What does the 'N' word mean when used by black people to their friends?
by 
Captain Birdseye
ANSWERS: 15
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It means pretty much the same thing as it always has, but the impact of negativity and cultural degradation has been removed. It has become a way to address and reference another in a sharply satirical manner to which the word had become used in previous times. To a much lesser degree, you can see this in many social groups that exist "outside" the mainstream of the culture in which they find themselves. Such as gay people referring to themselves as "queer" or "fag".
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To me, it carries the same weight as it did when it was thought about. Everytime I hear it, I cringe. No matter who says it. People marched, died, fought, etc to get the word erased and when its thrown around as much as it is, it makes me sick. The social degradation hasn't been removed, its just been mainstreamed into another form of "accepted" degradation. And for people to be sucker-punched into thinking that they are taking the power out of the word at the same time empowering biggot stereotypes is amazing. Just a thought.
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when i hear the "N" word used by African Americans they are usually referring to a close friend of there's. or anyone for that matter. Even though it is a negatative word that has a powerful meaning that describes our hardships and the things that African Americans have been through. African Americans today use this word out of ignorance.
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I being an african american. It can be used as being familiar with someone. Im not saying its right but it makes me sick when people get on here and wail about how wrong it is and preaching about how much we had to go through. When you know nothing about it.You just read it out of a textbook and think your like an expert or something. And if they are saying it they're stupid. Buts its passed along. When i was younger my parents friends said it when they were hanging out. So it just goes down the line also.
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I have a black friend I went to high school with and I asked him a different version of this question, I asked "why do black people call each other the 'n' word, but find it so offensive when a white person says it?" And he said he said its all in the context. Because I'm friends if I were to say it to him as "whats up my 'n'" he wouldn't have a problem with it, however if I said "Damn you 'n'" he would find that offensive, obviously. So I gather that if your the person is a CLOSE friend, its ok... but still you shouldn't just come out and say it with out having a discussion similar to this. Later that day I walked up to a lunch table where he was sitting with about 4 or 5 other black guys and said as a joke "what up my 'n'" and two of the guys stood up and they all gave me this look like they wanted to drop kick me, and i'm a girl, but then luckily my friend got my back and explained the situation. Haha good memories from high school...
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There's an inoculation in 'nigger' to the virus of "NIGGER". Consider "nigger" from the mouth of one African American to another, as the cultural spreading of a weakened version of a virus; one we NEVER want to hurt our people in the ways it already has. Psychological (even spiritual) antibodies rise up in response to "nigger", making one more immune to a real "viral" attack. Then, if a full-blown version of "NIGGER" hits, the battle against the disease can, perhaps, be won. Just my reacculturative spin. "Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." Mark Twain
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that word is all about context. I know some white people who use the word when refering to friends. It may still be looked upon negatively by some...but not nearly in the same manner as if a white person that you don't know looks at you and calls you a stupid nigger. It even has different meanings within the black community. "what's up nigga"...is a greeting to people that you know will accept that greeting from you. I would never say that to a person I'm just meeting...especially an older black person. "They're acting like some real nigga's at that party" - this is negative...uses the form of the word that refers to ignorant and out of control people.
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About equivalent to Hey! brother.
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The N word? Do you mean the word nigger? Mostly its a slang term or greeting used among the urban black culture, but if a person not of African descent uses the word it is automatically registered into the context of the user being a racist and actually promoted to cause a racial issue. It's a double standard word where it's okay for them to say it, but nobody else can? It's all context, if you don't understand context, your an idiot, and will probably quickly jump to an instinctive reaction to show everyone around you how much of an idiot you truly can be.
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hey captain birdseye.. i read this question a while ago, but i saw this video today and it made me think of this question. i don't know what it means to every black person, but here's what it means to me.
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it has different connotations. when someone says "wats good nigga" that means whats up friend. when a black person says "your such a nigga" that means you are such an ingorant black person. but when it is pronounced nigger, the person is either joking or they are being racist. nigga and nigger are basically two different words. we normally say nigga. its not nearly as offensive that way.
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I dont use it at all. It is "in context" sometimes but still...
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The same thing it means when anyone else uses it, but magically not offensive.
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Us blacks ae like a brotherhood and that's a greeting and I don't knwo why it's a sign of respect
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i'm an average white guy with a southern accent, but fairly well educated though i act somewhat redneck so a good friend of mine who happens to be black explained it to me this way... let's say two rednecks haven't seen each other in a while, inevitably one will say to the other "how ya doin' ya ol' co--sucker!" now, that's not something you're going to just go up to anyone and say or you'll more than likely get your face pounded ;) it's the same with the "n" word. it's a "guy thing". we tend to call our friends things that we may deem "bad" because we like them. it's just macho posing. so, if a black guy calls another black guy that i now understand it as a term of endearment just as i'd call my friend a moron or retard ;)
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