The N word should not be used by anyone other than African Americans. The history of African Americans in the United States began in 1619 when a Dutch ship brought the first slaves from Africa to the shores of North America. Of all ethnic groups, African Americans were the only ones to arrive on these shores against their will. African Americas do not mean the word as other mean it, you see when someone out of the African American race uses the N word it means something more terrible than when if an African American use it. This is why in some shows people will hear the word being said, because African Americans mean it in a different manner. The N word means a slave and other bad terms. Term used to refer to dark-skinned people, mostly those of Black African ancestry is what this word means, but in the old days, it was changed to Negro then that turned into a racial slur for slave blacks or also to some meaning lazy. Sometimes it is safe if no one uses the word, but it just has a lot of controversy with it because most do not like the word period. Like me, I do not like the word being used at all… If you should know I am African American and to me the word is bad, but with us it is used to mean something different because we call each other that. I do not use the word personally at all because I hate it. This word to me is a symbol on me or a scar just like the Star of David that the Germans used to tag the Jews. No one really had to live that the African- American culture did, so some do not understand why it is so important not to use this word. Now just because it is used in madea and other African American shows does not mean everyone needs to use it. The shows do it to prove a point most of the time. People please do not use this word. I know that you hear it all around you, but if you can please tell them how it makes African Americans feel, I mean some will actually get violent at times when they hear that word and that is why I think that it should not be used. The N word has caused a lot of converse and pain to everyone especially African Americans around the world. I would hate to see the world go crazy over racial issues like these, basically we have brung the past into the present and future and it is not a good thing. Many things can happen in our future especially if we pass it on to our childrean. Please do not pass this to your childrean or other people.