I know this subject matter probably does not affect the avg. jamaican living there, but it affects us abroad.

A popular US radio talk show host Laura Schlessinger [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Schlessinger[url/] of Jewish-Italian heritage said the N word 11 times on air while addressing a black caller on the air. Thus sparking another big debate on free speech and race relations in this country.

Growing up in Ja the word meant nothing to us. I t has many meanings to many people. Personally the word is used amongst my cousins as a term of endearment, meaning that there is nothing we would not do for each other, we have each others back. So we greet each other as my Nigga. I meet white people who cautiously use the word around me, some while a Hip Hop song is playing, others use it and try to justify it as slang and I remind them say it with an A not an ER. In fact some of you have white friends that we use the word around but while talking openly to each other but the white friend don't dare say it. LOL.
But the word still carrys hurtful meaning especially with the older generation who had to endure segregation. They have not forgotten all the prejudices they had to endure.
Brothers take it as a compliment, there is a reason it rhymes with bigger.

Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt this Nigga.