Ta-Nehisi Coates explains why white people cant say theN-word

[Ron Green]

16. It was the way white people talked when I grew up,

in a county that was 40% African-American. In a town where my high school was named “ ________ High School” and the other one was “ ________ Colored High School.”

The word was modified to “negro,” “negra” or “nigra,” depending on the social or political context, but normally was used unmodified.

Not until the very late 60s, even the early 70s, did these things change. Those of us who went away to college or the army during those years saw the difference more clearly upon our return than did, I suspect, those who stayed and had to learn new ways.

I think Ta-Nehisi Coates is right on in suggesting that being disallowed from the use of the word is clear instruction in the experience of discrimination.