Should everyone be able to say the N-word?

[Anonymous]

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I'm referring to the word N*gga. N*gger is inherently a demeaning word because of how it was initially used. But n*gga has evolved into a friendly greeting. Common substitutions are: friend/bro/guy/person.

However, n*gga is a versatile word. It is used in good contexts and bad. Because n*gga is so close to n*gger, intent can never be clear for people that truly are racist and just use that as a substitution for n*gger. Personally, I think since African Americans use it so much in everyday slang that it's adopted a new meaning, but can easily get confused and misinterpreted if the wrong person says it. So I feel people should either stop saying it all together or not get offended when people say it in a casual way like its commonly used nowadays.

Let me know your thoughts!

Yes

No

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, so... tough one. On the one hand, I totally respect that there’s very ugly history with the word, and some of it exists to this day. On the other side of the coin, as it relates to its use in music and popular culture, I don’t think any group can legitimately claim “ownership” of a word, like you just can’t reasonably do that. Its not that I don’t understand where some black folks are coming from with it, I understand it’s an attempt to rebrand and take the sting out of a powerful word. It’s just dicey because it’s “speech control”, even if it’s not governmental and just an unofficial societal rule, and I think most anyone would have a problem with that being imposed on them.

There’s a lot to consider. Coming from the perspective of a white guy who grew up with a lot of black people and consumed a lot of urban American black culture, I honestly don’t think twice when I hear it, that’s just a wicked common colloquially used term, akin to addressing someone as “dude”, or to emphatically punctuate a statement. It’s just a very innocent, and moreover, mundane word. Same as a stereotypically white “bro” type being like “Dude! I went to party at this dude’s house, and these random dudes showed up...”, etc, etc. When you see it in writing it’s like “mix in some different words, “dude””, haha. On the other hand, that’s easy for me to say as a white guy who’s never had it used hatefully towards me, and “dude” and “bro” don’t have that secondary connotation for me to have felt personally. But it’s also just inherently ignorant to expect entire races of people to hold one particular opinion across the board, so I’m not sure there’s realistically any solution.

For me personally, I wish we could all just say it in the context of quoting music, TV, movies, etc. The only reason I’d ever use it is to sing along with my favorite songs or make a well-timed funny reference to Dave Chappelle joke, haha. It’s just awkward for everyone when you have to censor yourself, lmao. I lost a lot of respect for Kendrick Lamar last year when he called a white girl from the crowd up on stage, instructed her to sing a song that he KNOWS the “-a version” is a crucial part of the hook of HIS song, and then reprimanded her and turned the crowd on her for saying it. I thought that was so foul. Just call up a black fan instead if that’s an issue for you. I don’t know if he was trying to trap her into it to make a public statement about his feelings on the topic, but just say “I don’t like white people doing that” on twitter, you could have gotten the shit kicked out of that girl, no less publically embarrassed. I wish we could just hold a worldwide conference of English speaking people, say once and for all that it’s either unacceptable for EVERYONE, or that the “-a” version is acceptable for anyone and is totally freed of any relationship with the “-er” version, they’re just two separate words with different meanings that just happen to share the same first four letters, and we move on. But obviously we can’t do that.

I think it’s ultimately up to black folks to figure out, they’re the offended or un-offended party, but again, it’s tough to get individuals of any group to think the same. I will say that I think you send a very confusing message if some people use it so liberally in things produced for broad public consumption. I guess the most reasonable compromise is to ask for a little understanding when it does get used, if it’s innocently done. I have no problem with someone saying they’d appreciate if it wasn’t said around them, I just don’t like people getting beat up or socially ostracized because of it. I do take some issue on a conceptual level of anyone saying “I can say this word but YOU can’t”, that just doesn’t make sense to me. I do get the sense that some members of some marginalized groups seem to (somewhat understandably) want a chance to stand on the white man’s chest for a change, but ultimately that won’t heal anything for anyone.

[Asker]

I really couldn't have said this better myself. I completely agree!

[WindowLicker]

I don't believe that this word should be used outside of contexts where we are being reminded of how it was used and why it shouldn't be used anymore. If there was a specially designed word used by nazis for Jews in extermination camps I wouldn't expect Jews to be calling each other that word today. It's trivialising a word that people died for.

Also, white people using that word look like total dicks. It's the biggest cringe possible.

[Asker]

Which word do you think shouldn't be used? N*gga or n*gger?

[bubblybex]

Idrk, ik white so I dont know hiw they feel about it but I dont use t anyways, it just feels kind if rude lol

[MementoMori_]

Of course you should be able to say it. You should be able to say ANYTHING. Once you start banning words you are banning THOUGHT. And that isn't good for anyone because thoughts are what improves the lives of all humans.

