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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
Book Description
It’s “the nuclear bomb of racial epithets,” a word that whites have employed to wound and degrade African Americans for three centuries. Paradoxically, among many black people it has become a term of affection and even empowerment. The word, of course, is nigger, and in this candid, lucidly argued book the distinguished legal scholar Randall Kennedy traces its origins, maps its multifarious connotations, and explores the controversies that rage around it.
Should blacks be able to use nigger in ways forbidden to others? Should the law treat it as a provocation that reduces the culpability of those who respond to it violently? Should it cost a person his job, or a book like
Huckleberry Finn its place on library shelves? With a range of reference that extends from the Jim Crow south to Chris Rock routines and the O. J. Simpson trial, Kennedy takes on not just a word, but our laws, attitudes, and culture with bracing courage and intelligence.
Customer Reviews:
A fair, lucid, thought-provoking & entertaining read........2007-08-26
Kennedy provides a wonderful account of the cultural history of a word that has wielded tremendous power throughout the course of American history in all its permutations. This word tells us as much about the American cultural landscape as the words 'liberty' or 'freedom' or 'equality' do.
Kennedy manages to discuss a big topic--the word's relation to race and racism, and its role in history, politics, law, literature and poetry, popular and folk music, and linguistics, and he does it in an intelligent, yet accessible, calm, well-balanced, and well-reasoned manner.
No small feat for such a tiny book. Although there are times where I wish he'd go into more depth, part of the book's charm is its brevity.
His discussion of the campaign to eliminate the word from the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the dismissal of a Jefferson Community College professor, Central Michigan University coach, and other "misguided protests" should serve as a warning to all of us about the dangers of rashly pursuing legal/official action in order to enforce "politically correct" speech. As Randall wisely points out, an increase in reported verbal abuse CAN be a sign of racial progress insofar as one only bothers reporting such actions when one has a reasonable belief that there will be official or public condenmation of such actions. Wars over words spoken in a particular legitimate context, but nonetheless taken out of context, trivializes real human suffering when such words really are used as weapons. Kennedy even-handedly discusses both kinds of cases well and reminds us that, such things being as they are, even we as African Americans are divided over this complicated topic.
Excellent Book.......2007-01-11
This is a very good book. It speaks about cases and thoughts of other peoples point of view of the usage of the word nigger.After reading this book i look at the N word very different. This book really makes you think when questions are being asked of the word. This book is something that you need to read. Reading this book you well be overwhelmed.
why would you NOT want to read this.........2006-07-16
I picked this book up based on the title. I saw it sitting on the shelf and thought it would be a very honest book and worth reading.
The book offers a lot of information in forms of name, places, dates and events but it's not in such a dry manner that you feel like you're back in some boring high school class that you hated.
There is a lot of personality to the book, and being white, there were several times when I was expecting to turn the page and read something that was going to be really insulting to me based on my skin color. I was completely wrong, this book holds people accountable for the words they use.... no matter what color their skin. It's not written from the perspective of "you are to blame". It's written from the stand point of how,why, when, and where............ it's the first book in a long time that's prompted me to sit the book and take a few moments to think about what I just read.
The best part about it is that the book looks at the word in all the contexts that it is used. Which made for a very interesting read.
I think, although they probably wouldn't be allowed, this would be the perfect book for kids to read in school. Mainly because it's an important topic, and the book isn't written in the "I'm right, you're wrong" manner.. so it allows a great deal of room for thought on the points brought up in the book.
I did feel however, that something was missing from the end.
I didn't expect this book to "fix" anything or be a solution to any problems concerning the topic but the ending seemed really open in a bad way.
I would highly suggest this book to anyone interested in this topic, similar topics, and for young people especially.
I think a lot of people might be turned off by the title, but they are really missing out.
One of the Most Balanced and Fair Books I Ever Read.......2005-10-16
It's not very often that one comes across a totally fair and balanced yet excellent work of non-fiction. It's even more exciting when one comes across such a book by chance. I first saw this book at the local branch of the Los angeles Public Library. Its title, which carries the singlemost offensive and taboo word in USA, was the factor that intrgued me. I expected it to be a preachy, judgemental book. And was I wrong!
This is one of the best books of non-fiction that I ever read in my life. To me, it's a privilege to have read this book. I now consider Randall Kennedy, a Professor at the Harvard Law School and author of this book, to be one of the most level-headed, analytical and balanced authors I'm familiar with.
