What race are you and do you use the N word?

Question

Not gonna lie as embarrassing as it is to admit, I used to say the n word when I was like 14 or 15 years old (I’m white)
My logic back then was that it’s just a word and it’s not racist if I use it in certain contexts.

as I got older, I educated myself on why black people have reclaimed the term. (I also started surrounding myself with more POC instead of hanging out with the ignorant ass white kids I used to be friends with)
And now I realize that it’s not appropriate for a white person to use the word in any context. I haven’t used the word in years and I wouldn’t be comfortable ever saying it again.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Well, I grew up hearing it used in context by black people in my family. It was a derogatory term, mostly. However, it has always been a term used affectionately among black folk too. It can mean a host of things positive and negative.

The issue with white people using it is a black person doesn't KNOW how they mean it. We know how WE mean it when we use it among ourselves. But there is the racist UNDERtone we're unsure about when non-black people use it.

I hope the word becomes defused and used, personally. It carries too much weight. Calling it the "N" word just feels and sounds rabsurd to me. There is no word that is sacred. Maybe someone used it is a racist. Maybe they're not. It only matters if someone is pointing the word AT you. And I bet when that happens both people know.

In a situation between friends, you have to negotiate the term. Here's another salient point: people who HEAR you using "nigga". ALSO don't know how you mean it. You have to be comfortable with their discomfort and or anger. It's treading a narrow path. If you have the guts and your friends are OK with it, I"m OK with it.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I think this racism stuff (among other things) went too far in countries like yours and I feel bad for you guys, honestly, people getting offended and feeling oppressed by everything, what a fucked up life. I live in latam and in here that word is only offensive if you want it to be offensive, I mean it depends on the tone and context of the situation. Black people don't get offended by being called black, white people don't get offended by being called white, this is how we are. People need to chill, man, don't people get tired of feeling like a victim all the time?

Luopio27 · Accepted Answer

I used to use that word but not anymore. It is only making it harder to move past racist barriers if we keep that up. Which means, no one, from any race should encouridge others to use any other words than their real names.

I am black and advice all to let it go. Sure it may sound cool in movies and music but from an ear of a man/woman with respect for good manners, humanity and equity, it sounds unnecessary way to get attention.

I live in a white country and witnessed 11 year old white girls attacking each other because one was rapping along the words of a song with the n-word in it. Neither girls were racist and the song one was singing was a song of a black rapper, not a white supermacist song. Stories like this happen everyday and I am sick of it.

BayTiger · Accepted Answer

I’m black and I use it. I don’t care if my white friends use it either as long as they don’t use the hard R. In fact I’ve never seen a black person get mad at a white person saying n*gga in person before either. It’s just something people complain about on the internet.

There’s isn’t a word in the English dictionary that rolls off the tongue as smooth as n*gga. It’s also a versatile word that can be used to convey a variety of different emotions such as:

Skepticism: N*gga please!
Anger: What did you just say n*gga!
Neutrality: Could you turn the fan on my n*gga?
Happiness: My n*gga!

melanieeeB · Answer

I'm white and sometimes I do, especially when I'm with certain black friends (One for example is always refers to the guys she is dating as n* and also to the guys I'm seeing/it's used in the a sense like we use bitch for women) , when I'm in private and rapping along to a song, but I would never use it as an insult and really try to shut my mouth mostly

Apple1996 · Answer

I use that word at home with the windows closed so my black neighbors don't hear

CountessSarah · Answer

(Ngger will be filtered if I spell it correctly, if GAG didn't do that I'd just write ngger normally)
I've never used ngger as an insult or just randomly in conversation, no. But if we're having a conversation about what words mean and context and intent, then I absolutely do just say 'ngger'.
If I get done explaining why words have no power on their own and that just being offended by a particular sound with the speakers intent to hurt you, and your response is still just 'You're the wrong colour to say that', then boo boo.
You've just ignored everything I said and I won't be language policed.
The same is true for every curse/insult, ngger isn't any different.

MCheetah · Answer

I'm black (technically black/Afro-Cuban) and no, I don't really ever use the N-word. I mean, I can. But so can anyone else. I think making words taboo and censoring them in silly. Besides work and school, you should be able to say whatever words you want. Making them taboo gives them unwarranted power. That is LITERALLY the whole point of the word "nigga." It was a reclamation of the hard R.

But then, you know... Dumb-ass progressives came along and made the soft term of endearment mean the same thing as the hard R, ruining the very point of "nigga" to begin with. Now, we have two so-called "offensive" words starting with N, instead of none, like it should be. Words only have as much power as people allow them to. The thing is, people are also idiots.

