The policing of that word (among many others) is an attempt to gain power. When you hold people to what language they can use, and they obey those laws, then you hold power over them. This is a pretty blatant phenomenon that I think many people gloss over it, but it is very real. And damaging to the black community, in that it forces a frailness that shouldn't be there, forces generations of cultural weakness.
If people truly wanted to get rid of the word, then they would get to the heart of it, which in this case is the black community. In a similar manner, though not as widespread, is the use of the word faggot in the gay community. What it creates is an ingroup/outgroup, which does nothing to bring people together.
And, as an aside to all the people who will say "you can use the word", I know, I simply choose not to. It isn't a word I like.
The policing of that word (among many others) is an attempt to gain power. When you hold people to what language they can use, and they obey those laws, then you hold power over them. This is a pretty blatant phenomenon that I think many people gloss over it, but it is very real. And damaging to the black community, in that it forces a frailness that shouldn't be there, forces generations of cultural weakness.
If people truly wanted to get rid of the word, then they would get to the heart of it, which in this case is the black community. In a similar manner, though not as widespread, is the use of the word faggot in the gay community. What it creates is an ingroup/outgroup, which does nothing to bring people together.
And, as an aside to all the people who will say "you can use the word", I know, I simply choose not to. It isn't a word I like.