Nigger - The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word [Hardcover]

Randall Kennedy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0375421726 | ISBN-13: 978-0375421723 | Publication Date: January 8, 2002 | Edition: 1

Nigger: it is arguably the most consequential social insult in American history, though, at the same time, a word that reminds us of “the ironies and dilemmas, tragedies and glories of the American experience.” In this tour de force, distinguished Harvard Law School professor Randall Kennedy—author of the highly acclaimed Race, Crime, and the Law— “put[s] a tracer on nigger,” to identify how it has been used and by whom, while analyzing the controversies to which it has given rise.

With unprecedented candor and insight Kennedy explores such questions as: How should nigger be defined? Is it, as some have declared, necessarily more hurtful than other racial epithets? Do blacks have a right to use nigger even as others do not? Should the law view nigger baiting as a provocation strong enough to reduce the culpability of a person who responds violently to it? Should a person be fired from his or her job for saying nigger? How might the destructiveness of nigger be assuaged?

To be ignorant of the meanings and effects of nigger, says Kennedy, is to render oneself vulnerable to all manner of peril. This book brilliantly and sensitively addresses that concern.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Nigger is Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy's ornate, lively monograph on what he calls the "paradigmatic" racial slur in the English language. A neutral noun in the 17th century, nigger had, by 1830, become an "influential" insult. Kennedy traces the word's history in literature, song, film, politics, sports, everyday speech, and the courtroom. He also discusses its plastic, contradictory, and volatile place in contemporary American society. Should it be eradicated from dictionaries and the language? Should it be, somehow, regulated? What is the significance of its emergence among some blacks as a term with "undertones of warmth and good will"? Do blacks have a historical right to its use or does that place the term under a "protectionist pall"? With courage and grave measure Kennedy has, in effect, created a forum for discussion of the word he calls a "reminder of the ironies and dilemmas, the tragedies and glories, of the American experience." --H. O'Billovitch

From Publishers Weekly

The word is paradigmatically ugly, racist and inflammatory. But is it different when Ice Cube uses it in a song than when, during the O.J. Simpson trial, Mark Fuhrman was accused of saying it? What about when Lenny Bruce uses it to "defang" it by sheer repetition? Or when Mark Twain uses it in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to make an antiracist statement? Kennedy, a professor at Harvard Law School and noted legal scholar, has produced an insightful and highly provocative book that raises vital questions about the relationship between language, politics, social norms and how society and culture confront racism. Drawing on a wide range of historical, legal and cultural instances Harry S. Truman calling Adam Clayton Powell "that damned nigger preacher"; Title VII court cases in which the use of the word was proof of condoning a "racially hostile work environment"; Quentin Tarantino's liberal use of the word in his films Kennedy repeatedly shows not only the complicated cultural history of the word, but how its meaning, intent and even substance change in context. Smart, well argued and never afraid of facing serious, difficult and painful questions in an unflinching and unsentimental manner, this is an important work of cultural and political criticism. As Kennedy notes in closing: "For bad or for good, nigger is... destined to remain with us for the foreseeable future a reminder of the ironies and dilemmas, the tragedies and glories, of the American experience." (Jan. 22)Forecast: This may be the book that reignites larger debates over race eclipsed by September 11. Look for a bestselling run and huge talk show and magazine coverage as the Afghanistan news cycle continues to slow; the book had already been the subject of two New York Times stories by early January.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon; 1 edition (January 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375421726
• ISBN-13: 978-0375421723
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent write of a..., January 8, 2002

By 

Karen Delong - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nigger - The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word (Hardcover)

I, like the average person get riled when I hear the word, but consider the sources. Now, Randall has put together a fantastic piece of work here that I take as a contribution, and suggest every person that has the same feelings as I have to read this. Yes I am Black, but not a N....r. Those using the word would benefit from this book, that's why I love it, I believe Randall did in fact write this book in an authoritive and intelligent way to help, or contribute to those people who need to come to reality, this book is so much of that. Read it to help those.

I wish to recommend a real book that goes a step beyond this and will help all reach our goals, SB 1 by Karl Mark Maddox

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Stellar!!, February 6, 2002

By 

Alfred L. Long III (Centreville, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nigger - The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word (Hardcover)

This book is a Godsend! Randall Kennedy is a genius! I sincerely hope that as many people as possible read this book. In my opinion, this ranks as one of the most revolutionary books ever written about American language to date; it has helped me more clearly understand the 'fangs of the viper'. Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word, methodically dissects the N-word to show the deliberate and diabolical social engineering that was used to transform nigger into one of the most explosive words in American history. At the same time, the book holds out the idea that change may, at sometime in the future, be possible; that one day our children will look at the fossilized remains of this little word and wonder, "What was the big deal?"

36 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking and controversial, February 22, 2002

By 

M.C. Beamon (Scarsdale, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nigger - The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word (Hardcover)

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

What's in a name? "Nigger" by Randall Kennedy, a Harvard Professor, challenges the reader to ask this very question. What's profound about this book is how the author provides substantive information to help the readers answer the question as it pertains to one of the most emotionally charged words in the English language.

What is the social and political ramification of the use of the "N" word? In addition, what are the long-range effects, including economically of its usage? Well, these items, among others, are covered in Kennedy's upcoming book (January 15, 2002). But, what struck me most was the common use of examples to answer these points. Although, at times a quarry of legal cases, "Nigger" gives a balanced account of the "N" word and its effects throughout history.

One of the most detrimental uses of the "N" word has come, in recent history, from some of our own tongue. In fact, Tawana Brawley's case has now become one the shining examples of the "crying wolf" phenomenon. The fact that the "N" word has been used to falsify charges, to "extort" money or gain fame, can be cited as one cause for whites becoming more leery and desensitized to the use and harmfulness of the word.

Although by far, common vernacular is one of the most pervasive uses of the "N" word. Can the usage of the word "N" word change it from a negative connotation to a positive? In greeting each other and attempting to use the "N" word as an everyday phrase, we frequently confuse white, Latinos, etc. The practice is so pervasive modern day musicians like J-Lo and Kid Rock have used the word in their lyrics. But, why is their usage of the word offensive while Jay-Z and other popular rappers are considered "hip?" I am sure the answer would be that what we say among ourselves as African-Americans does not give "outsiders" license to use the "N" word. But, how can we censor the usage of the "N" word when we continue to flaunt it? I, neither Kennedy, presume to truly know the answer but the question is definitely worth asking.

Personally, I think that we should not attempt to own a word, which has never created anything but unnecessary drama for our people. I construe the common usage as a possible step back in civil rights for African-Americans. Because of the diminishment of the significance of the use of the "n" word, the ability of African-Americans and others to link its use to the commission of a hate crimes, its part in racial profiling, its place in the exclusion of minorities from economic opportunities, and the denial of legal recourse for African-Americans, we should refrain from claiming this imposed baggage.

When debating the "N" word in the black community, it is clear that we are a people constantly combating the confines of the "labels" we have been given throughout history.

Is it as simple as following Randall Kennedy's mother's advice: "not to fall apart when you hear the word?" I don't know. What's in a name? In and of itself, nothing. Like most words, it is the emotion attached to the word that makes the difference.

I believe, we should, as the book "Nigger" guides, try to determine what society makes of the "N" word and how it this word impacts us as a people before we attempt to embrace it in everyday speech.

Most importantly, the book "Nigger" encourages the reader to be literate, stay aware, stay sure-footed and on the path to equality, not just in name but in opportunity.