Why is there a double standard regarding the N word?

Question

I do not understand why a black person will call another black person the N word but then if a white person says it, they want to kill them? I would NEVER want to call anyone ANY name that they would take offensively and I do not use the word at all because I feel that African Americans have suffered enough hurt from white people and it should NOT be allowed to continue in any way. But why would a person take a name offensively from one and not from another? It feels like they are expressing the unforgiveness of what past generations have done, which only continues to serve to spread more hate.

Answer 1

Don't start on that. It's not a double standard, because there are no rules surrounding it. And for the record, there are a great many black people who are not happy with the fact that other black people use the so called "N word", and may go so far as to consider it a sign of ignorance.

But the real reason is a question about the nature of racism. When one group persecutes another group, then by transforming the other group's words of hate into terms of endearment, then the persecuted group is taking away the weapon of the persecuting group. It's a similar thing with g**s and the word ******.

Now, whether or not you agree with it is a separate matter, but that's why it happens, and it does happen, across the world and throughout history. Call it a double standard if you will, but it's how humans deal with stress and persecution (and racism).

You could argue that it's a double standard, but it's not as though there's some guy making the rules saying what's acceptable and what's not acceptable, so there's really no one you can crificize. As I said, it's just the way things happen. Whether or not you're comfortable with it is a different story.

You may think it spreads hate. Apparently others disagree. If you're going to argue about it, argue with them. Or just let society take its course, as the dreaded "N Word" goes the way of all unpopular pejoratives and slowly fades into obscurity.

Answer 2

We can't expect everyone to be rational.  When people use that word within their culture, it has little effect, but when an outsider uses it, it will feel like an intrusion by someone who just doesn't understand.  White boys call each other ******, too.  Some just like it's shock value, and getting people to let go of that will be tough.

Answer 3

I completely agree with you. Ive just accepted that that you cant say the N word in front of anyone

Answer 4

Who cares really, some people act like they are missing out on something great because they can't say the word. Believe me you are not missing out on anything. If some black people want to use that derogatory word then that's their problem.

Answer 5

You are right, what you said does happen.

This question is a very valid one. Maybe a black person calls another black person the N word because he knows that since it is another black person he is addressing it to, he will not take serious offence to this.

Whereas if any other person except a black person addressed it, it would of course amount to racial abuse and extreme humiliation.

I will check back to see what others have to say.

Answer 6

So your life would greatly improve if you got to call a black person the N word...honey pick your battles. Use words that will futher the human race and not bring it back 200 years.

Answer 7

nope some blacks are just stupid and "they" feel like there is one (I am black).....you can't tell one race that they can't call you a name then call your brother that same name.....wake up idiots you can't have it both ways....anyways why would you want to call you brother the name that was used to degrade one's race (fyi the n word is also used against asians, though man people don't realize it)....I mostly blame the hip hop/rap culture for blasting the word in the forefront over and over again......now i am no angel when i was in middle school (I went to a majority black school) i said it myself but they I got to high school and said it less and less, then Imus happened and that word will not leave my mouth because if you don't one person to degrade your race then DON'T do it yourself.....peace

Answer 8

i think it boils down to a matter of education and not double standards. i mean I have never heard educated black men and women call another the N word,it;s always some dropout with baggy pants and no job spouting words like that. if you look its the same with whites, they don't go around calling each other "crackers" unless they belong on Jerry Springer.

i think blacks who use this word are downgrading their own race and reverting to a name that others used to use to make them feel like second class humans. it's sad they use it to this day on themselves.

Answer 9

Well, I'm sure if you called someone of your own race a racial slur, you would suffer less for it than someone of a different race would.

I wouldn't worry too much about this thing that confounds you.

I've heard racial slurs and have simply walked away from them. I have never reacted. I don't know what rights I have either way. So, if you are worried that people aren't out there getting away with racial slurs, they are. Oh, they are.

When a race uses a racial slur on itself, it is trying to say that it is over it, and that it is a trivial thing that they do not fear. That would instantly change if it were coming out of the mouth of someone else, wouldn't it?

Answer 10

When black people say it amongst themselves, it's not meant in a racist manner. When used by other races, in most instances it is*

Answer 11

its not offensive when your own kind call u the N word cuz  but when whitey use that word u get offended cuz whitey trying to be all superior to u, ya know? also, have you noticed when some one calls a white person "h****y" they usually laugh about it..thats cuz white people think they superior to everyone else and they have no reason to be offended by a racial slur. d**n honkeys.

Answer 12

As a pensioner I often refer to myself as a "Coffin Dodger" as a sort of joke.

I would be most offended if a teenager called me that. I think the same rule applies here

Answer 13

Well, I'm not an "African-American" but I am biracial.  I have roots in the Caribbean.

Many black Americans do indeed have double standard when it comes to this word.  Like you, I'm offended by this word.  I wish black people wouldn't throw this term around because frankly, it sounds uneducated and stupid.

However, you can look at it in another way.  The term is offensive...but whites are the ones who slapped this label on blacks centuries ago.  Most black people in America are descendants of slaves and sometimes slave owners.  Most black people have never fully been able to accept the historical problems between themselves and whites.  My ex-boyfriend was African-American and he would refer to himself as a  "n*gga" constantly.  I didn't like it, but I believe that some black people use it as a way to take back some of the power attached to it.

When whites would refer to a black person that way in the 1960's and earlier, there was real hate and oppression.  That word was intended to keep blacks in their "place".  This is why it is socially unacceptable today to direct that slur at a person of African descent.  Whereas some  African-Americans feel comfortable with the term amongst themselves because at least it isn't some white person doing it.