Without malice or biterness, Kennedy presents the history of the N-word and its connotation,at the same time making it clear that not every racist used it, or not every person who used this word was/is a racist. He puts forward arguments in opposition to the assertion, which is based on the past history of slavery in the US, by many people that while any white person's using this word is unacceptable, a black person can use it to address another black person.
Perhaps not everyone agrees with his line of argument; I'm sure he has many admirers and many others who denounce him. But the point is that he presents the whole case without any bias, malice or biterness towards anyone. He thoroughly studies the cases, gathers and analyzes all the data he could collect,m and then presents these to us. He's a detached narrator, the kind of people the present day world needs in abundance.
Not as controversial as the cover.......2005-08-27
Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law Professor, has certainly created a great deal of discussion with his latest book.
Kennedy's short introduction gives insight into his own personal history of hearing the word. The chapters cover the history of the word "nigger," the use of the word in lawsuits, problems which the word has presented, and its contemporary usage in society.
Clearly any book with the word "nigger" emblazoned upon the cover is bound to raise eyes and generate controversy (by the way, I made sure I never read the book in public), but Kennedy's approach is more conservative than some might think. Although he clearly does not shy away from mentioning the word, Kennedy has a scholarly yet accessible writing style which examines the word's history and contemporary use.
Among the questions which Kennedy raises are: Should blacks be allowed to use the word "nigger" in a positive manner? Can whites use the word to refer disparagingly towards other whites? Should its use automatically cause somebody to be fired? If used by an employee at work, is that company liable for racial discrimination?
Kennedy does give his own opinion of how we should treat the use of the word today. As he himself states, his view has been criticized by those who feel his words "offer refuge" to both black entertainers who use the N-word and whites who use the term. Though readers may disagree, Kennedy's opinion is hardly as controversial as the cover may suggest.
Readers will appreciate this well-researched examination. Though certainly not an exhaustive history, Kennedy's book covers the ground and forces the reader to form his own opinion of these important issues. Enjoy it!
Book Description
CAPITALIST NIGGER excels as an explosive and jarring indictment of the Black Race. Capitalist Nigger: The Road to Success (Timbuktu Publishers, September 17, 2000) asserts that the Black Race, is a consumer race and not a productive race. Says the author, Chika Onyeani, "We are a conquered race and it is utterly foolish for us to believe that we are independent. The Black Race depends on other communities for its culture, its language, its feeding, and its clothing." "Despite enormous natural resources," according to the author, "Blacks are economic slaves because they lack the "killer-instinct" and "devil-may-care" attitude of the Caucausian, as well as the "spider web economic mentality" of the Asian." The author is not afriad to use the most hated word, the 'N' word as a title of his book. He says, "It is not what you call me, but what I answer to, that matters most." The further asserts that "Blacks are economic slaves. We are owned lock stock and barrel by people of European-origin ... I am tired of hearing Blacks always blaming others for their lack of progress in this world; I am tired of the whining and victim-mentality. I am tired of listening to the same complaint, day in day out - racism this, racism that. It's getting us nowhere." "Africans have a stance, 'live for today, let tomorrow take care of itself and be damned' attitude," the author says. "We've become a sheep-like consumer race that depends on other communities for our culture, language, feeding, and clothing. We've become economic slaves in Western society." CAPITALIST NIGGER reserves its harshest criticism for African leaders, who according to Onyeani, have allowed Europeans and others to pillage and plunder Africa's wealth, without anything to show for it, other than more starvation, disease, and dictatorships. "We have as little today than when most of the African countries received independence from their colonial masters," Onyeani says. CAPITALIST NIGGER is an anguished cry to the Black race to wake up, stand up and move on." "We must abandon the victim mentality baggage that we've carried for so long: the notion that somebody owes us something," the author says. "We've got to stop whining and stop begging. The Black race needs to wake up and stand on it's own feet." Says Onyeani, "We need to recognize and learn from others what it takes to succeed. We need to adopt the "devil-may-care" attitude and the "killer-instinct and whatever-it-takes attitude" of the white Caucasian, and the "spider web economic mentality" of the Asian."
Customer Reviews:
Review from an Angolan in the Diaspora.......2007-06-24
This book is the ultimate insult coming from one of its own. But history has shown that these traitors have always existed for its own self gain. A scribe that attempts to motivate its own peole by the negative, therefore insulting. It is an insult to the people that fought for the dignity of Africa and its peoples: Patrice Lumumba, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Agostinho Neto, Samora Machel, Amilcar Cabral, Robert Mugabe and others that fought against the powerfull colonialists Portuguese, French, Belgians, Spanish supported by the American imperialism.
