The N word what I should say????

helllo Yahoo answers its been awhile. any way today in school we were reading Of mice and Men o loud and if you've read it you would know it has sum Pretty nasty words in it. Well I was read all the cuss words out loud but I did,nt say th N word. An my friend a blk chick in cl get's md at me and say's im scared, when im just uncomfortable sayin it. Can u explain what I should tell or or why shemight feell that way?