I grew up 7yrs old every day down in the section.
All of my friends were black until it leveled out in High school.
Closest thing I had to a father was my best friends father who was black.
Yet even though I could have gotten away with it, I never ever ever ever would have said that word.
That's why when i see these young white and Hispanic kids using it today, I cringe, because they truly believe that just because they hang around a few black guys, that they can say it.
They are ignorant and clueles.
Of course it's ignorant and clueless. I grew up with several black friends who were on my basketball team from elementary school up through highschool, and they never even said it. Hell, they were offended if one said it.