No, Clinton, you are very wrong. Words are a problem. The word "picaninnie" in the United States was used to describe young slaves. In the post-slavery era, it became a derisive term for black children.

Jimmie Rodgers used the term in a song about 70 years ago, in a time when blacks and whites in the Southern U.S. lived in segregation. Rodgers' use of the term was reflective of his times and his society. What was acceptable then is not necessarily so today.

Today, only a racist would use the term in a non-academic discussion (or song). There are other words like that, I assume that I don't need to list them for you.