Randall Kennedy

Let's suppose that your friend says that.

That doesn't end matters because let's imagine the following.

Let's imagine that you're in a theater and you're waiting for the film to start.

And you're just talking with your friends or singing with your friends or just kicking back with your friends.

And they're talking about nigger this or nigga this.

And you say it.

You, the white boy, say it.

And the next thing you feel is a fist, a big fist in your mouth that has been launched by a person that you did not see who was right behind you.

Mm-hmm.

All this person saw was a white person saying nigga.

And the next thing, pow.

Mm-hmm.

That's not some sort of overheated scenario coming from some law professor's mind.

That is a very plausible scenario.

So you have to be worried about lots of things, including mistake.

So my advice to you is be prudent.

I would stay clear of the word unless you're very certain and unless, if you're called on it, you feel you're in a position to defend yourself, defend what you're doing.

But the prudent thing would be to stay clear.

Well, no, I think there's a difference between nigger and nigga.

I mean, people make a distinction between them.