this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2025
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Pardon me if these questionings are offensive in any way. That is not my intention. I am merely curious on the intricacies of the N-word and its uses.

It is commonly known, I think, that white people oughn't say it, something which doesn't extend to Black people. I wonder, though, if white people think of the word, in their head (assuming the person has some sort of inmer monologue). I would imagine thinking the word might increase one's propensity to utter the word aloud. Or perhaps not. Certainly further exposure to content that features said language must increase one's likelihood of using the term, no? Even if one never makes use of it aloud, surely the chances hypotetically increase, no?

Race is a social construct anyways, so what exactly are races? What defines a race? Is it from a 'Murican perspective? Asian is a race, innit? Is Latin American a race? If so, do white Latin Americans, or those with European descent, is that part of such race? How does the usage of the N-word apply to other races, assuming such thing?

Edit: I imagine race doesn't just boil down to skin colour, right? There's more to it than white = light skinned and Black = dark skinned, innit?

Edit 2: Maybe this was better for NoStupidQuestions. I may have mistankenly gone too soon for Ask Lemmy, seeing it is a question.

I'd like to add I am not questioning the N-word itself. I would not say it. I comprehend it is offensive. Seeing as it gets used by Black people, and it's not to be used by white people, I was merely wondering on how this goes exactly. Whether it boils down to Black vs. non-Black, and what exactly defines being Black. (And also the part about thinking the word)

To add, I am not 'Murican, so no need to assume that. English isn't even me first language.

Edit 3: to be very clear, I DO NOT WISH TO USE THE N-WORD. And I am not looking for some sort of loophole. I am merely trying to better understand things. I apologise if this is of any offense to Black people, as it is not my intention to harm anyone

Edit 4: mods, if needed be, you can safely delete this post. Not that you needed permission. I'd just like to let known if this is any problem, deletion is fine by me. I don't intent on causing issues

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

If you have to ask it ain't for you

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

In 'Murica, it seems that you can make fun/insult/ somitimes simply have an opinion on a community as long as you are part of it

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

Here's my weird perspective on it, first of all it's not a word in my vocabulary, so I wouldn't say it anyways, and I don't normally listen to rap/hip-hop or other styles that use the word, so accidentally singing it also isn't a problem for me. But I think the most important point for me is that I'm not from the USA, and besides some random movie I have never ever heard the word being used in a racist manner, so to me it doesn't carry the same weight as it does for people who have suffered it directly.

Personally I think it's all related to the fact that a black saying that word implicitly has no racist connotations, whereas with non-black you can't be sure. That being said, while I understand wanting to conquer the oppressiveness of it by incorporating it into your slang, if you prevent others from using it in the same way, the oppressiveness is still there and you haven't removed power from the word. Think on how Gay used to be offensive, and things like the Gay Pride and similar reclaimed the word, to the point where even if heterosexual people use it nowadays it's not necessarily offensive.

That being said, like I mentioned at the start, I don't live in a place where people use that word, nor am I black, so I can't possibly understand what hearing that means to someone who's actually heard it as an insult, so me saying they should be more open with non-blacks using it in a non-offensive manner as a way to diminish the power of that word in the asshole mouths might feel insensitive. And at the end of the day I don't care because it's not in my vocabulary so I wouldn't use it even if blacks were okay with me using it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

So when racists use it its with their signature attention to the social construction of race and nuance that we've all come to expect. I.e. they're mad at someone they think is a bit dark and they call them a slur about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I'm not Black but I have been around Black folks and i only recall them calling each other that in the 90's. Maybe I just haven't been around enough idk.

Rappers who used that word have been promoted in the past and new rap artists seem to follow their lead.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 days ago

Either the word is offensive, or it isn't. POC don't get a pass from me - if I hear that word in a song, I hit skip or change the station. It is offensive no matter who says it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What is it? You make kinda riddle here...

'Next president'?

/s

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If you say the N-Word, you might be elected the next US President!

~Too~ ~Soon?~

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Thank you for the warning! So I'm going to avoid it thoroughly.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

when used derogatorily, it is essentially the same as most other deragatory terms. for example, "you fucking ", or "you're a ", or "I'm not gonna be told what to do by some ".

when used non-derogatorily its the same as like dude or buddy.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

The rule is it's a taboo word particularly in the US and in English-speaking communities aware of its US history. In the US, there's an ingroup & outgroup dynamic with the black community where in less formal registers the ingroup may use it

  • for ingroup disparagement
  • neutrally
  • for ingroup solidarity or camaraderie.

However, the ingroup speaks in black vernacular English, so the word sounds different.

You're recognized as a member of the ingroup community if they generally perceive you as such: culture, speech, appearance, other social markers.

Usage by the outgroup is typically treated as insensitive & insulting outside special cases such as quotation & academic discussion. The euphemism n-word is typically employed to minimize offense.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 days ago (1 children)

To try and answer what you're asking genuinely, since I don't see indication that this is bad-faith:

The reason African-Americans and some black people get a "pass" to use it isn't because it isn't offensive. Its because they're expected to have a better understanding of their own oppression than someone who hasn't lived with it, and because it can generally be assumed to not have racist connotations. The word has such heavy history that if someone who isn't black uses it, it is usually (and reasonably) assumed to be racism. Even among those who are black, theres a lot of nuance, with many feeling uncomfortable with saying it, either because the word is so loaded that it can be offensive reguardless, or because they don't feel like they're connected enough to the history to have the "right" to say it (I.E. someone who grew up in a black-majority country might feel this way.)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

Just to add to this: It was a term used by white people for slaves, it is directly linked to slavery. This is what makes it so offensive, particularly in the context of the US, if your ancestors weren't slaves, or even from Africa.

A rough explicit version would be to call someone 'slave' to their face. The US context adds insult to injury because descendants of former masters and slaves are living together, so not only is it a personal insult, but a cultural one. Like saying 'you should still be slaves'. White people know this, nobody can't claim ignorance, this makes it even MORE offensive, because the speaker doesn't have the benefit of the doubt.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 days ago (2 children)

As a white guy in the US South, it’s just… No. Don’t go there. Don’t even think it. You don’t want any part of that can of worms.

However, I remember hearing KRS One discussing the words usage a long time ago.

This video isn’t the discussion I remember, but it’s similar in content:

https://youtu.be/ZEYUd6VYriU

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Not sure who KRS One is, but that was rather insightful. Never thought of it like that

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Oh, I think I'm familiar with that "chorus" (?). Maybe it was featured on Djs From Mars' The History of Hip Hop. It was also sampled in Timmy Trumpet, Marnik & Ely Oaks' Sound of da Police (with DES3ETT)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah it’s different down here. All the history down here, plus some of the older white folks still using that word… ugh.

And KRS One is one of the best MCs of all time imho!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

And I know, because KRS One.

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