It isn't that serious. Y'all sound like a bunch of females, being upset over a word. A word that is spelled in English and used by whites for centuries to degrade. You may have changed the meaning, but it will always have that direct connection. Otherwise, why get mad when someone else uses it? It's a term of endearment, yes? No longer a racial slur, no? Learn Swahili or some other indigenous African language and then you don't have to worry about something stealing it...cause technically it will always belong to you via Ancestry and it WONT have that connection that reminds you of racism, prejudice, or slavery when used by someone who isn't black.
Sometimes letting go is the best way to implement change.