Nigger

The word came from a slang way to say "negro". That is the word for the color black and for black people in Spanish and Portuguese.^[2]

Before 1865, most black people in the United States were slaves. During that time, the word "nigger" commonly meant a slave. Writers such as Joseph Conrad,^[3] Mark Twain,^[4] and Charles Dickens^[5] often used the word in their stories and their other writing.

However, in the late 20th century, the word was seen as a hurtful racial slur. It was called hate speech. "Nigger" was seen as very offensive to say or hear which caused many to not use the word. They would call it "the n-word" instead of saying it.

Some black people use the word without trying to insult people with it. More black people say "nigga" instead. "Nigga" is considered less insulting. "Nigga" can also be called "the n-word". "Nigger" may be called the "hard-R". This is more specific than "the n-word, because "nigga" is not called the "hard-R".

• Racism
• Discrimination
• Jim Crow laws
• African Americans
• Racial segregation
• History of racial segregation in the United States

• Gook
• Kike
• Chink
• Retard