I wouldnt have thought this needed explanation...people call them gypsys here because thats what they believe they are...most americans dont have a clue as to what their heritage is....Ill bet theres other nationalities we call other than what they would like also
Here's The Facts, gentlemen...
In the beginning white English speakers-- in England and its colonies-- called Africans "blacks".
These "blacks" at some point circa 1500 asked to no longer be called "blacks", probably because of the connotations of black=evil whereas white= pure.
...so the good folk of England (and America and elsewhere) opted on the word "negro", which was the Spanish/Italian/Latin translation of the English word "black".
And the Africans approved of this.
Somewhere a few centuries up the line we find southern American English speakers shortening the word "negro" to "nigger" as they did also shorten an umpteen other English words. For a time nobody noticed. But ultimately someone somewhere paid heed and decided that this shortening was symptomatic of disrespect and so it-- over time-- systematically-- became apparent that the shortening was different from its origin in an emotional context.
...Long story shortened...
"Nigger" is just "Negro" pronounced southern. No more, no less. Denotation's the same. It's equal. It's PERFECTLY the same thing. The ONLY difference was/is emotion, connotation. But let's move on...
In 1880 people asked, "Let's stop saying "nigger" and all say "negro"." And it was thus. And some did, and some didn't. But let's say the "good" ones did.
In 1920 people asked, "Let's stop saying "negro" and all say "colored"." And it was thus. And some did, and some didn't. But let's say the "good" ones did.
In 1960 people asked, "Let's stop saying "colored" and all say "black"." And it was thus. And some did, and some didn't. But let's say the "good" ones did.
In 1980 people asked, "Let's stop saying "black" and all say "African-American". And it was thus. And some did, and some didn't. But let's say the "good" ones did.
EXCEPT that in 2016 we've still some saying "black is OK" whilst others (mostly grandparents) are still insisting on that "African-American" thang...
...because by now we're back to where "black" is OK, which is where we were before we changed "black" to "negro" (and then shortened this to "nigger") in the first place like some 600 years ago.
Let's NEVER MIND what it was that made "negro" or "colored" or whatever become 'negatory' in its first places...
***[[[{(BUT WHAT WAS IT?---)}]]]***
Please do not necro threads. Thread closed, thank you.