The N-word

While in Oman, that was everyone's greeting to each other! (in our age bracket 15 - 21) Even I was called the N-word!

Although at first I found it strange, it didn't particularly bother me!

I agree!

I think the sad thing is that a lot of people don't think of that or don't know! Cultural changes and popular culture cause these things to come around time and time again often losing it's original meaning and origin.

I did feel uncomfortable at times while in Oman because of the strength of the word in some cases and didn't use it myself - but to everyone around me it seemed like any other word! (the music we were listening to at the time contained the N word repeatedly - although blanked out - allowing it to infiltrate into the vocabulary)

I agree with you - NO one should be using those types of words - doesn't matter WHAT color/nationality you happend to be. I find it offensive period. Not funny at all.

And it really bothers me that if a black uses the term, its ok, but if anyone else says it to a black man/woman .....all H*ll breaks loose!

In all honesty, "a black" is more offensive to my ears than the n-word... it implies that the color of their skin is all they are. Maybe it's just a generational thing?

As for the derogatory term for arabs (or persians, since most people using it in the west don't even know the difference) it's just as stupid. I don't get why it's even a term.

But. That's how teenagers talk. When I was thirteen, my best friends and I would greet each other by yelling "What's up, slut?" or something like that. Also, you weren't the intended recipient of the message... so please take into account the fact that the person who said it never would have if he had known you were the one getting it, not his friend. If thirteen year old boys weren't ragging on each other, it would be worrisome.

To me it like calling a woman a b****, at least in the US. I don't like it, but the younger generation seems to have adopted it because of the song lyrics you hear nowadays. I also don't care for the widespread use of the word "pimp" (as in "pimp your sandwich", which was believe it or not a title in a recent Boston Globe magazine article on FOOD).

I am aware that black people might use the N-word among themselves, but that does not mean that I as a caucasian would feel comfortable using it.

And I see nothing wrong with using the term "Black" probably because I remember well in the seventies when it replaced "Negro" (which was acceptable in the sixties). At some point THAT got replaced by "African American".

Personally I think it is all in the tone anyway, and I try to respect the current wishes, but sometimes things get ingrained into you.

IMO unless the person is directly from Africa, they shouldn't even be using the term "african-american". You don't walk around saying "french-american, or german-american, etc. You are simply an AMERICAN if you were born in America.

If your skin color is black, you are black, if its white, you are white, if its red you are red....why do you find it offensive to be called "a black" - what term do you use for "a white" person?

Come hang out in Memphis for a day and the N word will REALLY drive you crazy... I honestly don't think anyone should use it.

I find the "N" word offensive, no matter what. As far as the term Sand-"N", it was created by a bunch of anti-Middle Eastern people. It is meant as a derogatory term for an Arab or Persian. The first time I ever heard that term used, I was totally shocked. Maybe this black kid who is using it towards your brother thinks it's a term of endearment, and maybe he "thinks" just because he's black he can use the "N" word, but IMO it's no different that a white person calling him a "N". Some black people feel it's OK to use that word about each other, but I don't see how that kid can think it's OK to use that word with a Middle Eastern person. Personally, I don't think it's right for Black people to call each other the "N" word either. It's a demeaning word, no matter who says it and no matter who they say it to.

I do find the n word to be very offensive. you shouldn't call anyone that, no matter if they tick you off, you should never say it. fortunately, I don't hear a lot of people say the n word here.

I couldn't agree more with you Hope

My husband worked with a guy when he was in the Air Force that would always say to him 'What's up N___!?!' Or say something like 'Did you call me a N__!?!' all loud, but joking. They guy was black and DH is not, so someone who didn't know they guy was joking could have taken it very wrong. That bothered DH more than anything. It was like it was ok for him to use it to reffer to himself, but not anyone else. Makes no sence to me.

I wish there weren't barriers like that. For the past 12 years I've gone to a very diverse church. White people are the minority there, but it is also not a stereotypical 'black' church either.

I can't stand deragatory words like this. it makes me sick to see people use them as common place.

When I was reading A. Christie's 'and then there were none' I was just shocked that even in another time and place this book was okay'ed to be published as 'ten little 'n'. . . .???!!!

I personally think it's the most obscene word in the English language, mainly because of all the history tied to it and because of how people use it.

There was an excellent commentary on this very subject by Earl Ofari Hutchison (Richards Got Called Out for N Word Diatribe, So Should Blacks That Use It) You have to scroll down a little to read it.

It is a loaded word, full of disrepect. I don't care who is using it. Whoever thinks it's cool should be reminded that it is still an insult. Kids will still use as they use other inappropriate words, but we still need to show our disapproval. Using the word alot doesn't make it any better.

