i at first took the line to be referring to fashion but the thought occurred to me that there might be a racial implication there as well. i appreciate your awareness and thoughtful commentary on the line regarding that possibility.

personally, as a plain and simple line(fashion reference) i thought it was hilarious! but then again, i am 29 and i also grew up hearing the word n***er/n***a spoken by many of my age group and believe you me when my students(8th grade) think nothing of throwing either of those terms around in a casual manner. this is similiar to the fact that a fair amount of women my age don't mind referring to themselves as bitch, much of that based on what tina fey pointed out: bitches get things done. i don't even care if you call me a bitch. i will just agree with you.

however, it seems to me that n***er still carries much more historical baggage than bitch and the casual use of that word in mainstream society is going to be a long time coming, if in fact, it ever does. this gives tina's quip a much weightier implication.