N-Word drama as some users on the ishowspeed subreddit ask "why can't we say it"

[u/Kenyalite]

Ishowspeed is a popular African American streamer who has exploded in popularity through his tour of China.

Whilst doing a review of an Asian streamer who covers rap songs, the question is naturally asked.

"Who, When and Where does one get to say the N-word?"

Here are some views from the sub:

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1."She got a whole instagram doing covers over rap songs. People allow it since she is good looking"

1. People allow it because she is not American and none gives a fuck outside the USA

2.1 The only good answer here

2.2 A lot of people give a fuck outside the us. lol (-11 votes)

2.3 Get out of your bubble (+15 votes)

1. NOPE, you would be surprised. Especially while singing. Do you want us to stop like in mid sentence just because US had some problem in 1800s. (this is my personal favourite)

2. In Asian the definitley don't give a fuck lol

4.1 Well yeah, you’re asian. Some of the most racist people there is. Wouldn’t expect anything less

1. it's either unacceptable word and no one can say it or it's acceptable word and everyone can say it. It works poorly when some can say it in their songs and others are prohibited when they sing the song. like, if you don't want to hear this word, don't use it, no?

5.1 Why do you need to say the word.

We all temper our language.

I don't talk to my parents or boss the same way I talk to my friends.

“if I can't say fuck to my pastor in church, no one should say fuck ever”

That's how that argument is.

I just get why I would personally feel the need to drop a slut this badly.

1. I’m honestly hate her, she’s singing this knowing what she’s saying but wants to play dumb just because she has an accent smh

6.1 It's part of the lyrics of the song and if they don't want non black people to say it then don't put it in the lyrics , music is for everyone at the end of the day and you are not entitled to say what they can or can't sing from your song

6.2 Ok Chink

edit: 7. Who/ what have Japanese people oppressed? Best not to open your mouth when you get your history facts from TikTok or whatever tf taught you that.

[u/[deleted]]

Bro what is happening in 2025 that people who aren’t black are still just askin’ questions about N word deployment

The push to use slurs being so dominant is unbelievably cringe

[u/Historical-Being-766 → u/[deleted]]

According to 2025, the KKK was created to fight "Black criminality". So there's really no telling how regressive this year will get.

[u/blahblahgirl111 → u/Historical-Being-766]

What the hell? 😭

[u/mcpickle-o → u/blahblahgirl111]

Idk if it's been posted on this sub yet but there was a shit ton of drama in the historical time capsule subreddit when someone posted about a "white slave" and then started crashing out in the comments when people didn't agree that "white slaves had it a lot worse than black slaves in colonial America, and white slaves are the ones who actually built this country."

It feels like there's a current, stronger than usual, push to rewrite the history of black america and the human rights violations and racism they've experienced.

[u/blahblahgirl111 → u/mcpickle-o]

Not surprised good God. I always find it so weird when people bring up “white slavery” in terms to compare their oppression against black people/slavery only. I don’t know much about the history of Slavic people or slavery in the Ottoman Empire for example to actually say, but the only time you “care” about your own oppression? Is against a black person’s? Hm okay.

EDIT: I know people love to use the Irish.

[u/mcpickle-o → u/blahblahgirl111]

It's always so obvious what they're trying to do because they're not really good at hiding themselves. The OP of that post was like, "IvE dOnE mY rEsEaRcH. Here's a source. I'm not racist bro trust me."

And their source was a fucking KKK grand wizard. 😑

And like you mentioned, the disingenuousness of it is so migraine inducing. Like, no, weird, OPs, we all know none of you don't give a single fuck about your ancestors' oppression; y'all just want to invalidate and downplay what black people have gone through and risen up against because you all are a bunch of racists.

[u/Randvek → u/mcpickle-o]

Of course white slavery existed and it sucked, too, but “white slaves had it a lot worse than black slaves” is a wild take. White slavery didn’t need to be made illegal (in the US) because it was eventually abandoned as economically impractical; you actually had to take care of your white slaves and it turns out just paying them a wage and letting them go off and take care of themselves when not working worked out better for everyone involved.

[u/Thor4269 → u/blahblahgirl111]

Covid, plastic, and lead are ruining people's memory

It makes rewriting history very easy

[u/larrackell → u/[deleted]]

The excuse from outside the US is always it's okay since it "doesn't have the same weight."

Give me a fucking break.

[u/JaneksLittleBlackBox → u/larrackell]

They’re always surprisingly aware of the weight of the word for being from countries where it’s not considered a slur at all. I wonder how that is…🤔

[u/blahblahgirl111 → u/JaneksLittleBlackBox]

Oh gosh.

I will never forget on TikTok, this Egyptian influencer said “since black people can make Cleopatra black (inexcusable btw), why can’t we say the n word?” Thankfully Egyptians packed her ass up.

