Southern, US early 90s. I was about 4-5 years old white boy visiting my grandma at her place of work with my dad (weigh station, wasn't a big deal we did this). Well an african-american man drove through the weigh station in his big-rig. For no rhyme or reason, being a stupid kid who didn't know any better, I blurted out quite loudly "That's a 'n****r' right there!!"

Oh man did my dad immediately beat my ass and tell me "You can't say stuff like that in public!!!" and I got quite a few shocked looks from the staff there, many of whom were black (for very very good reason). I didn't know what I had done was wrong at the time.

It really shows just how racism is taught, not born with. I learned that kind of language from my racist family. Talk about embarrassing and intolerant. That was 25 years ago but I cringe hard whenever this memory pops in my head.