First, I want to say that racial slurs of any kind are strongly punished in this house if found out about.  That said, I have a question that my eight year old son asked me this winter and I had no answer for him.  I pose it to all of you.  My son is a white child and goes to a public school.  He hears black kids around his age calling each other a n*g**r, but he is not allowed to.  He got suspended for using it but the black children got no punishment.  The question I received was, "Mom, why can the black kids call each other n****r but I can't?  It isn't fair that I have different rules at school just because of the color of my skin."  I had no answer.  I have asked both black and white adults alike this question and they had no answers either.  So I ask it too.  Why is this so?  What answer should I give to my son?
130920
This is where we must respect the race of people. I mix around with alot of different races. We can criticise our own race, make jokes about it but we have got to treat the other race with respect.\n\nIt's like your own house, you can scold your brother or sister maybe even your parents but you'd never give an outsider the same allowances. \n\nTell it straight to your son, for one race to joke about certain words, we must give them allowance but we cannot afford ourselves the same liberties.\n\nKids always want logical explanations but as an adult, we know thats how life is, some things cannot be explained in black and white.
198969
Who the HELL would go and beat a Hispanic kid for tryin to get some love. And HELL YES that is *F*U*C*K*I*N*G* racist. I am personally not a fan of racism due to the fact that I am black. Our fore fathers and God did not create this country and this world to have hateful kids that terrorize other because of their race.
149715
The Yahoo Answers team can't police everything. I'm not sure they should even try.\n\nHonestly, I don't know why you don't pull your kids out of Answers if it worries you so much. There are a lot of jerks on here, and a lot of the content is explicit and offensive.\n\nIt probably shouldn't be available for kids, but here's the thing, most of the people spouting the offensive stuff ARE kids. \n\nYou obviously don't remember what it was like to be a kid, but kids are the most foul mouthed, violent and mean creatures on the planet.\n\nGrownups are hopefully more mature. But given the ridiculous cross posting of your frankly embarrassing rants, I'm not sure you're the one I want policing maturity here.
547700
Hmmmmmmmm.  I do not know.  My daughter got butt grabbed by a boy at school.  She was mad, but said "he is Latin, I think it is in his culture.  Maybe it wasn't meant as bad as I think", she did slap him..but I am still angry.  She wouldn't report him to the school, cuz it is a private school and he is poor and there on scholarship.  She didn't want him to lose his scholarship.  I still don't think it is a culture thing, I think the kid was just trying to get away with something.  I will see what people say about this.
131532
Nice question. I wouldn't even know where to begin with answering this one there are so many issues tied up in this. Firstly are we talking UK here? I'm guessin yes. When you say "urban" are you talking inner city/ethnic minorities generally/Black youth specifically cos it all makes a difference. Also- who is doing the misunderstanding? Is it the general population cos if it's a case of the general population misunderstanding white youth that's absolutely nothing new, if it's the general public misunderstanding Black youth that's also nothing new but they're very different issues. I live in South London (arguably an area of the country with the worst reputation and some of the highest street crime rates- and an area where the stereotypes of hoodie-wearers are rife). I'm 21 (so not too far from the teens and at times  and in certain situations I still consider myself to be 'youth'). For me 11-16 is a really big age gap. If I see an 11-14 year old boy walking down the street in a hoodie my impressions of him will be different than if he's 15/16. It also depends on his demeanour- maybe I can read these things better because I'm of that age and culture and not long out of school? To give a good example the other day I was packing my car boot outside my house and I had to go back to get some more stuff. There was a young Black boy (I'd say about 12/13) walking down the street towards me with a hoodie and tracksuit. I decided that he wasn't a risk so I left my car boot open and went and got the rest of my stuff. As I was coming back to the car and he was walking off past it I thought to myself 'would I have left the car boot open if he was taller? or older? or with a group of friends? or if he looked angry or on a mission to do something bad?' I don't know. It's interesting. A couple months ago in a similar example we were unloading some drinks that we'd just bought from the car (getting ready for a party) and there were two young white girls (about 15) walking past, singing and acting silly (no hoodies). Anyway, I waited by the car til they had passed before I went inside. It was night time maybe that had something to do with it? I don't know. It's interesting because I don't have any schema that consider young white girls to be more criminal than young Black boys (and in fact dominant ideology actually works the opposite way) so as far as I'm concerned it must have been the particular circumstances and I guess that's my answer to your question. It depends. In terms of change, wow there's so much. A really good start would be breaking down barriers between young and older people- exposing them to each other's lives and cultures so they can understand there's nothing to fear and that the other should be respected (this goes both ways). Respect was my next one. Particularly young people need to recognise that their elders should be shown respect regardless of how 'deserving' they are in our eyes. I've seen and experienced some severe violence from older people towards youth (mostly on the buses) and it's just not on but maybe it should start with the youngers? Maybe we should learn to be the 'bigger man' and show respect. Take up our roles in society as the next, capable generation and start to ensure that the path we've laid will be walked by generations to come and when we're older respect for your elders will be a given (like it was back in the day). (I always write essays on here so I'm gonna stop right there- boy I could go on and on, do get in contact if you want any more!!)
