Phonetic (slang) pronunciation of the Latin word for "Black". Historically, this word has served as the name for two countries in West Africa and a major river. The Latin spelling & pronunciation has changed as the term was adopted by Spanish, Portuguese and eventually English speakers.
Today it primarily serves as:
1) a trigger for immediate cries of "racism" and demands for monetary compensation
2) a symbol of elitism, as in, "My people and I are privileged and can use this term freely and without repercussion. Woe unto anyone outside our group who attempts to do so."
/s
as in...Yo..Yo..Yo... My Main “N Word”
astounding!