To add insult to injury he does not acknowldge any credits to Africans that reconquered independence and dignity, he rather accepts that Africans received independence from its masters. He mixes inteligence with unscrupulous copying of intelectual property by suporting those who have no respect for innovation of any sort. Africans are artistically innovative, no copists.
The handful of people he admires were pirates called navigators by their supporters; they were rapists, slaves traders but called evangelists spreading christianity by force, Bible in one hand spade in the other, against Christ own words and denegretating indigenous believes. They were without the shadow of a doubt superior in technology, organisation skills, germs and guns but not in inteligence. There is enough research and literature available to demonstrate that the reason for dominance was a set of circunstances not inteligence, but I abstain from letting this person know where that published information is. It would be useless. It would be like asking Hitler to read the Communist Manifesto. It was a set of circunstances that gave them superior advantage called by the author "killer instints". The author is calling us to become barbarians.
It is no surprise that he receives support from self interested groups of people that see in this individual a support for their racist theories. The book is not supported by any historical investigation and its is a load of garbage.
We as people have existed for thousands of years of which the last 500 have been under foreign dominance. 500 years is little time by comparision with our remote brilliant past and by comparison with what the future promises. It will probably after our time on earth that we regain full dignity but if I see the author in the other world I will simply walk past with disdain.
Another Perspective.......2006-12-28
Had this book been written by a white person,he would have been crucified.I'm a South African and I experience what Onyeani is writing about on a daily basis.Athough I'm white,this book is painful to read.
The book came to my knowledge about two months ago and I do not know what kind of a stir(if any)it caused when it was first published.The danger inherent to this book is that it may be abused by militant right-wingers,but anyone doing that would loose sight of the fact that the book was written by an Afro-American and that it is an outcry aimed at Afro-People everywhere to get off their duffs and to be Capitalist Niggers-you have to read the book to understand this expression-and to stop being passive,waiting with cupped hands for the seemingly endless hand-outs.
If one looks at Africa:where are the success stories,the lasting democracies?(Except,hopefully and perhaps,South Africa)I agree with Onyeani-Africa is a beautiful and bountiful continent and it's high time that all its people manage it to its full potential and not run it into the ground as is the case currently,eg,Zimbabwe which became a pathetic,sad,broke and broken country run by a madman 20 years after the 'colonialists' left.
White or not,it's my fervent wish that Oyeani's call to Afro-People everywhere to become Capitalist Niggers,is heeded-it will be to the ultimate benefit of all the people of all races.
About race,race relations and what's wrong with the world in general and Britain in particular,check out THE LIGHT'S ON AT SIGNPOST by GEORGE MACDONALD FRASER,the chapters titled 'Angry Old Man'.Compulsive reading.
Interesting Read.......2006-08-25
This is an interesting book on the economic and social situation of Africans in Africa and the diaspora. The author is very critical of the economic underdevelopment and dependence of African peoples on other races. He ascribes this to inferiority complex and lack of self-confidence and self-discipline in the ability of African peoples to be world-renowned successful entrepreneurs, industrialists, scientists and engineers. He cites several examples of ineptitude by African leaders with the resource rich African continent being heavily debt-ridden with nothing to show where the money went.
Onyeani believes that by following the capitalist path and doing so aggressively, resolutely, persistently and with confidence, it should be possible to uplift the African race from the bottom layers of society where it is largely settled.
It is easy to dismiss Onyeani's ideas as just rantings of a frustrated African but this introspection is a critical first step towards the mental and economic emancipation of the African race. One can accuse the author of advocating a system of "capitalism" which is inherently oppressive and exploitative and is a creation by the Caucasian race which tends to contradict his basic message. However, such thinking misses the basic point that African needs to catch up or surpass the other races in building a better community characterized by prosperity, progress, mutual assistance and support and unity.
Required Reading For All African American Teenagers.......2006-07-19
I went to the store to purchase "White Guilt" but they were out. I purchased this book instead and I cannot tell you how happy I was to read it. It took me 2 days to read it and then I read it again just to let it all soak in. This book uncovers the secret (at least the secret from African Americans) to be succesful. It should be required reading of all AFrican American teenagers age 16 and up. He explains how India and Koren immigrants to this country have acheived more than blacks have and they we should not whine about White People holding us back because by doing so, you CANNOT be focused on becoming an Economic Warrior, i.e., a Capitalist Nigger.
