Yes, it bothers me and I think it's outrageous! Not to mention condescending to African-Americans.
Everyone knows how the word "" was used historically. Nobody is so delicate they need protection from it.
(BTW, I am gay and consider the word "" every bit as heinous as the word "." My feelings are exactly the same concerning the "F word.")
IMHO, kerfluffles over the "N word" do nothing but distract us from the very real racial issues and disparities that persist in our society.
I also think the very term, "N word", is ridiculous, as everyone in the U.S., if not the planet, knows what the "N word" is. So saying "N word" merely produces the word "" in the listener's mind.
As a rule, I'm a defender of what is called "political correctness", but let's don't rewrite the classics. If necessary, let's use them as "teachable moments."