The argument a lot of black entertainers use the word is laughable. There are, in my experience, two reasons people use the N word.

1. Bigotry - they use it either straight out as a bigoted remark, or as veiled bigotry. Dr Laura was a prime example of this. She not only whipped out the N word multiple times, but then told the caller that she needed to “get over” the racial slurs thrown at her.

2. Developing a false sense of camaraderie - People use the N word to try to show that they are just like them and they “feel their pain” (tm Bill Clinton) but truthfully, you can’t just will your way into being a part of another culture or race.