What people have to learn to do is to stop getting so apoplectic over mere words and grow up. The value of banning words is not worth the price of banning thoughts.

[Asker]

Well, people can say n*gga but it frowned upon for some reason.

[MementoMori_]

I get why it offends some people. If I was black it would probably offend me. But that is no excuse to ban a word. It's a WORD, not an act. EVERYONE needs to live with the fact that other people might say things that offends them. Otherwise EVERYTHING would be banned since someone is always offended by something someone else says. But we all have to take a deep breath and realize that if you ban me from saying something then I will ban you and NO ONE will be able to say anything. Free speech means that offensive words are protected. If the words aren't offensive they don't need any protection.

[ChetAtkins]

Absolutely. I'd rather the word be gone, but if it's going to linger on forever, then anyone should be able to use it.
I once went to pick up a black girl in my taxi. She had a baby, but no child seat. I told her that I would lose my cab license if I got got caught hauling a baby that's not in a child seat. She called me a "racist cracker."
I calmly asked her if she didn't love her baby. She threatened to spit in my face. I told her that that's just fine, but just know that you're going to be lying on your back on the side walk, unconscious, after you do. She shut her fucking trap, and I drove off.
The N word is vile, and I don't use it, but I wish we could just all get on the same page. It doesn't seem like rocket science to me, but then, most people are stupid.

[dantetheexplorer]

No.

For the same reason that Russell Peters making jokes about Indians and other Asians is completely acceptable but Jimmy Kimmel making the same jokes is not.

It's the reason black comedians can joke about slavery but a white comedian should never touch that with a 10-foot pole.

You can't just ignore the power dynamics going on there and try to sweep history and culture underneath the rug.

[Asker]

The meaning or n*gga has completely separated from n*gger. The word n*gga is widely used as harmless slang. Black people don't say it with racial intent so it doesn't carry that weight. N*gger is different though. That word specifically was used to oppress people. N*gger will always be offensive. The hard r matters!

[FunkyMonkee]

If it's good enough for them and they don't have the self-respect not to use it when it supposedly offends them so much, why shouldn't it be okay for us?

[Anon-ymous1]

Yeah, uh "I'm referring to the word N*gga. N*gger is inherently a demeaning word because of how it was initially used. But n*gga has evolved into a friendly greeting" is complete and total bullshit. If you call someone a motherfucka instead of a motherfucker, and then claim that you were trying to be chummy with them, I'd laugh in your face.

[Asker]

That different because motherfucker and motherfucka have the same purpose. It has negative intent and can be used in casual language. N*gga and n*gger do not share the same meaning. N*gga has turned into a casual word with no negative meaning.

[Anon-ymous1]

No... it isn't different.

[Anon-ymous1]

"N*gga has turned into a casual word with no negative meaning."
No... it hasn't. If it had, you 1) wouldn't be asking this question at all in the first place, and 2) wouldn't be using a dumb asterisk to spell this shit out. You would be simply writing "nigger" and "nigga."

[Asker]

I meant "little to no negative meaning." There such little negativity about it that it's almost non-existent. Definitely not as offensive compared to n*gger.

I'm using the asterisk because I didn't want this question to get removed or anything. I don't know how gag handles this type of stuff. But I'm gonna still use it because, why not?

[Anon-ymous1]

Okay man. Well if you think what you're saying is true, then you go ahead and speak however you please.

[thebigc]

I feel like if society wants to show it's an offensive term then it should be reprimanded when anyone says it. That's my thought

[ThisDudeHere]

What does being unable to say even imply? That you would monitor speech? How would you accomplish that? In what settings?

[ThisDudeHere]

Also, you can't have an ''inherently'' bad word if it also has positive usages. That's no longer inherent.

[Asker]

I'm talking about when black people get mad or want to physically harm other races for saying it. They are able to say it but not in front of some black people in fear of getting reprimanded or physically assaulted.

I said n*gga has positive uses. Not n*gger. N*gger is inherently bad. Sure some black people may use it as slang jokingly but the underlying meaning is always remembered.

[ThisDudeHere]

Nah, if it is used jokingly even by just some, it's no longer "inherent."

[Asker]

I'm talking about how history has branded it. Even if some use it jokingly, that doesn't erase its history.

[ThisDudeHere]

Words change all the time. Dick use to mean advice. Dude was a country yokel who didn't understand the city. Whether these words have had a different history before is irrelevant because they are now being used differently.

[Asker]

N*gga is being used differently not n*gger. I think most everyone can agree to what peoples true intent is when they use n*gger.

