to leave those out?  They are as much a part of you as any other group.
57148
I am white and I would never use that word. Among our friends, I can't think of anyone who uses that word so please do not classify all whites in the same category, okay? Oh to answer your question. NO, it is not OKAY!