Yes, that is a very powerful word; way back when, white people used it in a derogatory manner when talking to black people, so now its taboo for anyone but black people to say it. If had to guess, I would say its like a form of endearment, like 'whenever you hear this word remember the crap we had to put up with'. Personally I think it's a very ignorant word but Im sure others have their own opinions.

i wonder the same thing...

Rather than an endearment, I think it's more of an insider thing.

The speaker, being eleigible to also be offended by the word spoken, can cancel out the loaded controversey/offensiveness of the word.

It's like obese people calling each other "Fat-boy", or like how almost all jewish comedians seem to make fun of their own religion at least once in their performances.

Personally, I think it's derogatory slang that should have died out when most of the people in the modern world began to judge less of a person based on their skin color.

However, as a term of "endearment" in poor and largely black communities, exagerated and focused on in media frenzies, and as a reoccuring term that sets the scene in an immature and obnoxious pop culture, it remains now as a quagmire between highly offensive slang and a peice of rap/urban/suburban/"gangsta"/etc. subculture. People claim it to be the "Worst word in the english dictionary" yet, it's still kept alive with every fucking rap song.

Summed up, yeah, I agree. If they want the word to die off, they should take it off life support and stop saying it themselves.

It's really not the same word. Think of it as a synonym.

You never hear a black man say "nig

ga" = "broke-as

Very good. Let's try that again, shall we?

It's really not the same word. Think of it as a synonym.

You never hear a black man say "nigger" except in the comedic context (usually making fun of white people).

You never hear white people saying "nigga" except when they're trying to be ghetto and cool. And usually, they just think they're saying "nigger" with a street accent.

Now, I've heard some explanations like the black man is trying to "reclaim" the word and make it his. This idea is clearly the fabrication of some boujie pseudo-intellectual apologists. There's nothing worth reclaiming here.

The fact of the matter is, after 400 years of hearing it, it's part of the culture and language but means something different from what it was originally intended to mean and is in fact a different word altogether now. Hey, it's even got its own spelling.

nigga=dude

"Yo whassup, nigga?" = "Yo, whassup, dude"

"That's one dumb nigga" = "that's one dumb dude"

"broke-ass nigga" = "broke-ass dude"

etc, etc.

For the most part, it's still controversial because it's still used mainly to refer to black people, but that's mainly because it's used by blacks who just happen to be talking about blacks.

I personally have refered to my boss as a cheap-ass nigga, but he's jewish.

Should the word(s) be abolished? As abhorent as the (oroginal) word is, there's a history to it that must never be forgotten or swept under the rug. The jews are always trumpetting "never forget". To that I say, "sho you right, nigga!"

"oroginal"? Now THERE'S a word that should be abolished! Sounds like something you'd read about in playboy or something, doesn't it?

...should read "original". ORIGINAL!

why do black ppl take it so.....insulting? idk i can't find a word, why do they overreact? if you just say the word, u ain't racist, why can't white ppl say "oh what up n***a" and stuff. The only way white ppl shouldn't say it is if it's intentionally said in a derogatory manner: "ur a n***er" and if whites can't say nuthin bout blacks, then blacks shouldn't be able to say stuff bout whites (e.g. cracker, white boy/girl) it sickens me

"whenever you hear this word remember the crap we had to put up with"

ain't no black ppl under 30 or 40 had anything to put up with and ain't no black people ever been slaves (that are alive) so they need to stop sayin crap like that

why do they overreact? I don't know that there's any reaction to it that would be overboard. But quite honestly, I don't know of a white boy that ever used that word in the non-racial context and caught a beating for it. But for the most part when non-blacks use it in that way it just looks stupid. Not particularly insulting, just... not right somehow.

Now, use it in a racial way and you're gonna get a strong emotional reaction. Remember that the word was used specifically as a tool to make humans seem like animals (cattle in the commercial sense and apes in the moral/ "scientific" sense). I don't know about you, but I rather prefer that others at least consider me to be of the same species as they.

ain't no black ppl under 30 or 40 had anything to put up with

Now, here you're just talking out of your ass. I'll remind you of the case of aloysius staton, who was attacked by a white mob in a mcdonalds for no real reason, after which he was charged with assault (for defending himself against six guys). The simple truth is that even if there are laws on paper, racism and even organized attempts at black disempowerment are very real.

if whites can't say nuthin bout blacks, then blacks shouldn't be able to say stuff bout whites

Agreed. But the fact is that white people DO say shit about black people and even worse, make every attempt to keep them out of their world as much as possible and keep them as powerless as possible. You show me a white guy that never says anything about blacks and I'll show you a guy that likes inn a gated community.

The US economy was built on the backs of black labor. While reparation was an idea that gets tossed around here and there, that's not even the real thing that's being asked of the (white) powers that be. All that's being asked is fair consideration and inclusion. Unlike,say, asian americans blacks actually meet with great resistance when they try to assimilate. That's the way it's always been and that's why there's that distinct black culture that includes people calling each other "nigga".

it sickens me

Well then, do something to make the situation better. Your strong negative reaction to the whole subject matter makes me feel that you'd be more inclined in your day-to-day to perpetuate the problem more than eliminate it.

