The N Word

Its not ok for anyone to use. African Americans seem to believe that because it was used as a derogatory word to oppress them, they can now use it as a term of endearment..? I don't quite understand how that makes sense. It is always easy for some to say, we're striving for equality, we are all equal, we have a black president. But, how can we all be equal when a certain race can use a word and another cannot? How are those lines distinguished? If its a "bad" word, its a bad word, no special qualifications or requirements to be met. Wake up and realize that having such double standards makes "The Dream" that much harder to truly attain.