I’ve never used racist/sectarian taunts against anyone no matter what their race or religion so I find it somewhat surprising when I see imported tv shows from the US featuring black americans calling each other “nigger.” In what capacity do they use this word? Is it equivalent to “mate” or “buddy”? Or do they too use it as a swear word too? If they may use this word amongst themselves then why not people of other races?
[Moderator watch ON]
I’m going to leave this here for now, since some folks might be able to contribute usage notes and examples of where it might and might not be considered offensive, but don’t be surprised if this thread ends up in GD eventually.
There is a fair amount of controversy on the subject in the States, too.
Originally, it was taken over by some segments of the black community as a way of defiantly taking the sting out of an insult. (This would be analagous to early U.S. citizens proudly flaunting the name Yankee when it had started out as an insult or my occasional references to myself as a papist or a mackeral-snapper.) It is sometimes used in jest. At other times, it is a defiant and angry demonstration.
Other people in the black community feel that it is such a hateful word that no one should use it, even now, even in jest.
Of course, then you get a few clueless whites who whine “If it is such a bad word, why do they get to call themselves nigger, but they get mad if I say it.” This reinforces the opinions of those in the black community who say it should never be used, while allowing those who do use the word to look on it as a mark of an exclusive club: (“I can use it among my bros, but you can’t use it or I’ll get mad.”)
Well I am an american, but not a black one and in my experience the word “nigger” is used by black Americans much the way you said, like “mates” or “Buddies.” Believe me when I tell you, however, that non-black americans can’t get away with using that word in almost any context. I squirmed even typing it at the beginning of this post.
You hear a lot of friends addressing each other in disrespectful, seemingly offensive terms often as a sign of friendship. I think it’s because you would only let your friends get away with saying something like that. Ever heard some old friends meet and say something like, “Dave, how you doin, you old sonofabitch.” Maybe that’s an American thing, but I think it’s just a version of that type of exchange that only blacks can get away with.