There's still a few centuries of bad blood that has to be soothed. It's certainly not something that can be fixed overnight. Who knows if even our children or grandchildren will be able to look back at racism as a stupid thing that they did in the olden days just like burning witches at the stake? But we can hope for them, right? And that hope won't be an empty one if we each take the microscopic steps needed to make things just a little better today.

seeing as how I'm(white) the minority, I'm pretty screwed, there's a bunch of racist blacks, i can't say nuthin, or i got a whole mob after me

What specifically is there that you'd say? What IS there to say? If you open your mouth at all, it really should be to express a positive outlook. Same thing with your deeds.

Remember, there's generations and generations of anger that really are NOT being allowed to be expressed. And, yes there are brothers out there whose stupidity, lack of enlightenment and entrapment in the old cycles just serve to make the black man look bad.

I, for one, believe that making the supreme effort to teach by example as opposed to just spouting pretty words is the only way to break the chain. Some day, the ideals that we all hold most high will come to pass. When that day comes people will be wondering why they ever let something as stupid as a person's pigmentation come ahead of the intellectual and spiritual progress they'll have made by then.

There will always be racism, but maybe it won't be the base fact of life that it is today.

Black people find it very offensive when they are called the N word by White people. You know, the past and all. You remember social studies?

What ticks me off is that everyone associates the South with racism. (Like Northerners are really that much more tolerant...) Prime example: my little brother had a basketball tourney in his P.E. class. They organized into teams, and his team chose 'Rebels' as their team name. The coach made him change it, because it had 'racist connotations.' They then changed it to 'Rappers.'

Mind you, we live in Alabama.

Pfffft.

What n word?

woah what about black ppl bein racist against white ppl? ain't no one care about that! I hate blacks like that, idc. u know how many people have called me "white boy"? a lot, and i have done nothing, u can't say black without bein yelled at.

"that crayon is black"

"why everything gotta be black?"

IDK, this is soo frustrating, and i can't say shit cuz i'll get beat up. y? no real reason. I don't remember whipping anybody ormaking ppl pick my cotton, y should i get punished for what my great great great great great great great great grandpeople did? I SHOULDN'T, u can hate the KKK and what not, but not white ppl in general(the same could be said the other way), so ya

Referring to the original post:

I am glad that at least some of today's youth is spotting this and has enough nerve to say it. Perhaps in a few decades we can end this bullshit and find TRUE equality.

As fortunate as it is that bigotry towards races, religion, gender, and etc are all on the decline; there will always be "Isms" (Racism, Segregationism, Naziism, etc.) somewhere in the world. In the remote deserts in the Middle east, rural parts of Southern Notrth America, in the slums of Northern cities, the wastes of Russia, and even in the Wealthy and affluent suburbs: "Isms" will always die and revive.

All we can merely do is hope that it dies down to a point that it can no longer poison the mainstream of modern-day thinking and logic.

It would be wonderful if that would happen, but it's not at all likely.

Even in places where everyone is the same like in Ireland and Liberia people will always find a reason to hate each other.

Now, blud, if you're still playing with crayons then you must be in a "special" school. If you are in possession of a crayon you should have your ass kicked either way, unless your little sister snuck it into your pocket.

Seriously, though, when most guys come out like that saying, "why it gotta be black?" that's just joking. I mean, sure there are some guys who will use it as a probe to see if it's an issue for you- to see if you have a fearful reaction and, in turn, to see if you have a grudge against blacks (which you clearly do). But mostly it's just ribbing. Next time, just play along and respond, "yeah, man that's right. Fight the power" or something. You're not likely to catch an ass-beating, trust me. You may get some funny looks, though.

As for the fairness of the situation, yeah you ARE paying for the crimes of your ancestors. Is it fair? Well, it's just about as fair as if you were walking along in the jungle minding your own business when somebody throws a net over you, takes you to another country and whips your ass in the fields so he can become rich.

The way people trea each other is all messed up and racism is not the problem, it's a symptom. If it's a concern to you then do something about it. So far all you're doing is whining "why why why?" That's not getting you anywhere or you would have left this thread (or posted something more positive than your whining) by now.

Well, I hope you gain some enlightenment and manage to pass it onto others. Making the world a better place starts with you making YOUR world beter.

Good luck.

Or maybe I should say:

Guidance.

maybe the whole crayon thing was a bad example lol, idk, i been cool with blacks until this school year, when most of em start gettin on you like...we were having a discussion about racism(because our teacher seems to love it -_-) and if we didn't say a certain person's name and we classified them as a group, they got all mad at us(whites), most of my lack friends act white lol

THE REASON PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

1.Black people do not know how to speak correct english.

2. The lowlives, dropouts, bums, kids, minors, and idiots all use the word.

3. People have been using the word to mean guy, buddy, pal, MAN as with the word B1Ych meaning woman. It is like saying what up my man, bro, chum. Or what up my gal, wooman, slut.

IN GENERAL IT IS USED AS A SLANG MEANING.

4. Most people who use the word have been saying it or in there households have heard it. This is why the Rafici Americana use the word.

Whites using the word is part of trend and style. They just go where the pungtang is at. Once they get what they want they go back to being the decendant of imagrant or palin old Mc Whitie.....

5. IN Spanish speaking households the prounounce of the word Negro ( where the word originated from ) sounds like N1gger. In general it was the English and our forfathers who turned the word into a bad thing in case sensetive "Niggard"