I have friends of several ethnicities and nationalities-Black, Bengali, Latin, Serbian, Asian, and so on. These people have opened their lives to me and shared their cultures and experience and that has made me feel fortunate to be able to say that I learn more about not only them, but the people that are the same race as them. What I also learned that along with every race and nationality, there are always a set of slur words that no one else should use to describe them or call them. For me, that word is "Nigga" or "Nigger".

For as long as I can remember, I have been around people of different races and have used the "N" word to describe their friends, family, and foes. To those people, it's just a word. To me, it is not a word.

When someone says "Nigger" or "Nigga", it is a form of disrespect and ignorance. When someone calls me or anyone else that word, I am offended. Extremely offended. Especially if you are not Black. Black people say the word because it's their word. It's the word they have been called for centuries and instead of choosing to not say it, they instead embrace it and take it back by making it a term of endearment. When someone who is not Black in any way, shape, or form uses that word, it is considered an insult and a racial slur.

When people try to defend why they used it, it's always: "oh my friend is Black so that's okay" or "I'm not talking about Black people when I say" or "it's just a word. It's not a big deal." Calling someone a Nigger IS a big deal. That's an insult and when someone who is White, Latin, Asian, European, etc. uses it, that's a problem immediately. We cannot let this charade of "oh, it's just a word" go on. It's not a word you should have to defend using.

No one goes around calling their friend's insults that were used on other races. If a Black person says a Latin or Hispanic racial slur, Latin and Hispanic people would be upset. Same goes for Asians, the Irish, Polish, and so on.

But when Black people say they don't like it when others use that word, they're "sensitive" and should "get over it".

You mean, just like how we're supposed to get over slavery? How can someone say these things to our people and not expect us to fight back? That's as if telling Native Americans they're Indians and that they should go back to their country? That's insulting and offensive. Not only to Black people, but to those who understand why it's hurtful to us.

My best friend who attends college in California even discussed with me how she feels uncomfortable when people use the "N" word. She's even gotten into heated debates about it and won. And she's White. So if a White, Jewish woman can understand why that word is offensive, why can't others?

"Nigger" or "Nigga", it doesn't matter how you say it. It's not your word to use and it should never have been in the first place. It's 2016, America. Don't you think it's time to stop using and taking things from other people that aren't yours?