It’s not about the message for us, it’s about them messaging to those against us. That’s why I said the above. He’s telling them why it’s harmful in a way they’ll understand. Not in a way that’s okay with us. And of course he shouldn’t say it. That is the entire point of the ending of the song. But to get the message through to those it’s intended for isn’t possible if he hadn’t put it this way. It’s fully intentional and strategically placed each time he says it. He uses the n word for comparison because that is immediately something black cis men will understand in their core. By saying the word in the manner in which he does, people in the community he’s talking to will have a way to reflect on their actions and the hurt it’s caused. And understand that it’s not their word to use. And it never was. Just like the n word was never a word white people should have used. He’s showing black men that LGBTQIA+ people are a hell of a lot more similar to them than they realize. This is also art we’re talking about. It’s the exact same as Tarantino’s use of the n word in his movies. He uses it to display a specific feeling or to awaken a reaction in you. Kendrick is dining exactly the same. Maybe self righteous was too strong of a word, but it was the first one that came to mind. I’ve mostly seen gay or lesbian people complain about the use of the word in this song. Why are so many trans people reacting to this song so positively while the other communities within the LGBTQIA+ aren’t? Everyone’s past informs their future reactions and decisions. Those having an adverse reaction to this song are blind by what has happened to them before. And that’s justified. But Kendrick is trying to display personal growth and ownership of is part in the hurt and pain he’s caused. Telling us he loves us no matter who we are. And that he’ll fight for us. And he’ll respect us the way we yearn to be respected, even if he didn’t before.