How do you feel about the "N" word?

I came to this country (U.S.A) from West Africa when I was like 8 yrs old. I am now 30. Ever since I've been living here, I've heard Blacks refer to each other as the N-word. I could never understood why considering the origins of the word. How ever when someone of another race uses it, it then becomes offensive to the point that they are ready to beat up the person. Why should the meaning of a word change depending on who says it. Whatever happened to us calling each other Brother, Bro or even Homie. Now a days the word is so overused I hear people from all nationalities using it. Many races have been referred to by derogatory words, however you don't see them using different variations of that word towards each other. Personally I feel like if we want other races to stop using it, we have to stop using it ourselves.