Why is it ok for black people to call each other "Nig..." but it's not ok if white people call them that?
147682
I have no idea why they're so uptight. They feel that if they suffered in the past they have the right to be the country's little princesses. I've been to Europe and I swear black people aren't so uptight there. So the source for all this must be the frustration of african americans of having been enslaved by the white man in the past. Ok, we're all sorry. It's not going to happen ever again so you can all start behaving like everybody else now. Stop being so touchy.
11715
Becuase that is insulting, and rude, Thats like walking up to a person of another race and using "hate" words to them, like racial slurs etc. its the same concept. It offends them. And maybe they aren't completely out of the closet, and have only told a few people, and you calling them gay is sending a signal, to them that they can nont trust you.
854218
I agree with you somewhat....its confusing of how white people should address them: black, colored or african american? All the political correctness is really confusing.
993649
disagree. what they DIDN'T tell you about that meeting was that only black people can say it. If a white person says it we get in trouble. I personally think we should outlaw the word in it's entirety as socially unacceptable, but that's never gonna happen.
1114950
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.
959106
THANK YOU!!!!!  I am soooooooo sick of this double standard with the black race-- if you watch the Wire, that's all they call eachother is nigger.  So WHY is it okay for them to use it to eachother but it is a major faux pas if any other race uses the word?  You dont see Jewish people calling eachother kikes, or Polish- polaks, Germans -krauts, Chinese-chinks, Puerto Ricans-spics, etc, etc.  This is a multiracial, multicultural world and if YOUR RACE ENJOYS calling eachother a nigger, and use it so proficiently, then you are opening pandoras box to allow everyone else to use it, whether it is acceptable to you or not- by the way, I dont particularly care to be called a "cracker" but at least I dont go around calling other white people this.
353476
The answer is that it is not ok. An average black person is as racist as a KKK member, and their language, attitudes, and actions are remarkably similar. Black people find strength and affirmation in their own racial identity by being offensive to people whom they perceive as the eternal aggressors, which is completely false. Africans, Arabs, and Asians pillaged and enslaved Europe without pity or cessation for hundreds of years.
161102
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.
12904
a derogatory word becomes offensive only when it is intended to be offensive.  This is why, I believe, "nigger" can be used by african-americans, but not by whites.  This is why my african-american student Antoine could call my white student Grace "my nigger", but Grace would have a more difficult time calling Antoine "my nigger"\nIt's all about context, connotations, and sensitivity (or insensitivity) to feelings.\nThis is also why this program turned the "n" word into a series of asterisks, rather than allowing my original post to go unedited.  The word is too commonly used in an offensive way, so even though I'm not trying to be offensive, it still won't let me use the word.
731074
I guess I should be called then African German?  Never heard that one before.  But I don't mind either African American or black, I usually use black.  I don't know what the big problem is for white people to call us black?  We call you white (even though you are more light-pinkish) and we are not really black but different shades of brown, so what's the big issue?\nWhite people, it is not a crime to say "Black" or "African American".  Just don't call us "Colored" people, we are not in the 60s.  That's all.  I always have to laugh when white people look at me and ask me, is it ok if I say "African American" or black.  Please, come on, do black people really get upset about that?
288037
It is reverse racism, and I do not agree with it. Some white people feel guilty over their ancestors' role in the history and let black people get away with it, and some black people fully exploit the situation. I think no one should use any derogatory terms towards another person. We should all try to let go of the past and move on towards a better tomorrow.
76318
A redneck in American terms is the "n-word" that applies freely to white people. But since US is only  racially aware of its injustice (which is made obvious thanks to Civil Rights movement of 60s)it is okay to call people rednecks, white trash, hilbillies, hics, etc  because it only points to economical, social and cultural condition (and occasionally a racial one but since the concensus is that "white people are evil" its okay to call them names.)\n\nOf course you may say "If it is also obvious that these people are poor, backwards due to the similar reasons why black people were oppressed how and why can we freely call them rednecks?"\n\nExactly my point. \n\nBut then again like the question says: it's the American terms. The terms and conditions in US is such that there's none. \n\nMaybe it's because no one cared or dared to fight for them.
992850
The "n" word is derogatory. People may use it as a term of endearment because they are ignorant - which further supports the fact that the "n" word is derogatory and negative in meaning. Those who choose to use it are foolish and fool themselves into thinking that it's a cool thing to say. For all of the hundreds of years of abuse that black people endured, it seems to me to be a slap in the face our black ancestors, for people, especially blacks, to now support the use of the word amongst themselves.
949243
I NEVER use the word, I consider it utterly hateful.  I can't understand why some blacks think it's OK to apply it to one another.
950581
yes it is hypocrisy. you are right.some say that we took the word from whites to take the control of our identity as black americans.i use the word.i use those other words too.this is the real killer, in private there are still white folks that call blacks, the n-word.and there are black folks that call white people, whatever it is we say in private.i think that he is lucky that the black folks in the audience did kick his azz.i'm not saying any of those words are right all i know is we have to live with people and sometimes people say the craziest things.i would not stand up in a room full of white people and say derogatory things, because i would not want the shoe to be on the other foot. and im with you his career is totally over.
601224
I agree that it is good manners and a sign of respect to use the modern terminology when talking about different races and cultures. The only thing that bothers me is the way the "names" keep changing.\n\nI took a sociology course last year and one of the chapters in out textbook was devoted to various ethnic cultures. A classmate, while trying to make a discussion point, referred to people from India as being "East Indians," a term that was "politically correct" in our area some years ago. The instructor corrected him, saying that the preferred form was "Indo-Canadian." Every "Indo-Canadian" in the classroom was embarrassed at being singled out.\n\nThe instructor than went on to say that the term was changed to prevent misunderstandings within the Canadian Aboriginal communities, who were traditionally called "Indians." However, Indians are now called "Aboriginals." She then turned to the only Aboriginal person in our classroom and asked him how he and his friends referred to themselves when there were no "white people" around. He said, "Well, we just call ourselves Indians." This got a good laugh out of all of us, but it made me think. Who decides what the correct terms are? Do the people who bear the burden of being referred to as Indo or African or whatever the word may be, get any say in these matters? \n\nI just wish they would stop changing the rules and settle down to something we can all live comfortably with, but I guess that would be against "Human Nature."
186350
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)