[Emmanuelle]

Why is it that black people can go up to their friends and say ‘what’s up nigger?’ as a friendly gesture, when this term has such negative undertones? How is it that such an awful, derogatory word has evolved into this type of slang?
Original Code R616. Click here to see responses from the original archives. Click “to respond” below to reply.

User Detail :  

Name : Emmanuelle, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 16, City : Cincinnati, State : OH, Country : United States, 

[JENNIFER M]

As an African-American woman and a mother of 7yr son, I despised the word. This word has such ugly connotations. Everytime I hear this word, whether from other African-Americans or Caucasians or whatever ethnic background, I reminds me of the struggles and indignities that blacks have had to face since coming to America against their will. My mother grew up in the south during the civil rights movement and I’ve had several male relatives who experienced hate and physical harm, due to this word being used to dehumanize African-Americans. Hearing this word, is like nails scraping on a blackboard. I don’t see the need for the word,when other African-Americans use the word, it further dehumanizes us more.

User Detail :  

Name : JENNIFER M, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 33, City : SYRACUSE, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : csr, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Neil]

I believe it is a way to attempt to take away a word that has traditionally been used against people. If those people start using the words themselves it will take away (at least a bit of) the power of the word. It’s just another example of how language develops and changes over time.

User Detail :  

Name : Neil, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 30, City : New Brunswick, State : NJ, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Carl]

A few black people have stopped using said word and have become quite passionate about not using it. Richard Pryor stopped using it after a trip to Africa which clearly had a deep impact on him.

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Name : Carl, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 27, City : Helsinki, State : NA, Country : Finland, Occupation : Musician, Social class : Middle class, 

[Khadijah19564]

FOR YOUR INFORMATION LITTLE WHITE GIRL WE DONT SAY NIGGER WE SAY NIGGAH ITS A SLANG REFERRING TO A FRIEND. WHY DO WHITE WOMEN GO UP TO THIER FRIENDS AND SAY HEY SLUT WHORE, BITCH OH I FOROT THIER ONLY SPEAKING THE TRUTH

User Detail :  

Name : Khadijah19564, City : Philadelphia, State : PA, Country : United States, 

[cory]

all white peolpe who ask this question have forgotten one thing. YOU DONT HAVE A RIGHT TO QUESTION IT!!! i mean hell, your race gave us that ‘horrible’ derogatory term. black people have evolved that word into a monoracial word of assurance into a group or setting, a term of brotherhood or suttle comradory. we have taken something your filthy race began and changed it to throw in your faces. you call us niggers, hell, we call ourselves niggers so find something else to pervert. plus if you are white and the biggest thing on your mind is why black people say the word nigger conversationally, then i think you are sad sad sad ass cracker/peckerwood/honky/paleface/sheetfag

User Detail :  

Name : cory, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 19, City : americus, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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