Why would any self respecting black man use the N word?

even if there are no other problems with using the word, the fact remains that using the word promotes it. Like I never hear the S word used, because the Latino population does not refer to themselves in that way, same with Asians and the C word. Not to mention the fact that the image that comes to mind of someone described as "N----r is definitely less respectable than of what you would picture if someone said "black man", or especially "African American". Maybe it's a cultural thing and I just don't get it, in which case I would like an explanation as to why the word is used by African Americans of all people.