I always figured that the analogy is to what I grew up with.
I’m an Irishman. Another Irishman can call me a ‘mick’; a non Irishman might not like the reaction. I can make Irish jokes and I can be offended by stereotypes if Irishmen. Anyone who doesn’t like that had best be ready to resort to fists, feet, or lawyer relatives.
The Italians I know can call each other ‘Pisano’ and other terms that I would be a complete idiot (and an idiot who might soon get and deeply deserve an ass kicking); they can make mafia jokes and such that I’d be at best a tacky jerk to make.
Same thing with Blacks. The only white folks who are offended or annoyed that they can use the N-word in talk or song while white folks get a world of grief for doing so are the same racist A-holes who wish or want to use the N-word themselves. Anybody who’s bothered by the two different sets of rules needs to look in a mirror and make sure their sheets are on nice and neat.
I’ve often said the better comparison of whites using the n-word is the countless times blacks use the h-word or c-word with nobody going crazy over it. Whatever the rules of etiquette are, they apply to everybody equally..
It’s still a free country.
Blacks can be offended by whatever they wish.
And I can choose to not care about somebody being offended.
I’m a cracker and you’re an idiot. A mick idiot. Do you know my ethnic origin? Would the fact that it looked obvious that I could wipe the floor with you enter into your decision to resort to fists?
So you’re not American?