Why do (some) white people want to say the n word?

Artist Lil Dicky, who’s birth name is David Burd, recently released a song collaborating with Chris Brown, titled “Freaky Friday”. The lyrics tell a storyline and the concept of the song is that Chris Brown, a man of colour, and David Burd, a white man, swap bodies and live each other’s lives for a short while, a parody of the film ‘Freaky Friday’. In the song, there is an entire section dedicated to how now that Burd is in Chris Brown’s body, he’s “allowed” to say the n word (as he is now black). The lyrics to this section, according to the publishers of the song and various other lyrics-analysing sources read:

In this section of the song, Burd, the white man, revels in the opportunity to say the n word – as if he’s always wanted to and has finally been granted the chance. I feel this is a wider reflection of the attitude many people hold, some secretly and silently, some ignoring the barrier preventing them from saying the word. The verse, however, does give the impression that Burd knows saying the N- word as a white man is wrong and that he shouldn’t, which is a touch of a good message within the overall text that I am sceptical of.

cover image credit: eminem_photo_by_dave_j_hogan_getty_images_entertainment_getty_187596325.jpg // https://www.biography.com/people/eminem-9542093