304590
Pretend this passage is part of a story you're reading. Read this passage, then I've got a question for you to answer.\n\n     It was a hot, sunny afternoon in the inner city. The three bald youths, wearing T-shirts and baggy pants, walked down the cracked sidewalk, their bling dangling around their shoulders. One carried a boombox playing Snoop Dogg loudly. One wore a baseball cap, its bill turned to the side. Another wore sunglasses.\n\n     All right. Now my question is: What ethnicity were these three youths? Answer, then continue reading.\n\n     My point is that you very probably thought of these youths as African-American, even though the description of them never actually said so. Why can't they be whites, or Latino? You see, stereotyping is programmed into our behavior patterns, it's hardwired into our thought processes. It's part of what makes us human. It's a survivial mechanism--we tend to organize others into groups that we want to try to stay away from, and groups that we want to try to join, because these groups could either harm us or hurt us. Such concerns are beyond "good" and "bad", it's just the way we are.
282842
I applaud all of you, a school is there to teach children not as another way of the nanny state interfering with the way we raise our children, I have a two (soon to be three) year old son and he will be starting reception school in september. I remember a few years ago the government wanted people to stop calling children winners and losers and instead use the term yet to achieve success in a bid to hep childrens self esteem. Has no one considered the effect of weighing classes of kids, possibly in front of other class pupils? and in any event what about the poor kids who have to take these letters home and the effect being told you're fat at such an early age may have on them, don't we have enough of a problem with eating disorders...
425998
i think it's because black people grew up sayin' it & it became kind of a cultural thing cuz black people have always been called that throughout history. so it's kind of ironic that we can call each other nigga, but if a white person says it, we get offensive. it's kind of like when see a girl call her friend b*tch, but if you call her a b*tch, they'll get mad. it's the same overall principle.
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.
475446
1)Yes, we still live in a racist country.  I am a 46 year old Black woman who has experienced quite a bit of racism bcos of the color of my skin (caramel) without any knowledge of who I really am.  I have traveled quite a bit within the states as well as other countries & honestly cannot see much of a difference.  Point in case...I've even traveled to Africa & have been faced with questions like "what are you?".  I think that I offended the one asking the question bcos I said "I'm an American".  They responded "do you mean African-American?" to which I responded "sure if thats how you would like to phrase it".  2) Yes my parents had a hard time but they "dealt with it" by being active in the civil rights movement.  My great-grandmother would never let me work in the fields when I visited saying " no way, your Mom & Grandmama would have a fit & besides those days are over for your generation".  She was right, however there are others here who seem to forget that.  With regards to "us guys" still living in this country...this is our country & we'll fight for the right to live here....in peace.
422664
He was real wrong to say those nasty things, but i do not see how money would help anything. what really gets me is that i hear black people say that word and not one person even gasp, yet a white guy says it and they cant believe they have heard that word. Racism knows no color. to the lady who gave an answer addressed to me. I by no means meant to offend anyone. i really did not know there was a diff. i do appreciate you explaining that to me.
239889
If you were 8 and he was 2 when you got along and he's 9 now,  that would make you 15?  You're a teenager he's a child.  Case closed.  I am 28 with a 15 year old sister who seems like a martian to me now.  When she was younger we were very close.  Now she is a different person,  as she is trying to "find herself".  YOU are a different person than you were then,  just as he is,  however I am sure that it's not all his fault.  You are asking a group of people who don't know you and don't know who you are to tell you if you hate someone?  How can we tell you your feelings if you don't know yourself?  Furthermore,  hatred is a horrid thing.  It consumes.  I speak from experience.  In addition,  honey your spelling and use of language is horrible.  It's difficult to read posted questions when they barely resemble english.
383881
I don't get them often but when I do they are big time hate mail.Ive had my life and my dogs life threatened on here.It doesn't bother me.The race card is the only one they can play and it just doesn't work on me.Those that know me on here ,know I am not a racists ,I never make crud,racial remarks.I do support my stand against with facts and links to back up what I say.I don't like the name calling.It takes any validity from your question,and turns it into only an insult.Just shake it off ,don't let their hate mail get to you.You know how you are inside and that's all that matters.Just ignore them,that's the best thing.We all get them.:)  Both sides do.
63796
I think the N word is very crass for both blacks and whites,and it should be taken out of the vocabulary of every person on earth!I dont think its cool and everyone should stop using it.And to answer your question why do you care if blacks use it verses whites?I mean just because they are talking with dirty mouths doesnt mean you have to stoop to that level.Just dont use the words,and ignore others who do! they are not nice at all coming from anyones mouth whether,black,white,mexican,chinese u name it...its just racist slang and its just plain rude.
274147
I'm bi-racial and I'm thankful that my family has accepted me. If they can't accept him for who he is, then they've got problems. I'm sure your son is very bright, and color makes no difference in the world. It should be addressed, or your son may grow up with confidence issues and may think he's inferior. He needs to know that he's just as special as anybody else roaming this planet.
633132
Yes, You are racist. And who cares about the word??? If they want to use it , let them. It is derogatory for a white person to use it...And ,in my mind, It's derogatory for a black person to use it too. but, like I said...If they do...Who fucking cares? People say a lot of things I don't like...I don't lose any sleep over it.
312092
Yes, that was very rude. I don't know why today's society thinks it's ok to use foul language and be so rude. Almost every other sentence of a teenager contains something like screw you, or a swear word. Children just aren't learning manners and respect and their carrying it onto the next generation. If it really offended you report abuse on him.