Reddit reviews The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn't, and Why

It's a really tough question to answer for a non-American. I encourage you to keep your non-American heritage in mind when trying to understand why the word is off limits and why it's not actually creating more racism.

Depending on how you like to learn/understand things, here is a variety of resources for you:

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CNN talk with Marc Lamont Hill, I couldn't find the video in full on its own, so you can feel free to ignore the bias of the youtube speaker. Interview is from :40 to 6:10

Takeway quote from the above video: "I might see Trinidad James on the street and call him ‘my nigga.’ You know why? Because he is my nigga. And the difference between Trinidad James and you, is that Trinidad James has to deal with the same oppressive situations. He was born into a world where anti-black racism prevails. He lives in a world where police might shoot him on the street no matter how much money he has. We share a collective condition known as ‘nigga.’ White people don’t.”

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Q&A with Ta-Nahisi Coates, 4:58

Takeway quote from the above video: “I had a good friend who had a cabin in upstate New York, which he referred to as the ‘white trash cabin,’” Coates continued. “He was white. I would never refer to that cabin, tell him ‘I’m coming to your white trash cabin’ ― and I think you understand why.”

“The question one must ask is why so many white people have difficulty extending things that are basic laws of how human beings interact to black people,” he added. “And I think I know why.”

"When you're white in this country, you are taught that everything belongs to you"..."so here comes this word, that you feel like you invented, and now somebody is going to tell you how to use that word that you invented. You know, 'why can't I use it? Everyone else gets to use it? You know what that's racist that I can't use it!'"

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Book: The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn't, and Why by Jabari Asim

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Book: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates


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If, at the end of the day, you still think its divisive, that's ok. Here's Cornel West in a CNN interview on why that's ok.


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Let me know if you haven any other questions!

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-explaining-the-n-word-to-non-black-people-is-so-damn-exhausting_us_5910cb2de4b0d5d9049eef86

https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/11/9/16627900/ta-nehisi-coates-n-word

Someone even [wrote a fucking book about it] (https://www.amazon.com/Word-Who-Can-Say-Shouldnt/dp/0547053495) for God's sake.

So don't come with me with this "there is no explanation" bullshit.

The word comes from the language of slavery - which, unless I'm mistaken, we can all agree was pretty shitty. Black people reclaimed the word as their own as a means of empowerment. Then, a buncha white people from the suburbs trying to be hood because they listen to rap hear the word so engrained in black culture, and just like everything else that white people fetishize about black culture, want to steal it for themselves.

No one is saying that when you rap the n word, you are directly using it in a deragatory way. I truly don't believe you are a bad person or should be crucified for it. However, you do need to make yourself aware of the history, prejudice, bloodshed, and hurt behind the word. You have to make an effort that the vast majority of black people are made incredibly uncomfortable by the word. When white people use it, it normalizes its use elsewhere. You see it in video game culture, pop culture, etc. And in those instances, it turns hateful.

If I can offer you some advice, its this: think about who you could be negatively affecting when you say it. Then think to yourself is this actually worth it? Like, what the fuck are you gaining by saying it? Does it enhance your enjoyment? I'd bet the answer (if you're truly honest with yourself) is no.