# Is it time to lift the taboo on nigga? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 1, 2016, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497 "2016-08-01T21:12:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/1 "2016-08-01T21:12:50Z")
And I do mean nigga not nigger, Teenagers use it all the time as a term of affection and respect, copying the example of their rap star idols. Black teenagers use it to white teenagers, white to black, white to white, and so on. There’s not a scintilla of hate in it, just the opposite, and it’s perfectly obvious to all when an ethnic slur is being used and when it isn’t. When a listener does take offense then don’t use it in their presence, simple as that. But are we really going to excoriate teenagers for using the term affectionately? Where is the harm in taking a hateful word and changing it by usage into its exact opposite? Isn’t that a good thing? Prompted by [this story](http://www.salon.com/2016/08/01/lessons_from_miss_teen_usa_being_white_privileged_and_crowned_means_never_having_to_say_youre_sorry/) in which a teen beauty queen has to grovel before the cameras for using the term affectionately with her friends online some years ago when she was about 13. I have zero respect for the usual collection of trolls and creeps who dredged this up from an old blog of hers and tried to brand her as a racist. There is real and ugly racism out there and it isn’t to be found among teens trying to be supercool, most of whom haven’t a racist bone in their bodies. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/2 "2016-08-01T22:49:39Z")
If you’re going to hang your hat on your confidence that we’re talking about nigga, which is totally different than nigger, don’t we have a little bit of a stumbling block to deal with, considering that the example you cite is of a girl using a text-based medium and spelling it “nigger?” ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/3 "2016-08-01T23:03:23Z")
If there is going to be a lifting of the taboo of “nigga” we may as well shoot for lifting the taboo of “nigger”, too. There has been a movement for some time [(example)](http://www.popmatters.com/column/the-naacps-mock-burial-of-its-relevance/) to “take back” the word “nigger” in much the same way that “queer” was reappropriated by the gay community.\* - Or as Donald Trump so eloquently called it " The L… B… G… T… Q…" community. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/4 "2016-08-01T23:22:27Z")
Why would you need to use “nigga”? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/5 "2016-08-01T23:22:38Z")
Try using it and see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/6 "2016-08-01T23:29:52Z")
Wait, so it’s ok to call 'em ‘queer’ again? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/7 "2016-08-01T23:32:17Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > There is real and ugly racism out there and it isn’t to be found among teens trying to be supercool, most of whom haven’t a racist bone in their bodies. If one’s desire to be supercool trumps one’s desire not to use a historically and currently used racial slur, I’m going to put it to you that they are racist. I mean, she was young, foolish, all that kind of thing. But that’s not an _excuse_, that’s a _reason_. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/8 "2016-08-01T23:35:11Z")
I remain baffled by this great urge to use the n-word among white people, period. I’ve managed to live 45 years without having any desire to use that word. What’s the attraction? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/9 "2016-08-01T23:37:24Z")
“And I do mean nigga not nigger,” This is an odd linguistic jig you are dancing. When people say nigga’ they _mean_ “nigger”. It’s just slang for nigger not a entirely different word. Your question needs to ask " Is it time to lift the taboo on nigger?" ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/10 "2016-08-02T00:12:32Z")
I rarely, if ever, hear white people saying nigga. I mean, yes, it does happen but it’s far from a normal thing. IME. Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/11 "2016-08-02T00:13:38Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I rarely, if ever, hear white people saying nigga. I mean, yes, it does happen but it’s far from a normal thing. IME. I should note that I’m referring to white people GIRL, not online. > > Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/12 "2016-08-02T00:15:49Z")
That’s IRL, not GIRL. Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/13 "2016-08-02T00:24:44Z")
I find the word, in all its forms, offensive. As I do all racial/ethnic slurs. That having been said, the use of this term (or any other) “in-group” is different than the use of it by a not member. Best not to use it at all, lest careless usage get you the kind of treatment that met Nicholas Cage in “Wild at Heart” when he cast aspersions on the masculinity of a group of motorcycle enthusiasts. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/14 "2016-08-02T00:26:37Z")
The musical _Hair_ included a song entitled “Three Five Zero Zero”. In 1968. Relevant lyrics: “Prisoners in Niggertown It’s a dirty little war Three-Five-Zero-Zero Take weapons up and begin to kill Watch the long, long armies drifting home” The attempt to de-fang/retrieve the word has been going on many years. Another 3 generations, and maybe, just maybe… ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/15 "2016-08-02T01:53:02Z")
I see the resistance is strong. But if you have teenage kids, as I have, you’ll know that, despite adult shock and horror, they will continue to use it. Why? Because they hear it used all the damn time by the artists they respect. Kids will imitate, they’re good at that. But as long as they’re using it non-pejoratively among others who take no objection then I say good luck to them. If their generation or the next can remove the sting from the word then so much the better. Yes, it will still be used by racists but I assure you those people can make the words negro, black man, sound just as insulting and offensive. Any term can be a hate term in the mouths of those who hate. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/16 "2016-08-02T02:06:04Z")
How’s about we start with using ‘niggardly’ in public. There is nothing untoward whatsoever in it’s etymology, but most people are fucking stupid so what can you do. I still feel weird admitting I’m prejudice, as in, “That dude puts mayo on his hot dog. That sounds disgusting, though I admit I’m prejudice”. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/17 "2016-08-02T03:22:08Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I still feel weird admitting I’m prejudice, as in, “That dude puts mayo on his hot dog. That sounds disgusting, though I admit I’m prejudice”. No, you are right. The mayo people are wrong. It is ok to be prejudiced against people who are “pro-whiteness.” ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/18 "2016-08-02T03:51:28Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > When a listener does take offense then don’t use it in their presence, simple as that. Well, people are taking offense. So I guess no, the answer is, it’s not time to lift the taboo and white people will just have continue their unspeakable suffering. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/19 "2016-08-02T03:55:37Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I remain baffled by this great urge to use the n-word among white people, period. I’ve managed to live 45 years without having any desire to use that word. What’s the attraction? White dudes aren’t used to being told they can’t do things that other people can. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497/20 "2016-08-02T04:02:29Z")
You typed it here and the speech police haven’t shot you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-lift-the-taboo-on-nigga/761497.md?page=2)