Re: "NE Italian
I'm just saying..."

This sentence seems to have a different meaning among the African Americans who I've heard saying it.

In my opinion, when "I'm just saying" follows right after another sentence, it means that "You may not like what I said, but I said it anyway". Though it might be a mild apology, {among African Americans imo} this sentence definitely does not erase "whatever insult or percieved put down that was just uttered). Instead, I think it serves to emphasize what was just said.