Agree with not using that word anymore by any one its terrible even if used by african americans,why refer to your self with a word that was given to your people from salve owners and racists. I got paddled in school for using that word i was 8 and a boy told me to call him that,i asked why? i had no idea about racist things at that age i did,and he yelled to the teacher that i called him that. Turns out he was mad at me cause i wouldnt kiss him,i wasnt interested in boys yet. This made me very shy and nervous around african americans for a long time till highschool actually. Playing the race card when its not called for can damage people and kids.