Let's presume that Niger has heard that one before. For all we know, he's got buddies that call him that all the time.
We all know that the hip hop culture has adopted the N word in a completely different context, often as a friendly term of endearment.
Harvard Law Professor, Randall Kennedy, has recently written a
book on this subject.
Of course, it would be a major controversy if such a book were written by a white linguist. Even Randall Kennedy, a black author, is getting some criticism for use of the word. He's also getting some praise for writing this book.
His point, essentially, is that what's important is the meaning ascribed to the use of the word.
Language evolves. Right now, we are living in a time of transition of meaning of the word nigger.