Cuba!

Quote: odiousgambit

Negro? wow, there are plenty of black Cubans, and I had thought, generally, communist regimes liked to play like they are un-racist since they like to poke at the US for its racial problems.

Quote: AZDuffman

Well, we could take the position that 'negro" is not universally racist as it is just an African term for black. .

Quote: kenarman

The various names for black Americans are derived from the river Niger which has given its name to country of Nigeria. It is a European name given to the river centuries ago. The African names for the river usually translate to some form of the "the river of rivers". The name for the slaves taken to the Americas came from the river.

Quote: kenarman

The name for the slaves taken to the Americas came from the river.

Quote: Evenbob

"It is probable that nigger is a phonetic spelling of the White Southern mispronunciation of Negro."

Quote: OED

Negro (n.)
"member of a black-skinned race of Africa," 1550s,
from Spanish or Portuguese negro "black,"
from Latin nigrum (nominative niger) "black, dark, sable, dusky," figuratively "gloomy, unlucky, bad, wicked,"
of unknown origin (perhaps from PIE *nekw-t- "night;" see Watkins).

As an adjective from 1590s.

Use with a capital N- became general early 20c. (e.g. 1930 in "New York Times" stylebook) in reference to U.S. citizens of African descent,
but because of its perceived association with white-imposed attitudes and roles the word was ousted late 1960s in this sense by Black (q.v.).

Professor Booker T. Washington, being politely interrogated ... as to whether negroes ought to be called 'negroes' or 'members of the colored race' has replied that it has long been his own practice to write and speak of members of his race as negroes, and when using the term 'negro' as a race designation to employ the capital 'N' ["Harper's Weekly," June 2, 1906]

Meaning "English language as spoken by U.S. blacks" is from 1704.
French nègre is a 16c. borrowing from Spanish negro.

Quote: OED

nigger (n.)
1786, earlier neger (1568, Scottish and northern England dialect), from French nègre, from Spanish negro (see Negro).

From the earliest usage it was "the term that carries with it all the obloquy and contempt and rejection which whites have inflicted on blacks" [cited in Gowers, 1965, probably Harold R. Isaacs].

But as black inferiority was at one time a near universal assumption in English-speaking lands, the word in some cases could be used without deliberate insult. More sympathetic writers late 18c. and early 19c. seem to have used black (n.) and, after the American Civil War, colored person.

Also applied by English settlers to dark-skinned native peoples in India, Australia, Polynesia. The reclamation of the word as a neutral or positive term in black culture (not universally regarded as a worthwhile enterprise), often with a suggestion of "soul" or "style," is attested first in the U.S. South, later (1968) in the Northern, urban-based Black Power movement.

Used in combinations (such as nigger-brown) since 1840s for various dark brown or black hues or objects; euphemistic substitutions (such as Zulu) began to appear in these senses c. 1917. Brazil nuts were called nigger toes by 1896. Variant niggah, attested from 1925 (without the -h, from 1969), is found usually in situations where blacks use the word. Nigra (1944), on the other hand, in certain uses reflects a pronunciation of negro meant to suggest nigger, and is thus deemed (according to a 1960 slang dictionary) "even more derog[atory] than 'nigger.' " Slang phrase nigger in the woodpile attested by 1800; "A mode of accounting for the disappearance of fuel; an unsolved mystery" [R.H. Thornton, "American Glossary," 1912]. Nigger heaven "the top gallery in a (segregated) theater" first attested 1878 in reference to Troy, N.Y.

Quote: Pacomartin

What's the answer??

Quote: Pacomartin

There was a feeling that it was an insult even back as far as the 19th century.

Quote: Evenbob

The only people I hear using it now young is
blacks.