Honest question no offense intended.  Is the using the word "Negro" when refering to someones race offensive?
964357
I don't see how, it's a Latin root which simply means ' black '. What's offensive about that? Confusing, maybe, for me. I'm an artist. I work with color. Having a conversation with someone who's ' black ' but really what I see is Burnt or Raw Umber! Really throws me for a loop. Then, can you see explaining; " No, you're not really black. I see a lot of Iron Oxide Red, with a tad of Ivory Black or, in your case - Burnt Sienna, definitely, maybe a tad Caput Mortuum. " So, for expedience sake I say, yes. You're black ", and relegate it to Academia!
362996
I don't enjoy the word no matter who says it. It has been incorporated into black culture as a way of claiming(power)it from negative to positive.It has been handed down from slavery times. It is a bastardized form of the Spanish word negro which means black. It was used to demean a people thus even today if a white person uses the word it is viewed as racist.Check and see which group of people use that word as much if not more than some blacks.Let me give you a hint-White Power!!There are various groups of this type however i think that you will find not only some whites follow this line of thinking. Check other races as well. Peace!!
1020606
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.
516343
it sounds like it's only racist if you try really hard to make it be.  But I don't think most people would think it was...unless of course the context of the phrase is in a racial matter.
880543
First of all how did you go from An African to Negro?  This makes me wonder if you are a racist.  African is a name given to a persons that live in Africa ( America--Americans).  Negro is a racist name given to persons of color in the United States for reason of making one feel more inferior to another.  Now that I finished with that.  If one has a bigger jaw, I guess it is used for chewing like everyone else jaw is used for.   Duh!
1131637
I believe it is the intent of the person saying the word.  If someone is using it as an insult or to degrade another person, I think any word is inappropriate.
122015
You're stereotyping. All black people don't think white people are racist.  If you lump any group of people together like that it's stereotyping and racist.  So, using your statement, I'd say you're a racist.  Is it okay to be a racist if you're black.  I think people should just forget color altogether and not judge at all, I don't.
920842
I haven't see the users question .the fact that so many of you is offended means the question must be pretty bad..i don't think reporting him is the answer .it'll be far better to do as you are doing now and voice your displeasure.to their questions .when they see that they are not getting the response they want .in time they will stop and move on .thank you for apology.i'm black and i'm not a spokesman for the whole race .i can only speak for myself .and my view is this .someone saying hateful things on a computer site can't hurt me .if you read my name backwards that's what i think of people like that ...once again thanks for the apology but  there's no need .you can't be held accountable for the whole white race anymore than i can for the black race
606218
It came from the word "Negro" which is Spanish (I think) for the word black. In slavery times and for a while afterword, it was a more polite way to refer to black people (if polite can be used in this context at all). The 'n' word was a more derogatory, more crass derivative of the word "Negro".
91081
Well, it isn't proper because ppl get offended. Please note above answers. Most don't get offended by black or white. I am terrible at guessing nationality so if I don't know I just don't say. We don't call mexicans brown either, so really their are a lot of inconsistities. Preety much the rule to follow is, go with the flow and if it is going to hurt someone, don't do it unless it is important, terminology isn't important
1152635
People use the word racism/racist too freely. Classifying people by race itself isn't racist. African-American, in terms of darker skin or "black", is really the most politically correct term you could use. The same goes for those who are termed Caucasian or "white". Generally, some people are never satisified, but that's probably the best it's going to get. You can't expect people who don't know you well to know your ancestry. People who do not know you can only really guess your race by what they see (I don't see why they would even be talking about that in the first place). If they are incorrect, politely correct them. There's no need to get yourself all worked up. If they're using a derogatory term, that's a different conversation all together.
537022
That is what it implies to me.\nI never refer to people by their complexion unless I'm at a loss, and then I use light complected, medium complected or dark complected. Never colored or black or even African American. They are American. I am American. I am not pale or Irish/German American and would hate to be categorized like that. I feel using the word "complected" refers solely to the fact that people have different skin tones, rather than being an ethnic or racial term.
580466
Negro means black.\nNig_ger comes from negro - but it was used in a very hateful way during the slave times. Even now racists use it to put down someone because they are black. It means much more than just black - it means "stupid, ugly, bad, etc.." so if someone says nig_ger to a black person, they just insulted them.\n\nNow - the blacks co-opted this term and started using it amongst themselves, so it would not hurt so much. In modern times, it became Nig_ga. However, even though they use it among themselves (because they know one black guy doesn't mean all the insults behind it when he calls another black guy nig_ga), they don't like it if another group calls them that - coz they can't be sure if it's friendly or a racist insult.
830825
Well, I don't know about that but in Chicago it doesn't happen that way. But a lot of people just joke around with those words, because of the rap music and everything. All I know, is that nobody should be called that word based on their skin color. N*gger refers to a ignorant, dirty person and from my experiences anybody can be ignorant and dirty regardless of race.
520414
I don't think it necessarily is, however, I do think that the word used above (starts with N) should not be used by anyone.  Black or white, it is still a racial term.  Sy what you will, the simple fact that it's groundings are where they, says it is not a word that should be used anywhere, by anyone.
947300
According to dictionary.com:\nnig‧ger  /ˈnɪgər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[nig-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation \n—Usage note The term nigger is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. Definitions 1a, 1b, and 2 represent meanings that are deeply disparaging and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. Definition 1a, however, is sometimes used among African-Americans in a neutral or familiar way. Definition 3 is not normally considered disparaging—as in “The Irish are the niggers of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments—but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile.\n–noun 1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a. a black person.  \nb. a member of any dark-skinned people.  \n \n2. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.  \n3. a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.  \n\n\nHonestly, I don't blame you for being confused. I'm a black American and I'm confused too, because there is a double standard for non blacks who use the word. I'm guilty of using the word myself, but when I do use it, it's for the meaning that was originally intended. I wonder if other ethnic groups use such derogatory slang amongst themselves as a term of endearment? If they don't then I can't figure out why us black people (American and otherwise) feel we need to use it as a friendly term.
77396
as an educated muliracial woman, i am offended by such comments.  i think comments like this are ignorant.\n\ndoes the person who says this mean to say that black is a behavior and that white is a behavior?  and if so, then that means that to be black is to be stupid and loud and to be white is to be intelligent and proper.\n\ndoes the person who says this mean to say that black people can't be smart, and that white people can't listen to rap if they want to?\n\ni think it's a disgusting comment and the people who say it have no imagination.  anyone can be whatever they want to be.