At the end of the day, it's about how people feel when they've been called either. I'm African American and I can say that n*gger has a far worse effect vs n*gga. And I don't understand why some black people get offended when non-black or people from other cultures call them n*gga. If it's offensive to some then why keep using it?

[ThisDudeHere]

n** is now also being used differently on many occasions.

"most everyone"
That's an argumentum ad populum. Just because a certain amount of people says or does something, or believes in something, does not make it so.

"At the end of the day, it's about how people feel"
Absolutely not. It should never be about how people feel but about the facts. Feelings should have precisely zero say in public discourse.

"If it's offensive to some then why keep using it?"
I'm not suggesting it being kept used but the alternative, ie limiting people's speech simply on the basis of feelings, is a bad thing. Freedom of speech must be absolute and that, unfortunately, includes freedom to insult.

[Asker]

I can see why a presumption like that could be seen as an argumentum ad populum. But I mean the definition for n*gger is "a contemptuous term for a black or dark-skinned person." So there's no doubt about how it was originally intended to be used.

I guess n*gga is also originally a derogatory word since its just basically an extension of n*gger that too on a new path. So what I meant by inherently is that the original definition of it will always be bad.

I should have worded it differently when I said, "At the end of the day, it's about how people feel."
What I meant was, peoples feelings should be taken into account. Because meanings of words change over time. So if a word is offensive nowadays then I understand why people don't want to have it said to them. Facts should always be above feeling. I'm big on putting logic before our emotions.

I wasn't asking why you keep using it. I was rhetorically questioning why people use it but get offended when others use it and don't fit a specific category.

[ThisDudeHere]

Dictionary definitions do not carry any weight when it comes to slang terms.
A lot of words have different original definitions, those no longer have any value unless people keep giving it to them. n** will be considered offensive for as long as people will continue bringing it up.
How can you take facts before feelings but still take feeling a into account? I understand if this is in private occasions but if we're talking about legal matters then feelings can and should not be taken into account at all.

[Asker]

So you believe that n*gger would stop being offensive if people just stopped saying it?

If a large number of people find it so offensive that the verified definition of it has changed it to an offensive word. Then I think that carries weight. After all, words are what we make them. Our opinions and feelings heavily influence the meanings of words.

I'm not talking about the legality of it. I'm talking about more about the morality or social acceptability of it.

[ThisDudeHere]

Pretty much, yes, it's all because it's still used.

[Asker]

I could see how that could. It has happened with other offensive words so it is possible. I agree that people should just stop using the words. We should just leave all that in the past. Move on but still remember.

[ThisDudeHere]

Moving on but remembering is counterintuitive kinda...

[LegateLanius]

Everyone is perfectly capable of saying it and nobody is stopping them from doing so. I've never felt the need to say it but that doesn't mean I need anyone's approval.

[OpenWine]

please just forget about explanations and don't try to twist good and bad. someone in tha world is gon have his pants pissed mah n**

[OpenWine]

nig. ger

[Asker]

Come again?

[OpenWine]

nig. ger?

[BeHappy1985]

But everyone is able, the problem here is that such actions can sometimes make you disabled.

[Asker]

What do you mean?

[Anonymous]

I think no!!

https://youtu.be/ru50_AXFuY0

[Pink2000]

No. You shouldn’t. ☺️

[Asker]

Why not?

[Pink2000]

Why would you even want to? How the hell could you even feel comfortable saying? The only reason you would even want to say it is cause we can and you can’t 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Asker]

Although I don't say it often, I feel comfortable saying it because I am African American. But I think everyone should be able to say it since n*gga has been used so casually that it's completely detached itself from n*gger.

I agree with @WhiteSteve when he said: "I wish we could all just say it in the context of quoting music, TV, movies, etc."

People should at least be able to say it there. The context would be valid and the intent would be harmless. I think everyone should be able to say n*gger but carefully though. Context matters a lot with that one because it hasn't lost its core meaning. I like the way the youtube "Idubbs" uses the word n*gger. He's never negative with it. He uses it jokingly with good intent.

[Pink2000]

Hell no. I’m black and nobody should say it and the only reason white folk say it is cause it’s a “term of endearment” well why not use other terms of endearment? why you gotta say n*gga?

[Asker]

You should read Whitesteves comment. He said it better than I ever can.

[Pink2000]

Hell naw. You too belong together... ain’t no way in hell I would ever let any body call me a n*gha or even say it around

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Nope i don't like that word. :(

[Desconhecida]

It's just a word!

[TheSpartan]

Of course. I say it all the time.

[grega239]

why not.

[ChronicThinker]

Nope.

[MlleCake]

Nope.

[Kingfish3447]

STFU N*gga

[Asker]

That supposed to be a joke?