I hope yall don't mind a brotha jumpin' in on this.
The word originated from the slave drivers on the first ships to the west coast of Africa. These slavers were the dumbest(least educated), poorest europeans; and did ANYTHING-including risking their lives- for a meal. They were Portuguese, and their language has its roots in Latin, much like Spanish, English, and Italian. The word "nigga" comes from the Portuguese/Spanish word Negro, which means black(color). Because these
slavers were from the lowest socio-economic class, they couldn't even speak their own language properly; thus, nigga-instead of Negro. The word stuck with us because we too, had trouble learning how to pronounce the languages of our enslavers(thus we were considered dumb). To use that word confirms what many white people think of us already: if they aren't dumb, why do they adopt/accept such an offensive term to refer to their collective selves?
As for J-Lo being black; she is not, never was, and never will be. She tried/tries to be when it's profitable for her; but now she knows yall gon buy her cds, she can be herself. She is Latina; and that's that. It is true that our bloods mixed when the conquistadores and their slaves came; but not many Latinos care to remember that fact. I look at them like they are our "cousins", instead of brothas.
Like 411 said, it's stupid for us to use that word.
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