"Y" the "N" Word?

Over the past few months, the word "n*gger" has made it's way into the press as a result of over zealous actor's trying to be funny. Both Michael Richards and most recently Andy Dick created nightmares for their publicists by using the "N" word. But here in France, it seems as though the word with a big taboo in the States is still widely accepted.

For example, we stumbled across cream filled blocks covered in chocolate in Strasbourg. Not knowing what they were, Chris asked at work. Apparently, their called "tete de n*gger" or "n*gger heads." And today at the gym, one of the personal trainers exclaimed, "What's up my n*gger!" Both made me cringe a bit. The word evokes such strong reactions in the States but here, it's quite common. And when I mentioned to the trainer that it's one of those words we don't use, especially Caucasians, he replied, "It's okay. We had slaves here." What would Oprah say to that?