But no; unless I'm being an asshole and trolling, I never use the hard R or -ga. I just think using it sounds trashy and uneducated. I'm not 50 Cent!

HotPinkDominatrxSlut · Answer

I'm a white girl with natural platinum blonde super shiny hair longer than I am tall and the lightest brightest bluest eyes and am married to and have kids with a very dark sexy black man and I say bigger all the time. It's just a word people need to stop being such babies and getting offended over every little fucking thing. Besides niggers make fun of white people and call us crackers and calm us names all the time.

Anonymous · Answer

I think my last race was between me and a friend. And I lost and it was cataclysmic. My best race was a 3 legged race and we won. So I not really into races.
I use the N word all the time now that I learned to use it. But No is very hard to say to some people.

IJhonnyI · Answer

Bro are you good I'm Hispanic and I got black friends and i say it and it does matter what context you use it in I use it to greet my homeboys I don't know where tf you live but you got it all wrong bruh u probably can't say it but don't go speaking for other races cause that's disrespectful

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Answer

I have never used that word,

I am Caucasian but I speak some Chinese and have lived in China, in China there is a word neige" (那个), which has the exact same pronunciation as the American word. Only the Chinese “neige” means “that” and you hear that all the time.

When someone can’t remember something they will say
“neige…”

When they want to point at something they say “neige”.

So, I’ve said it, only in China and as a Chinese word.

menina · Answer

I'm black and I don't use the n word. There's a word in my native language that is the equivalent of the n word and I hate it! However I know many black people who say this word as if it was any other word.
I'm glad you realized that saying it is inappropriate.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

I do not buy the reclamation argument. The word is horrible. And everytime a person uses it, they mean it in the most negative context. I have yet to meet the person who can explain to me how it possibly means something positive. I have family members who use it and they know how I feel about it. I have no friends that do however.

Red-Blaze · Answer

Not black and not in the US
Do use the word rarely mostly ironicly or as a joke
I do guess living out of the US and its history dont really have a voldemort assosiation to a word like that
The word simply has no power here

We also dont really have much if any real black pepole here, we got some dark skinned but not the same really and dont have the same assosiations as the US dose

Anonymous · Answer

I am black, and no, I do not use the "N" word. Even I find it offensive, I don't care what race you are: NO ONE should call anyone else that, even in a "joking" manner. And I especially hate hearing people say it's okay for a black person to say it but not any other race. That's just ignorant.
If people knew the origin of the word, maybe they wouldn't use it so casually.

Shamalien · Answer

As a teen I abused that word. Never said it around anyone who would be offended by it, only with my core homies (they listened to a lot of gangsta rap). My whole vocab was degen af back then. One day I began working customer service and cleaned up my language lol

BHooper · Answer

Im technically considered black but because I'm mix raced and my skin tone is more white I refrain from using the word. I use to use the word and my darker friends agree that I can use it but I dont want people who don't know my ethnic background to perceive me as racist for using the word.

Gloree · Answer

I'm African and I hate that word with a passion because of the history behind it. I also hate that the black Americans or so are even the ones that use it more. After all it's from watching movies I first heard it as well as in some useless rap music and other useless songs.

Fuentes · Answer

Europeans labeled that as our race of color at one point on paper and then our colored lol you ain't gonna tell me i can't say nigga, go read a book first before anyone tries to check me. I never use the Hard R, and if you call me it to my face we will fight, cause i see it as the same as you calling me a pussy or bitch. But if im at work and i dewl with some crazy 5150 calling me it i won't care it just depends on the context.

Anonymous · Answer

That is complete and total bullshit.

It is either ok for everyone to say or it is not ok for anyone to say.

You had it right the first time.

These people are claiming a special priviledge based on their race, that is literally what racism is.

Alexis1313 · Answer

I was gonna say yeah, and then use a different word beginning with N. But I couldn't think of an iconic/memey word beginning with N to make a joke =/

Luna94 · Answer

I used it a few times when I was a teenager because it was "cool" back then and I never meant it disrespectfully. I haven't used the n word in 10 years as it's just not a word I feel I can say without hurting someone.

Intothevoid666 · Answer

I’m white and I will use the n word in whatever non derogatory way I want because black people do and no one says a thing even tho honestly blacks people calling themselves the n word is incredibly offensive to me but no one cares about that so if black people think it’s offensive when I use it they can fuck off honestly

Chris_7565 · Answer

I'm White and I don't use the N word. I also probably wouldn't hang out with anyone (Even Black people) who use the N word. I just think it's stupid, and nobody needs to be calling each other by that.

genericname85 · Answer

yeah. i use that word. i'm caucasian white but i'm not from america, so i don't have that cultural backround where the n word is a bad word. to me, if the word was a bad word, then black people wouldn't use it themself.

