Oh my fucking god people this shit is not that damn hard!
If you belong to a race or ethnic group that has a long history of fucking with other races or ethnicities (slavery, colonialism, holocausts, genocide (accidental or otherwise), Jim Crow…on down to things much more mundane) STOP EXPECTING PEOPLE OF OTHER RACES AND ETHNICITIES TO GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT WHEN IT COMES TO QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOR!
The word negro coming out of the mouth of a black person is not going to be considered offensive 99+% of the time. The word negro coming out of the mouth of a white person is going to be considered offensive a majority of the time.
- No, your grandma doesn’t get a pass because she’s old. She’s had plenty of time to learn, but for some reason, has chosen not to.
- Yes, you might get a pass if you’re quoting something written from a different time period but don’t be surprised if you don’t.
- Yes, the term was once considered polite in black and white society. So was the word nigger.
Why? History.
Don’t like it? Neither do we but what choice do we really have?
I swear, race relations in this country will never improve until white people stop constantly expecting and demanding the benefit of the doubt.