The word is NIGGER. I have heard it my whole life. As a child I heard it from adults often. I never liked the word because I had black friends and hearing it hurt their feelings and was a word of hate. Now as an adult myself I here it even more and still dislike the word but the meaning has changed because now black people use it more than whites. Black leaders should encourage all blacks to quit using the "N" word and until they do nothing should be said to anyone who uses it. Todays rap music is full of it. All of our children use it black and white and to each other in jest. The word NIGGER doesn't have the hate in it that it did in "my day". The problem is there are still alot of people left from "my day".

I CAN TELL YOU NOW THAT JESSE JACKSON AND AL SHARPTON ARE NOT THE SPOKESMEN FOR THE ENTIRE BLACK POPULATION. THEY ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE THE MEDIA RUNS TO WHEN RACE IS INVOLVED. AND THAT MICHEAL RICHARDS DUDE NEEDS TO HAVE BUTT STRUNG UP FOR TELLING THOSE DRY JOKES. THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN EVERYBODY IN THE JOINT A GALLON OF WATER TO LISTEN TO THAT CRAP.

The use of the "N" word is right in line with the use of other words that are deemed inappropriate. Look at TV and radio. I remember when I was young you couldn't say bitch on the TV or radio, now it's common place. Just like you hear any other curse words more and more it seems these days. The thing that's always bothered me about the word and it's use is that it's ok for blacks to use it (i.e. in rap songs, calling fellow black people that on the street, like: "Hey what up nigga") but it's not ok for anyone else to use it. They say that it's derogatory towards blacks but more often than not I see it used by black people as a pronoun just to refer to someone else that is also black. Why would you refer to someone that way if you don't want others to refer to that person in the same manner. Seems like that'd be walking up to someone and saying "Hey a$$hole, how are you?" Lead by example people. If you don't want someone not of your race to call you that, then don't call yourselves that. I don't see any Jews walking around saying to each other "What's up heeb" or Arabs walking around going "How's it going raghead".

It's just more do what I say not what I do, which seems to be the way of the modern American. It makes me sad for our youth.

It seems to me that racism is alive in all ethnic groups.

Why are black people allowed to use the word nigger and other ethnic groups can not? Why has spanish and ebonics become the American language. I thought it was English that is the official language of the United States of America. All citizens: white, black, yellow, green, purple and every color between should be required to use it!

Racism-why is there a black history month and not an all white history month, a chinese history month, a mexican history month?

Why is there an Augusta black beauty pagent? Thought all citizens of Augusta were allowed in beauty pagents. This is racism.

Jackson and Sharpton want to fight for civil rights-try fighting for civil rights for all groups-not just blacks-AFTER ALL, CIVIL RIGHTS ARE FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't want this, but if there is Black History month, there should be Native-American History month, Chinese-American History month, French-Canadian-American History month, Cajun-American month, Irish-American Indentured Servants History Month, English-Americans from Debtors Prisons History month, Refugees from hundreds of countries months. At the very least, the Native-Americans, because they were here first and did a lot less damage to this continent while struggling to survive. Of course, to represent all ethnicities in this country with a month is not possible. But to only have black history month is unfair and arrogant to other peoples, some whom have nearly been wiped off the face of the earth for no other reason than white men wanted to take over their lands and trades. I've learned a lot from black history month, but to continue it as it is now is an insult to too many other people in our country. It's almost a form of race-baiting to even mention it now. And as far as the N word, I've NEVER used it, but I've been accused of doing just that by someone who KNEW I would never use it, and knew that is why it would hurt me so much to be accused of it. Based on my experience, the louder they scream racism, the more they are trying to cover something under-handed or illegal up. I don't call people names because I know what it feels like and I believe in the Golden Rule.
The only response I've ever given is the mirror response, or "you are everything negative you've ever called me." They usually sputter to a stop for awhile after those responses. Sometimes they say "I'm not a ........" and that way I find out what else they've been calling me behind my back. It's hard finding peace when you're dealing with people whose perception and judgement are impaired by drugs, alcohol and/or racist attitudes.