NewbutCoolUser · Answer

im not black, I've never used it because I've always been taught that it was a "bad word" but to the ultimate degree, as an adult i do say "bad words" but never the ultimate ones, plus it can offend people and i that is never my intention

Spiritofn · Answer

I use it comedically inappropriately to much however. If I hear let’s say a black male saying white people don’t have problems or pushing for a fight I’ll drop the word I wish I didn’t rather just straight up kill ‘em.

Whatever2929292 · Answer

The only time I have ever used the word is if I was repeating what someone else said. But that is very rare

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

Schools should have a field trip day where white kids get sent on a guided tour through the hood haha this shit is hilarious

Sour-rose · Answer

Despite me having no color, I'm on paper. But as you can see by my profieluru... I'm black. And I'll say N*gga all the time because... i'm black

andreasderjuengere · Answer

What makes 'us' so scared about typing or saying: ''n**''? Personally, I find it silly to use it. But it slips out every now and then when I am forced to deal with Indian men.

mantelk · Answer

I am Iranian. I used it a lot before but never ever in a derogatory way. I don't anymore. Brown people using the word is in like an appropriate way like my homie. My brother. I think White people should never use it though.

AviatorTom · Answer

I'm a member of the human race, and the only N I use is at the end of the word HUMAN

TheBigGuy9 · Answer

Obvious white guy. I grew up only white guy on my basketball team. I’ve dated myriad black women too. Never once used that word. Never even crossed my mind.

JoyGirl · Answer

I am black, and I hardly use it. It is rare for me to.

1GoldTwins · Answer

I've used it! But only around friends who know that I'm joking.

Anonymous · Answer

no not realy but i have used it in a few jokes i became friends with a group of black people for dropping it in a good joke without hesitation and they respected me for that because it took balls. still not something i would do again.

HeartFullOfGlue · Answer

I'm Biracial (Black/White) I've only used the N-word a handful of times, mostly when quoting someone else.

Anonymous · Answer

I may not be able to say "nigga" but at least I can say things like "hi dad" and "thanks for the warning, officer."

cth96190 · Answer

I us kaffir.  I have several South African friends. The word is Arabic and mean unbeliever.

Sparkie460 · Answer

I have never used the n word out of respect. I know some don't deserve the respect. I treat others the way I want to be treated

schittywok · Answer

It's something that blacks feel us whites are dead honkies if we use it. They should really focus on not using it themselves.

Iron_Man · Answer

People still say that even on the basketball court and even latins say it they think it’s amusing they can’t help themselves

Andres77 · Answer

I usually use "asshole" and then say..."no offense to assholes"

Anonymous · Answer

Why is everyone so obsessed with that damn word, i don’t see you guys obsessing over the word “ supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and that sounds better lmaooo

Grubhub · Answer

But you don’t say the N word around tough hood black dudes I bet. 😆

ChefPapiChulo · Answer

I’ve used it but never liked it. The area I live in is very racist and it was something I sometimes picked up but I’ve always disliked the word.

GatewayRealm · Answer

So it’s just a Word I don’t fucking care if some Black person can't handle being called a n** then they must believe they are a n** or they wouldn’t get offended by it.

Pudsmucker · Answer

I was taught that we were all equal. This was beat into my head also when I was in the military.

TallAnon · Answer

White and I don't use it. It's simply not slang we use where I am from.

EnglishEuropean · Answer

I use a lot of words. I don't believe in censoring myself.

Michelmich · Answer

I'm not black, I'm color brown, I can also use the N-word to describe a person positively to build a good relationship.

cutepixiee · Answer

I am white and a teen, i used the N-word when i was 14 i thought it was cool but when i got to know, i stopped and haven't said it since then

Anonymous · Answer

I never use it, I’m white but my kids use it a lot but they are biracial and get away with it and mostly have black friends

Jltakk · Answer

I'm a black man, and I don't really care if anyone uses it or not.

Anonymous · Answer

white, no I do not use it the only exception to this is when a girl was into race play

Anonymous · Answer

I'm white and I call my girlfriend a nagger at least once week.

Espresso-Grande · Answer

I am Italian, and It's a word i have never used

Aurora1010 · Answer

I don't use it, I don't care for it

Lyndsielee666 · Answer

Never used to word, don’t plan on it.

Toast792 · Answer

No, I'm not a racist fuck lmao

KostasKouvalis · Answer

White. Yes, several times a day. Hard R version.

moonpie89 · Answer

I'm black and I almost never say it..

What race are you and do you use the N word?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

What race are you and do you use the N word?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.