geez, richard pryor was the first publically, long before the rappers. the same debate continues today. i can call myself a dumb dago or dumb pollock and that's ok. But it's not ok for someone else who isn't Italian or Polish to call me that. Same applies with race. I just remember the look of hurt on a dear friend's face when we were kids and she, an african american, heard someone use the nrigged word for the first time. If you know it's offensive to others, sure you can continue to debate it and use the word. Just shows a lack of compassion for others, though. My parents taught me better.
