Originally published April 3, 2008

(Source: Afropunk.com Forums - I asked this question to fellow afropunk forum users. This was there response.)

glampunkbarbiedoll: Do you use the word nigga? When do you think it’s appropriate? How do you feel when non-Blacks use it in casual conversation with you? Has anyone ever said it behind your back but you could hear it?

whisperedlitany: If I am completely just joking around, I’ll use it. I don’t have any black friends here except for three. My white friends will only use it when it’s said towards them, or when we’re laughing about that movie Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood. I don’t know..haha…where I live people don’t call you nigga behind your back, they straight say nigger. Mostly unkind people of any race will say it.knotty boy: I used it once or twice but it [never seemed to feel right] even if I saw other people use it. I understand when people say [it] it’s for the taking back of the word but why would you want to take back [something] derogatory like that?

miltown_punkette: www.abolishtheword.com
That’s all I have to say on it.

glampunkbarbiedoll: I dont really believe in using the word. Whenever I have used it it just does’nt sound right coming from me.

Princess From Hell: Fuck no!! I hate that word. I don’t understand why people use that word as a greeting when it’s a disparaging word. No matter if it has an ‘a’ or ‘uh’ at the end of it, it’s still demeaning.

It pisses me off when some of the mexicans on the bus uses it and the black people don’t even seem to care about them saying it.

Terry: I never use that word. I also think it’s stupid when people say that they’re changing the meaning to make it “positive”.

DaHeavyMetalGangsta: Abolish it.
The end.

grandtheftartist: I may have muttered the word under my breath when I was alone but I would never say it out loud.

Sheissounsure: I don’t use it. I don’t really like when other people use it. I think if we really want white people to stop saying it because they think it’s “cool” we need to show an example and not use it at all, not even jokingly…sometimes they can be slow but they usual catch on…

SmallShadoW: I don’t but my mom does. But, yeah, I hate that word and my tongue bleeds every time I even attempt to mention it. I really hate the fact that we as a people have taken this word into a social norm. I really don’t see any other race using other demeaning words towards each other in such a social manner….but then again, maybe they do but that doesn’t happen here in Indianapolis.

Psycho_Bunny: I hate that word! I never use it. I actually cringe when I hear other people use it sometimes. I think I said it once or twice and felt like cutting my tongue out afterwards.

lonely1: I don’t use the word NIGGA, It skates on thin ice with me in any situation. If one of my white friends uses it, like indircetly, not at anyone, just like asking a question or something. I don’t like hearing the word. It’s kinda personal, I mean its not even just that I’m Black. It just hurts.

vicious_squid23: A lot of my friends do (black, white, asian, latino…) I only feel completely comfortable when black people use it. I don’t know - it’s not the most logical thing, but it’s what i feel. And then I’m slightly uncomfortable when my asian and latino friends use it. Don’t even get me started on the white kids around here. I’ve always sort of said, “don’t use the word unless it can be used against you.” which is totally backwards, but I feel like it’s a black issue. I’ve had arguments with white friends who wanted my permisson (like I have that sort of authority) to use the word. I just feel like, if you can’t really be called a nigger, then you shouldn’t say that or nigga. But then there’s a gray area when it comes to puerto ricans and stuff…wow, that sounded so weird….

Anyways, I love The Boondocks, and the n-word just doesn’t really phase me in the same way when it’s said in certain contexts, like on the show. I don’t know if any of that made sense…but i’m still pretty unsure on where I stand on all of this.

vicious_squid23: I knew I forgot something. I, on the otherhand ( I mean, in comparison to my friends and family) do not feel comfortable using it. Even when I’m quoting someone or reading something, I just feel so wrong. The same goes for “fag(got)” and “dyke” and all other slurs. They just don’t roll off my tongue. When I say the word, it’s like a fucking struggle to get it out. And the whole time I’m trying to say it, I’m thinking - what does this word really mean? How has it been used to degrade people and why is it “alright” for me to use it now?

Genes girl: In 7th grade this white chick used it and I turned and asked “What did you say?” She said “What? You thought I said nigger?” People just should not use it all. It’s not positive and it sets us back more.

DjComplex72: Nigga…..were I’m from…(NYC….L.E.S….212 !!!) the word is used all the fucking time…its like whatever to me….people make a big deal about that word….people give that word so much power….its whatever….

Blasto2x: Don’t like it. Don’t see the need for the word. There are so many other words to use, so why use that one? I don’t even like saying it, and when I do say it I feel like I just committed a sin or something, it’s so dirty. It’s just…just…ugh!

Syzhorra: I don’t use it I don’t like others to use it and when I do hear it I feel like “Have we seriouslly evolved so little and not learned from the past?”

Khymeira: I don’t know, I mean, at the risk of sounding ncharacteristically pompous, my friends and I don’t have that word at the forefronts of our diction. I’m not exactly sure how I would react if the word was directed at me. I couldn’t be angry; wouldn’t want to give such a silly word that kind of power. I’d probably let it pass the first time.

Blasto2x: Yeah, my friends and I don’t use the word amongst ourselves either. But how can you let someone know that kind of language isn’t appropriate without taking offense to it or being a bit upset? If you just continue to let it slide, then people are gonna say “Well, no one’s doing anything about it so it must be ok to say it” when it’s NOT.

Khymeira Quotes:
Blasto2x wrote:“Yeah, my friends and I don’t use the word amongst ourselves either. But how can you let someone know that kind of language isn’t appropriate without taking offense to it or being a bit upset? If you just continue to let it slide, then people are gonna say ‘well, no one’s doing anything about it so it must be ok to say it’ when it’s NOT.”

(Khymeira’s Response): Oh, you’re definitely right. I won’t let anybody make habit of addressing me with that term. I’d imagine if the person had an ounce of grey matter, an expression of disapproval would get the point across. If the person insisted on continuing to use it, an eloquent dressing down would be in order.

Public humiliation, FTW.