It's a word. If they can use it, then he can use it.
Then, not to put you on the spot, but you agree we shouldn't call Jews kikes as well, right? I've seen that on here, too, and I'm pretty sure Jews refer to each other as "kike."
Stop white knighting. You come live in a city like Atlanta or somewhere else that's highly integrated in the south, and your idealistic views of AA culture will be popped like a balloon.