Buy this book for yourself and instead of money or pen sets for graduation gifts for high school and college graduates, make this your standard gift to them. They will appreciate it for years to come.
I would also suggest reading "Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery" by Na'im Akbar. It is the perfect book to accompany "Capitalist Nigger." Really, they both should be required reading for African American teenagers.
He's right on it.......2006-07-05
I thought the book gave a raw and uncut truth about africans,etc. Onyeani shot straight from the hip in regards to how we view and approach wealth. We need to become more aggressive, not to the point where we become blinded by wealth, but as far as being more proactive when it comes to wealth. I am an entrepeneur, and I am going to implement some the theories and concepts he mentioned so I can make my community a better place.
Product Description
African-American males are being imprisoned at an alarming and unprecedented rate. Out of the 10.4 million Black adult males in the U.S. population, nearly 1.5 million are in prisons and jails with another 3.5 million more on probation or parole or who have previously been on probation or parole. Black males make up nearly 75% of the total prison population, and due to either present or past incarceration is the most socially disenfranchised group of American citizens in the country today. This book details the author's personal story of a negligent upbringing in an impoverished community, his subsequent engagement in criminal activity (drug dealing), his incarceration, and his release from prison and experiencing of the crippling social disenfranchisement that comes with being an ex-felon. The author then relates his personal experiences and realizations to the seminal problems within the African-American community, federal government, and criminal justice system that cause his own experiences to be the same experiences of millions of other young Black men.
Customer Reviews:
(RAW Rating: 4.5) - What is happening to black men?.......2007-08-04
Demico Boothe has explored the reasons so many black men are indeed in prison in, WHY ARE SO MANY BLACK MEN IN PRISON? He begins with his own story of a shaky upbringing and his subsequent dabbling in drug dealing. He was caught with a few grams of crack cocaine but because it was the dreaded crack, he was given 10 years in prison. When he left prison after serving his time, he was actually railroaded back into prison by a crooked justice system. He delves deeply into our justice system and the motives behind all the new prisons that are being built. He gives succinct and reasonable views of exactly what is happening now in the United States and how the past has played a role in the present. He uses persuasive statistics regarding the number of black men in prison as compared to the number of white men who are incarcerated.
Demico Boothe has done an excellent job of researching his subject and it is a plus, if unfortunate for him, that he has actually experienced first hand what he's talking about. I knew I was hearing the real story rather than just statistics from an intellectual who had no real idea of what the prison system is really like. I would have liked for Boothe to search a little deeper into the Haiti, Aristide and USA question, maybe even reading Randall Robinson's take on the situation, and then he might see it a bit differently. Otherwise, it is a good book and one every one in America should read. We indeed, have a crisis going on.
Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Why Are So Many Black Men In Prison? A Comprehensive Account Of How And Why The Prison Industry Has Become A Predatory Entity In.......2007-06-09
The book was very interesting. I learned soooo much about the government and the prison industry. I did some searching independantly to check on the things reported in the book and they are very true. Great Read!! Buy the book.
A Must Read.......2007-05-25
Mr. Demico's book is a must-read for anyone concerned about young African American men. Although I did not agree with every conclusion he reached, Demico's main premises are convincing. As a white woman who teaches mainly students of color, I am always impressed, and often in awe, of those young men who reach college with so much going against them. Demico's books lays bare not only the horrible inequalities of our society, but also the racist attitudes of our political system - - Democrats, Republicans, and most everyone in between.
Why are so many Black Men in Prison?.......2007-05-13
I is a well put together book. He really goes into a lot of detail of how our society is really set up.
Why are so many blacks in prison?.......2007-05-12
I found this book very interesting. As a white devil myself, I had no idea that I was responsible for forcing blacks into committing crimes and then subsequently clogging up the whole "Prison Industrial Complex"(tm). I will try to stop causing this, as I am sure it is creating a LOT of trouble for everyone! Sorry!
It is probably also my fault that young black men dressed in XXXXL clothes overtly threaten me and my family members routinely. Can anyone tell me what I should do to make this not happen?
I imagine it's also my fault that black on white violent crime is WAY higher than white on black violent crime, even though blacks constitute about 12.5% of the population, and whites are about 70%. But since it is impossible for a black to commit a hate crime according to our criminal justice system (since blacks are not under any circumstances racist), statistically, there are more white on black hate crimes. Boothe notes a statistic regarding hate crimes, but he skips the one about interracial violence in general.
