In the Night
Contributor
It doesn't. It's just more nonsense from racists who want to pretend that they're not. Anyone who has read any books written in the 1800s or through mid-20th century about the South has seen the word used. Sometimes they say "nigra(s)", the more educated used "Negro(s)", sometimes "darkies," but most often "nigger(s)." It began as shorthand for African slaves, then post-Civil War it became a pejorative. It's part of a lexicon of ugly words to describe those who were other -- spics, greasers, wops, coons, wetbacks, chinks, kikes, dagos, pollacks, krauts, slants, micks, redskins, injuns, gooks, spooks, squaws, honky, crackers, ragheads, towel heads, nips, etc. Racists and xenophobics use the term to make sure that we understand that those ppl are not like us... and inferior to boot.
From Wikipedia: "Nigger / nigra / nigga / niggah / nigguh
(U.S., UK) An offensive term for a black person. From the word negro, which means the color black in numerous languages. Diminutive appellations include Nigg and Nigz. Over time, the terms nigga and niggaz (plural) have come to be frequently used between some African-Americans without the negative associations of nigger."
Wikipedia summarily dismissed as a reference. You cannot use it as a reference with me. It's articles are biased, incomplete, badly worded, or even outright wrong.