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Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word (2002)

por Randall Kennedy

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5701241,542 (3.8)7
History. Politics. Sociology. Nonfiction. HTML:The twentieth anniversary edition of one of the most controversial books ever published on race and language is now more relevant than ever in this season of racial reckoning.

In addition to a brave and bracing inquiry into the origins, uses, and impact of the infamous word, this edition features an extensive new introduction that addresses major developments in its evolution during the last two decades of its vexed history.


In the new introduction to his classic work, Kennedy questions the claim that “nigger” is the most tabooed term in the American language, faced with the implacable prevalence of its old-fashioned anti-Black sense. “Nigger” continues to be part of the loud soundtrack of the worst instances of racial aggression in American life—racially motivated assaults and murders, arson, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and workplace harassment.

Consider this: twenty years ago, Kennedy wrote that any major politician credibly accused of using “nigger” would be immediately abandoned and ostracized. He was wrong. Donald Trump, former POTUS himself, was credibly charged, and the allegation caused little more than a yawn. No one doubted the accuracy of the claim but amidst all his other racist acts his “nigger-baiting” no longer seemed shocking. “Nigger” is still very much alive and all too widely accepted.
 
On the other hand, Kennedy is concerned to address the many episodes in which people have been punished for quoting, enunciating, or saying “nigger” in circumstances that should have made it clear that the speakers were doing nothing wrong—or at least nothing sufficiently wrong to merit the extent of the denunciation they suffered.

He discusses, for example, the inquisition of Bill Maher (and his pathetic apology) and the (white) teachers who have been disciplined for reading out loud texts that contain “nigger.” He argues that in assessing these controversies, we ought to be more careful about the use/mention distinction: menacingly calling someone a “nigger” is wholly different than quoting a sentence from a text by James Baldwin or Toni Morrison or Flannery O’Connor or Mark Twain.
 
Kennedy argues against the proposition that different rules should apply depending upon the race of the speaker of “nigger,” offering stunningly commonsensical reasons for abjuring the erection of such boundaries.
 
He concludes by venturing a forecast about the likely status of “nigger” in American culture during the next twenty years when we will see the clear ascendance of a so-called “minority majority” body politic—which term itself is redolent of white supremacy.
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Mostrando 1-5 de 13 (seguinte | mostrar todos)
A legal-historical review of the racial epithet's long and troubled road throughout American history. Its conservative bent becomes more evident as the book goes on, i.e. the author takes a broader view and clearly disagrees with the eradicationist view of the word.

Recommended for those interested in American race relations and linguistics. ( )
  alrajul | Jun 1, 2023 |
I cannot resist a book with a provocative title, and there can't be many that top this.

I was slightly disappointed to see that this was actually a 20th anniversary edition of a book originally released in 2002, fearing it would be out of date, but aside from multiple references to Bill Cosby as a respected authority and thanks to a new introduction, it holds up pretty well, racism having a horrible timelessness to it. It's still too bad though, because it would be interesting to see how recent developments with Joe Rogan and Morgan Wallen might effect the author's viewpoint.

I was surprised that the author was a first amendment absolutist who has a negative opinion about cancel culture, political correctness, hate speech laws, and eradication of the N-word. As an academic he wants to be sure to examine and assess the context, nuance, and relativism associated with specific uses of the word instead of coming up with arbitrary rules. I did not always agree with him, but could usually follow the logic of his stance. I'm a firm believer in free speech -- after all, it's the quickest and easiest way to find out who the assholes in any group are, and that's always useful information to have -- but too many people confuse free speech with consequence-free speech, and I worry that this book might be seen by certain idiots as a hall pass.

I do find it contradictory that the author criticized N-word eradicationists for not having hard and specific statistics to prove a rise in the use of the N-word while at the same time seeming to advocate that Black Americans harden their skin against its use toward them and not report it or make a big deal of it, ensuring we won't have meaningful and accurate statistics.

