[fastdraw1]

Another source claimed he said "Nigra", which used to be a common dialect for "Negro".

However, anyone who still listens to NPR will probably believe NPR.

[XBob]

I agree. Growing up in Florida in the 50's, the proper public way to say it was Negro, pronounced in 'southern' in Florida at the time as sort of 'Neegra', which is the way both whites and blacks pronounced it.

speach in polite company, speech in presence of black and whites, speach in presence of ladies never included 'nigger'. Curse words and bar room talk did include it.

Remember the origins - Latin, spanish, portugese:

Main Entry: Ne·gro
Pronunciation: 'nE-(")grO
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural Negroes
Etymology: Spanish or Portuguese, from negro black, from Latin nigr-, niger
Date: 1555

Remember Nigeria.

[FreedomCalls]

Judge for yourself:

http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20021205.atc.thurmond.ram