diff --git a/website/server/libs/bannedSlurs.js b/website/server/libs/bannedSlurs.js
index 48f3a9aae9..19198af14e 100644
--- a/website/server/libs/bannedSlurs.js
+++ b/website/server/libs/bannedSlurs.js
@@ -100,8 +100,6 @@ const bannedSlurs = [
   'trannies',
   'nigger',
   'niggers',
-  'nigga',
-  'niggas',
   'fags',
   'faggot',
   'faggots',
diff --git a/website/server/libs/bannedWords.js b/website/server/libs/bannedWords.js
index b1dd2f3653..3a66849c6b 100644
--- a/website/server/libs/bannedWords.js
+++ b/website/server/libs/bannedWords.js
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@
 // "Expanded Party: Polyamorous Adventurers" guild (17bb8393-2d74-42de-8dcb-315a5f596636)
 // wants to discuss https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ethical_Slut (a book) and
 // we've decided to allow that.
+// As of 2020-06-06, 'nigga' and 'niggas' are here rather than in bannedSlurs.js because
+// we've found that in private they are far more often used in a reclaimed way than as slurs.
 
 
 // DO NOT EDIT! See the comments at the top of this file.
@@ -152,6 +154,8 @@ const bannedWords = [
   'fag',
   'slut',
   'sluts',
+  'nigga',
+  'niggas',
   'retard',
   'retards',
   'bastard',