Author opinions aside, I do appreciate the history provided, tracing the word's appearance through law, court cases, culture, and entertainment. Lots of fascinating tidbits are unearthed and revisited. ( )
  villemezbrown | Mar 23, 2022 |
Very interesting, especially since three of the novels I teach every year use the "N-word." Kennedy gives a historical account of the word and argues that some (not all) of the attempts to eliminate the word from literature, rap, etc. are misguided. I've always thought the word to be reprehensible, but reading this book gave me more insight as to why. ( )
  ms_rowse | Jan 1, 2022 |
A good history of the word and its usages in American life with a large focus on the legal system (the author is a lawyer). Probably the best straight history of the subject. The author does suggest the word could be used properly in art, writing, and teaching, and he argues that non-insulting, non-racist usages should not be punished. Oh, we've come a long way since 2002! ( )
  tuckerresearch | Feb 23, 2021 |
Though I don't read much non-fiction nowadays, I put this book on my TBR a few years ago after reading several positive reviews. And, I am glad I did.

The author, Randall Kennedy, explores the use of the N-word in American culture through personal experience, anecdotes, court cases, and many other sources. The book is well written and thoroughly researched (25 pages for the 93 endnotes!) making it an interesting, thought-provoking read. I highly recommend it.

Rating: 4 ( )
  bhabeck | Aug 17, 2016 |
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This book is dedicated to

The Board
Gary E. Bell, Chairman for Life
Thaddeus J. Bell
Reginald S. Bell
Veta T. Bell Faison
William Hopkins
Henry H. Kennedy Jr.
Angela s. Kennedy Acree
Randall L. Kennedy
James L. Price Jr.
Clement A. Price
Jarmila L. Price
Cyril O. "Butch" Spann Jr.

This book is also dedicated to the parents of all the board members. Special recognition is given to Anna Spann Price, Hattie Lillian Spann Bell, and Rachel Spann Kennedy, the surviving daughters of Seller Spann and Lillian V. Spann (Big Mama). These three extraordinary women have generously offered guidance, support, discipline, wisdom, and love to all the members of The Board.
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Contents: [Introduction to the Twentieth-Anniversary Edition -- ] Introduction -- One. The Protean N-Word -- Two. Nigger in Court -- Three. Pitfalls in Fighting Nigger: Perils of Deception, Censoriousness, and Excessive Anger -- Four. How Are We Doing with Nigger? -- Afterword -- Endnotes -- Acknowledgments -- Index
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History. Politics. Sociology. Nonfiction. HTML:The twentieth anniversary edition of one of the most controversial books ever published on race and language is now more relevant than ever in this season of racial reckoning.

In addition to a brave and bracing inquiry into the origins, uses, and impact of the infamous word, this edition features an extensive new introduction that addresses major developments in its evolution during the last two decades of its vexed history.


In the new introduction to his classic work, Kennedy questions the claim that “nigger” is the most tabooed term in the American language, faced with the implacable prevalence of its old-fashioned anti-Black sense. “Nigger” continues to be part of the loud soundtrack of the worst instances of racial aggression in American life—racially motivated assaults and murders, arson, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and workplace harassment.

Consider this: twenty years ago, Kennedy wrote that any major politician credibly accused of using “nigger” would be immediately abandoned and ostracized. He was wrong. Donald Trump, former POTUS himself, was credibly charged, and the allegation caused little more than a yawn. No one doubted the accuracy of the claim but amidst all his other racist acts his “nigger-baiting” no longer seemed shocking. “Nigger” is still very much alive and all too widely accepted.
 
On the other hand, Kennedy is concerned to address the many episodes in which people have been punished for quoting, enunciating, or saying “nigger” in circumstances that should have made it clear that the speakers were doing nothing wrong—or at least nothing sufficiently wrong to merit the extent of the denunciation they suffered.

He discusses, for example, the inquisition of Bill Maher (and his pathetic apology) and the (white) teachers who have been disciplined for reading out loud texts that contain “nigger.” He argues that in assessing these controversies, we ought to be more careful about the use/mention distinction: menacingly calling someone a “nigger” is wholly different than quoting a sentence from a text by James Baldwin or Toni Morrison or Flannery O’Connor or Mark Twain.
 
Kennedy argues against the proposition that different rules should apply depending upon the race of the speaker of “nigger,” offering stunningly commonsensical reasons for abjuring the erection of such boundaries.
 
He concludes by venturing a forecast about the likely status of “nigger” in American culture during the next twenty years when we will see the clear ascendance of a so-called “minority majority” body politic—which term itself is redolent of white supremacy.

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