The “N” Word
The “N” word could be one of three things, Nigger, Negro, or Nigga. It is important to understand the history of this word, as it has been used to teardown and belittle African Americans for years. The “N” word originated from the French and Spanish words, neger and negro, which means black. The “N” word has to be the most controversial word ever used, because everyone has their own opinion on the word.
The word “nigger” was the term that slave holders used for their slaves, but the word was not abolished when slavery was, it is still a word that individuals use today. The word is not as common, as times have changed, but racism is still existent, therefore there are still individuals who still use the derogatory word.

In the Willie Lynch speech, “The Making of a Slave,” Lynch says that in order to make a slave there has to be a “black nigger man, a pregnant nigger woman and her baby nigger boy,” he also refers to blacks as Negros. The speech went as far as to compare slaves to horses, and that the slaves could be broken down in the same manner as a horse.

In 1865, slavery was abolished in the United States, and slaves were declared free from slavery, but they were not free from the racism and hate that they were receiving prior to being freed. After slavery was abolished life changed for everyone, but the use of the words “Nigger” and “Negro” did not. As time progressed life for the “Negro” became a little bit better with the help of the African Americans in the past who fought for justice. Blacks were still treated with little respect, and that was and still is an issue now. Society does not have the same amount of respect for blacks, as they do whites. For example, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was black, and was treated with complete disrespect, despite the fact that he was intelligent and knew what needed to be done to better the country. He was not respected because he was a black man, and that was completely obvious.

The words “Nigger” and “Negro” are very important to African Americans. Nigger eventually evolved into the word nigga. The word “nigga” is extremely controversial because everyone believes something different about the word’s meaning. Tupac Shakur distinguished the difference between nigger and nigga, “Niggers was the ones on the rope, hanging off the thing; niggas is the ones with gold ropes, hanging out at clubs.” The difference is that one is free and the other was not, and not to state the obvious but niggas are free.
African American rappers and singers tend to use the word “nigga” a lot in their songs, artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Drake and many more use the word in a majority of the songs that they have made. The word is very popular, as it is used in most mainstream songs, as it is a way to describe a black person, but not in a derogatory way, as nigger and Negro did. The meaning of “nigga” in my opinion is calling one someone “my brother” or “my sister,” I see no negative connotation in the word, because it was created as a way to hold on to our history and bring a positive light to the word Nigger.

It is important for society to understand the importance of these three words, Nigger, Negro, and nigga. Times have changed and individuals have their own opinions of the word, as there have been many African Americans who do not believe the word should be used, but then there are the other African Americans who believe that it is a way to hold on to our past, and our culture. Other cultures should understand that these words are sensitive topics to touch, and that respect should be given to blacks. The “N” word will forever be special to the black community, and it will forever hold significance to the lives of all African Americans.
