Well, since, as I understand, the girl is Russian and I lived in Russia for a significant time, let me give you a Russian perspective:
1) In Russia the word "negr" (literate translation "negro") is not racist at all. It is a commonly used word analogous to "African-American" (or whatever the current PC term is) in Canada.
2) At the same time, given almost non-existence of true black people, Chechens (as well as Georgians, Turks, etc.) are actually called "black" (with no racism involved - it is simply used as a descriptive word with no negative meaning unless it can be inferred form the contexts), or "black-ass" (when the negative racial meaning is intended).
Again, given that the girl is Russian, she simply uses familiar non-offensive language and translate it into English as well as she can. I have no idea why in U.S.A. a completely standard word "negro" become taboo (unless said by blacks themselves), changed with "black", which became non-PC as well, then goes "African-American". I am not sure if African-American is still politically correct or it became offensive too and was replaced with something else.