From my understanding, the N-word while being disgraceful in the eyes of certain people it's also a derogatory word such as calling someone "white trash".

I think when rappers use it in their music its being misunderstood by many teenagers. If they are not educated enough to understand that it's a bad word, the term used may get them into trouble one day. Most people do not like being referred to as "N" whether of the african american community or not.

I agree with you about your statements about using the n-word, but I don't understand why everyone must give up their ethnic background (I hope that's the right term) to be considered American.


I would be very upset if someone called me red or white. I am a specific nationality and I would personally like that nationality to be recognized as well as my Canadian nationality. I may have fair skin, but I am a Metis person.

(sorry about the side comment)

Is it, though? There are plenty of racial and religious slurs, which I won't list here, which are just as objectionable. I don't think anybody should be using them, regardless of their race, ethnic background, or religious affiliation. The same goes for gender-bashing, or socioeconomic, terms.

Yes, there are plenty of repungant words that are used to hurt and tear down people. There's the "K" word to put down people like me, or Jewish people, there's the "S" word to put down people of Spanish decent, there's the "W" word to put down Italians, and the list goes on. Of course the "N" word is just as bad, but really no worse or hurtful than any of the other disgusting words. It's really says a very sad thing about the human race, that they have to find some way to try to tear everyone else by using such ugly words.

Most of my friends are black and it really disturbs me sometimes how freely they use it in everyday speech, but I agree with everyone else, it is an awful word and it will never cross my lips. Did you know that is was originally used to describe Irish immigrants who worked for cheap and took all the jobs? Strange what a twist its taken through the years

It is racism by the very definition of the word. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

What the Richards fiasco showed is that the ethnic group doesn't really make the word "their own" but encourages others to use the word. There are rappers who use the n-word so casually, that a 13 year old white boy doesn't understand why he can't use it also.

That's great in theory--but when people ask me my background or "where I'm from" or my absolute fave "what are you?" , I know that they really want my ethnicity. If I'm in a bad mood, I'll be difficult and say I'm from the US or that I was born in Alabama and then wait for them to struggle to find a way to phrase the inevitable follow-up question for what they really want to know.

Most of the time however, I just cut to the chase and answer India-Indian because its fairly obvious by my accent to most people that I'm American. I can't use the term Asian-American with most people, because for some reason most people think India is somehow different from the rest of the Asian continent. If I say I'm Asian, I get a buncha blank looks because I guess Indians don't represent what people consider to be Asian features, lol. Then I say I'm from India (which technically I'm not, I was born in AL), and then I get those "oooohh, you're Indian!" responses. And then people talk about how they know or used to know another Indian person, like it is going to somehow make them more likeable to me or something. Arrggh.

Guess I'm just putting in my two cents--but to keep to the topic, I recall reading that use of the N word is an attempt for people to reclaim a word that for some many years was completely derogatory and try to turn it into a word with positive connotations. I've also read that it could be because the younger generation, which has only read about black history in school books and haven't really experienced any of the struggle themselves don't understand the true meaning of the word in history and only know the meaning imposed on the word by rap stars.

You know last night I turned on a show on PBS, I wish I could remember the title of the show, but it was a documentary about a Scientist, who had found out through years of study that we ALL originated from Africa. Each and Every person on this earth today is African, no matter what colour the skin. Every race and nationality all started out in Africa. Some tribes trekked to different parts of the world, and the strongest to survive populated the different parts of the world. One tribe of people trekked across to the America's, and the few that survived are now the Navajo Indians of today. Other's trekked to Europe and other parts of the world, and they make up the European people. According to this Scientist, we are ALL related. This racism is really stupid when you think about it, because basically when you call another person a derogatory name, you are actually saying that to your brother or sister.

I've heard that too.

It doesn't bother me to hear it, pretty much the only time I hear it is in songs.

There's a book called Daughters of Eve and it says that based upon out DNA, an Asian and a black person could be more a like than 2 Asians or 2 blacks, the same thing applies to all "races", so technically there really is no such thing as a race.... just like with every thing else, we are all HUMAN BEINGS and should treat each other as we would want to be treated, but that will never happen as long as people hold on to their prejudices and stereotypes

My family is Southern and we were raised to believe that only ill-bred people use that word.

When my Hispanic DIL was checking into the hospital, to have the twins, she was asked what her race is. For a moment, she got a blank look on her face and then said "American". Finally, just so they'd have a box to check, she said "Mexican", even though her family has been in the US, for numerous generations.

I was once asked by a Hispanic co-worker WHY Sam wanted to marry a "white guy". MY immediate response was, "Because she LOVES him."

All of this differentiation, by race, just serves to keep people apart.