November 20, 1999 at 12:00 am #33621
Debbie25777
Participant
Martem, it is the origin of the word. The word was used by slave owners and is a word created in white culture. Thus it is a very derogatory term coming from a white person–it represents oppression, slavery, and institutionalized racism. When one member of the culture uses it to refer to someone else within that culture, they come from the same place, face the same discrimination, and oppression–thus it is not taken as it is when it comes from a white person. I hope this helps.