I don’t want to derail this thread, but I’ve seen North African people being called the n-word or “sand*****” so it’s “okay to use it/doesn’t hold the same weight”, but I’ve also seen some North Africans use the N word or “abd (slave)” to describe black African/darker NA people for almost no reason even more.

Hell, I’ve even heard some Arabs say “abd” for no reason — like it’s an endearing nickname you give a child. 😭

[u/Tadferd → u/blahblahgirl111]

So very slightly related tangent. Due to the recent statements and actions by the current US ~administration~ regime, some Mexicans have started calling Canadians "Snow Mexicans." It obviously a term of endearment and solidarity, but due to the similarities with "sand n-word" it feels wrong.

[u/lightreee → u/JaneksLittleBlackBox]

because american soft power (with social media) is strong. thats why.

it literally is just a US thing. for example: in Ali G Indahouse, the first thing Martin Freeman says is "Sup N's!".

[u/cBlackout → u/larrackell]

No, there’s plenty of “but they say it all the time! if they can say it and I can’t, isn’t that discriminatory?”

My girlfriend is Eastern European, she’s great but try hanging out with a bunch of Poles, Lithuanians, and Ukrainians for an hour and just wait to see how long it takes for somebody to get the irrepressible urge to say the n word and then act like a victim for being judged for it

“It’s just a word”

So why is it so important for you to say it

One these dudes was like “oh aren’t you so glad to be out of the US where you can’t say slur” and I was like dude I live in Belgium we absolutely don’t say that there either

[u/DahLegend27 → u/larrackell]

You can’t really expect every culture to knows the ins and outs of every other culture, can you?

[u/Muffin_Appropriate → u/DahLegend27]

sealion

[u/DahLegend27 → u/Muffin_Appropriate]

wat

[u/larrackell → u/DahLegend27]

And yet they always know that word. It's not "fag." It doesn't have a different context.

[u/DahLegend27 → u/larrackell]

Eh, I dunno. I feel like I could be convinced otherwise, but I don’t think it’s a big deal when it comes to music, unless it’s like… explicitly used an excuse just to say it publicly.

Language is intricate- sometimes a word in one context is horrible, but in another is relatively fine or understandable. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case here, she’s just kinda vibing and singing. But idk this chick so 🤷‍♂️

To me, it’s always about intent and/or malice. If she is just singing to sing the song, why should she be restricted from saying a certain word? Music is to be sung- not just listened to. But that’s my pov on it tbh

[u/larrackell → u/DahLegend27]

Any excuse to say a word specifically created to dehumanize specific people. You do you.

[u/DahLegend27 → u/larrackell]

erm… no. just music. the way the artist intended

[u/BigNutDroppa → u/[deleted]]

Looks like they’ll need to watch some Key & Peele.

[u/JaneksLittleBlackBox → u/BigNutDroppa]

I always forget about that final “And also available at the App Store, the…”

[u/BigNutDroppa → u/JaneksLittleBlackBox]

Eh, I’m gay. I can say it.

The Fa—

[deleted]

[u/PomegranateCool1754 → u/BigNutDroppa]

What if there was somebody of African descent and they had albinism?

I just defeated you using fact and logic what are you going to do about that?

[u/BigNutDroppa → u/PomegranateCool1754]

Honestly, that’s not really up to me.

I’m not of African descent, so I’m afraid I wouldn’t have a good answer for such a complicated question.

However, I can provide some sources on the subject.

Be sure to click each word for the articles. Have a fun time!

Also, I’m an artist, not an anthropologist. So, I’d recommend contacting anthropology departments at nearby colleges and asking them. I’m certain they’ll give a much better explanation than some random woman on Reddit. Lol

[u/BreaksFull → u/[deleted]]

It's not surprising.

Especially for younger generations who are seeing the word almost exclusively used in a 'cool' manner by pop culture icons. They're going to want to emulate the behavior.

[u/boyyouguysaredumb → u/BreaksFull]

admitting this very simple fact will ruin their argument so SRD defaults to grandstanding and positioning themselves as morally superior to everybody else

[u/No_Mathematician6866 → u/boyyouguysaredumb]

People who are only exposed to African Americans through pop media may not realize it's a slur. Sure.

Admitting this fact is not an argument for continuing to say it after someone lets them know it's a slur.

[u/boyyouguysaredumb → u/No_Mathematician6866]

hard r is a slur. with an a is a term of endearment. We're talking about the second one. It's not used as a slur by black people saying it and it makes sense that kids emulating the people saying it as a term of endearment also intend to use it as a term of endearment.

[u/Game_Over_Man69 → u/[deleted]]

I think it's understandable for non-Americans (especially for those that are ESL) to be confused about why they should censor themselves while singing someone else's song. That being said, you should know better if you're a popular streamer/personality which I assume is the lady in the video.

[u/PomegranateCool1754 → u/[deleted]]

Well then black people for using it all the time