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I freely admit that I don't have any black friends. Acquaintances yes, friends no.
Too different.
I have friends and acquaintances of all colors, a certain skin color isn't a friendship requirement for me but common sense, intelligence and honesty are.
States used to place bans on speech, but the first amendment was reinterpreted to be a government protection of speech by the federal government. The same has been argued with regard to freedom of religion as well. By the original envisioning of the federal government's role, states were meant to be autonomous political entities, almost like countries themselves, with the federal government having minimal input. The idea is that local government best reflects the will of the people and the larger the government, the more distant it is from suiting the people's needs and wants.
Agreed and that is why I brought it up for discussion. Also to point out as time has passed the Constitution has been interpreted more and more getting away from the original intent, take care.
But why is it okay for blacks to say the "N" word all over the place, but not whites?
Because identity and audience factor into all language usage, and the N word is no exception. Just like you don't talk to your boss and your dog the same. Your identity and the identity of the person you're talking to do factor into what language you can and can't use. Technically, you can use any language, but it will either cause offense or sound weird. Would you whistle your boss over? Would you ask your dog "would you like something to drink, sir" before giving him a bowl of water? Why is there a difference in the way you talk to your boss vs. your dog? The answer lies in the fact that your identity and the identity of the person you're speaking to vary from person to person. The relationship between you and the listener vary, and language reflects that.
Languages across the world prescribe different pronouns, phrases, and names depending on the amount of solidarity or distance between two speakers. Having the same background gives an added sense of solidarity--whether it's because you're coworkers, went to school together, grew up together, are of the same religion, or of the same race. Race isn't always a solidarity marker but it can be for many people. Likewise religion can be a solidarity marker but isn't always. For example, in the Kingdom Hall, Jehovah's Witnesses call each other "brother" and "sister". They refer to each other as brothers and sisters. Many other religious sects do this. It is to demonstrate the solidarity they feel in a shared belief and a shared experience.
Black people have a shared experience as black people in America. There are a great variety of experiences among blacks, but there is that one common thread of being black in America. When black people use the N word affectionately, they are referring to this solidarity, much like JW's use "brother"/"sister". Obviously that common thread of that experience doesn't exist between blacks and whites. But there are other ways to establish solidarity with people. For example, JW's of all races choose their JW identity over any other identity and refer to each other as brothers and sisters regardless of race or ethnicity. Some black people put their black identity before any other identity with other blacks, and therefore use the language that reflects that outlook. A lot of black people don't do that too, and those black people tend not to use the N word affectionately.
Language reflects solidarity and other social relationships as well. The field that studies that phenomenon is called sociolinguistics.
Free speech can be racist, sexist, or discriminatory as long as it is a Nonwhite person/group that is saying it like The Nation Of Islam for example.
Why didn't I get that memo? I have been called all sorts of names based on my gender, sexual orientation, my partner's race, my religion, my disability, etc. without any sort of repercussions for the other person. I don't necessarily care to dole out repercussions to anyone who insults me, but what you are claiming is simply not true. "Protected classes" get targeted all the time. Maybe you're talking about incidents like Don Imus and Laura Schlessinger, but radio has always been held up to its own standards. College campuses have an image to uphold as well. But in every day life, there is nothing standing between protected classes and the language that is used on them all the time. Apart from a few hot-button words, there are a million ways to be discriminatory that can't be fought in a court of law and people get away with that all the time.
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