The Evolution of the "N"-Word

Just to be clear, the "N"-Word I am referring to is "nigger." This word has had its meaning and connotations change over the past 150+ years. The word is derived from the Latin niger(1), meaning black, and was originally used to refer to black people. Black people were slaves, and they were referred to by many variations on the word niger – nigor, negar, neger. It is not exactly clear as to when the term settled on nigger and became a derogative/insult(1). Today the word nigger is seen as either a very insulting racial slur, or is used by "gangstas" to refer to each other as a term of endearment. When the term is used as a term of endearment, it is sometimes spelled differently, nigga. The people who use the term nigger as a reference to another black person in the context of urban slang are seen by many people as deviant. The most likely people to use this word are the “gangstas” who see it as cool to use the term that has for so long been an insult, reclaiming it as part of their culture. The use of this word seems to have an impact not only on the people reclaiming it, but on the people who grew up with the derogatory meaning intended when the word was said. Older generations see the use of the word as a sign of disrespect for all that was accomplished during the Civil Rights movements of the 60s. Because of this, it may be that the word was reclaimed partly as an act of rebellion towards authority figures in these peoples’ lives. We have been asked to stop using this word for more than five decades in the interest of showing respect for our fellow human beings. The use of the word nigger is showing disrespect for our fellow man, using a term that was used mostly when Black people were enslaved. Using this word invites conflict, the very use of it by someone who is not a “gangsta” is seen as rude and disrespectful. Using phrases like “wassup ma nigga” is completely fine, but only if you are a part of the group that has been labeled deviant partly for their use of the word, or a variant of it. I think it is interesting how one word can have a non-derogative meaning, become derogative, then be used as either a friendly term OR an insult. It is hard for me to think of a time when using the word nigger was acceptable, or at least non-derogative. As long as I have been alive, I have been told never to use it, I even have a hard time saying it in explanation or example, it feels that taboo to me.

Definition of NIGGER(2)
1. Usually offensive: a black person
2. Usually offensive: a member of any dark-skinned race
3 : a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons


(1) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/nigger.htm
(2) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nigger