why do black people say the "N" word if its so offensive

This is generally done out of ignorance and low self-esteem, please see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec

Certain oppressed groups have taken to reclaiming words that were once used to put them down and insult them. It’s a form of empowerment in a way. However, it is still not alright for the groups who used to oppress them to use these words because one never knows the true sentiment of the word… If it’s coming from someone “within” group then it doesn’t matter, but you never know how the “out” group is using it..

oops I mean the and word

Some use it for a variety of reasons like it’s just a word or reclaiming, but A LOT do not use it at all! I read an article on a prejudice and discrimination .com site that pretty much summed it up!

it ghetto slang I say it all the time am mix black/white I walk up to one my friend what good and I say it to my teacher I say it to a lot of people lol it just ghetto slang

Words are never neutral.

If a word was invented by one group of people to dehumanise another group of people, that word has a meaning, a demeaning one. Even if a non-African American uses it in a context where there is no anger, it still implies a history of oppression.

I agree with TY above, though - when African Americans use the word, they might be inverting it as a form of empowerment - I gather it’s sort of like “well, if WE use the word in this way, then it takes meaning and power away from the way YOU historically used it against us”… I guess it’s also a way for a group of people to denote that they share a history, without necessarily coming from the same family…

Anyway, I would never use the word. Though I am Asian and would never call myself “g00k”, or approve of anyone else calling me that, I see the appeal in reinventing a word like in this way.. African Americans have more legitimate reason to use it, but others shouldn’t. You can’t really shake off such a dreadful history from a word, esp. when there are still racist idiots out there.

there is nothing wrong with the word “ngger.” IT’S JUST A WORD. words aren’t bad. it’s the CONTEXT that you put the words in that counts. it’s the intent behind the words that makes them good or bad. “ngger” is not a bad word in and of itself. it’s the racist asshle who is using it that you should be worried about! nobody cares if a black person says “ngger” because we know that they’re not racist.. why? ‘cause they’re black!!! nobody is getting offended!

like I said, the words are innocent. words are completely neutral. theres nothing wrong with the word n*gger, it’s the CONTEXT you put it in that makes it good or bad.

I prefer the word Ebonics and not “ghetto slang”. That’s offensive to some people.

well my friend summer say it and she white and it don’t make me mad but it just depends on how you use it and when black people say it it’s because they is one or somtime I call summer one and she don’t mine cause she ack black and she dates black people and she say she likes black boys better than white boy and she also said that white people are too damn stuck up