to people other than American blacks, I think that it doesn't have the same visceral impact

Obviously I don't know precisely how much impact it carries to American black people, but my estimation would be that you'd be just about as likely to get punched out by a Jamaican for calling them that. And not just because we're feisty. So it may very well extend further in the Caribbean. One of the funniest moments of my life was being called (enthusiastically) a nigger by a Russian guy, and having the two African woman with me say "What's a nigger?" "I think it's like kaffir."

As for miscegenation, I only use the term to be sarcastic and have never heard it used as simple description, except where illegality was involved. "Interracial" is the word I hear in the other contexts.

I've seen older books use the spelling "nigra", generally when someone of very colonial viewpoint is referring to native folks. It seems to be a phonetic spelling of a particular accent saying Negro. Is that the etymology?

I think it was originally "negar," and then went two different ways, to the more politically correct "Negro" and the deliberately offensive "n***er."

Damn it, y'all got me reading the Teddy Lupin series. Which is actually kind of good....

I like yesterday's chapter, with the Sorting--she did both a really good Sorting Hat song, and that memorial to the fallen was very moving, I thought.

I like yesterday's chapter, with the Sorting--she did both a really good Sorting Hat song, and that memorial to the fallen was very moving, I thought.

I have to remember to check that out this weekend! I really liked the beginning chapters.

I've seen older books use the spelling "nigra", generally when someone of very colonial viewpoint is referring to native folks. It seems to be a phonetic spelling of a particular accent saying Negro.

My very Southern and very racist grandparents said it that way. It was just their accent for "Negro" but it wasn't a nice thing coming from them, either.

I remember one conversation I had with my grandma in the mid-'90s when she used the word "colored," which really took me aback and I almost corrected her, or at least questioned her use of the term, but my dad was sitting there and he instilled in me a rule of "never correct your grandparents about anything, because then you're disrespecting them."

but my dad was sitting there and he instilled in me a rule of "never correct your grandparents about anything, because then you're disrespecting them."

there's definitely something to that, but if they are offending someone, I don't think that there's anything wrong with letting them know, politely.

I went to the University of Virginia, so I dealt with a lot good ol' boys and girls. I went out to dinner with one friend and his family, and his grandmother was there. She was very nice, but at one point turned to me and said "are there many negroes at the university of virginia". Of course my friend and his family were horrified, but I could see that she really was trying to be nice, and in her generation, that was respectful. I just said "well ma'am, there are probably about X number of african-americans here now" She said "african-americans? hm!" as in "this is a new concept, I must ruminate". My friend and his family fell all over themselves apologizing, but I wasn't offended, because I honestly thought that she was trying, and you can't be offended when someone is doing their best.

but I wasn't offended, because I honestly thought that she was trying, and you can't be offended when someone is doing their best.

I really believe that counts for a lot in the world -- both the trying and the respecting that someone is trying.

And then there's the issue of the word being used in music. The music crosses shores, but the history of the word doesn't, which can result in awkward situations when a non-USian person hears the word in a "friendly" context in a song, and assumes a benign or even positive meaning.

I went to a friends wedding in Canberra Australia a number of years ago, and for whatever reason I hit it off with her little brother, and we became penpals. There was a time he was LOVING Eminem Rapper (sp?). I, not a big fan, was horrified, and told him thusly. "But I just love the lyrics". So I actually listened to them, and explained what he was saying "you realize he is saying this about his mom? Your mom is a sweet lady..." About 3 months later, he announced, "by the way, you'll be happy to know, I don't really listen to MnM anymore". So ya, slang will jump ship, but not the definitions.

And just to keep it sort of on topic, when I first read the Harry Potter books, when I pictured Mrs Weasley, I totally saw his mother.