In sum, Boothe notes that just about everything blacks do is actually MY fault, because my skin is white. Boothe, I've got a word for you.
Introspection.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting Memoirs
- Enlightening
- "The most hateful word ever spoken."
- Still inspiring, after 40 years
- Comment to don't bother
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Nigger : An Autobiography
Dick Gregory
Manufacturer: Pocket
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0671735608 |
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Memoirs.......2007-03-18
In short, I enjoyed reading Gregory's autobiography. To come from such extreme poverty to become the successful and noted Black activist/comedian that he is speaks volumes about his tenacity and determination. Follow Gregory as he talks about his struggles as a youth in St. Louis, to his college days at Southern Illinois University, to his adult life when he gets the first inklings of becoming a professional comedian, his marriage, and his time spent as an activist during the civil rights movement in the South. He is definitely one of the last of Black America's freedom fighters.
Enlightening.......2006-10-25
For someone who did not live the integration of blacks in the US, this book is fantastic. I was shocked to read the differences that happened not so long ago. It makes me feel proud of how far we've come.
It also conveys different messages as an extremely poor kid moves up and transforms into a successful and inspiring person. It is filled with human emotions: candid expressions of unfairness, manipulation, fear, disgust, compassion, humor, resilience, frustration, success, love, acceptance. If a person lived in the US during the 50-60s, it might bring up lost emotions.
Throughout the hard times there is not a word of victimization but a word of hope, of getting things done, or making things happen.
The highlight of the book to me is on page 197, when Gregory reflects upon Martin Luther King's speech "I have a dream" in just few lines.... "that day I felt like the Negro had been given his equal rights". After all people went through it is a beautiful sentence.
I think this book is great for anyone thinking their life is hard or needing a dose of resilience. You will get some good laughs too at Gregory's comedy and naivety.
"The most hateful word ever spoken.".......2006-08-01
This book should be read by every black person in America. Especially Kanye West, 50 Cent and all of the other unconscious so-called rappers, who continue to use the "N" word in their music. Our black youth need to know the true history of that word, and the shame and hurt that it still brings to this day. They say, "Oh its O.K. for a brother to call me a nigger, but not O.K. for the white man. Then it's time to fight." How idiotic!!!
It was and continues to be the most hateful word ever spoken, regardless of who says it. My first sting of that word was felt when I attended college in Utica, NY. In 1983, while me and some black classmates headed to our table at a restaurant, as we passed a group of local white teens, one of them shouted "Let's leave, I refuse to dine in the same place as those niggers. They smell like pigs." My second sting was felt in 1999, while driving through the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, IL an old white man sitting on his porch yelled, "Get out of here nigger."
Those stings will always remain with me. I could never call another human being such a hurtful word...it is my hope and prayer that everyone who has read or who will read this book feels the same. Let's all do our part to eradicate this hateful word from being spoken.
Still inspiring, after 40 years.......2006-05-02
Another great testament of how hard work and determination bring good results. Gregory's story is still inspiring, even after more than 40 years. Prior to reading his book, if I had to use a few words to describe what he was about, I could only think of "the Dick Gregory diet" and ex-comedian. Although I had heard that he was involved in the Civil Rights movement, I didn't realize the extent of his involvement, nor his impact. I have a new level of respect for him. I also noticed that in the latter years-from 1960 to 1964 when the book was written, his activism took center stage and his comedy was barely mentioned.
Many poignant moments are in the book, of course. For instance, during a rally, a white man spat in his face, and due to the non-violent nature of the rally, he simply allowed the spit to drain into his mouth as he responded with sarcastic but peaceful words to the offender. I cannot ever afford to forget what others went through for me to enjoy the advances in equality today.
The style of writing is also effective. It flows smoothly, and I was able to read the book within a three day period. No portion of the book dragged on with unnecessary details, in my opinion. The 209 pages were well used.
Comment to don't bother.......2006-04-30
If the book offended you, then you deserved it.
You are kind the person that is incapable of understanding what life was like for others of another race.
What makes you holier than thou? If a white commits a white collar crime (look at enron) sets up a deal of immunity get a slap on the wrist instead of doing his hole time, that is okay right? President Bush could lie to the country and thats ok right?
And you don't approve of Gregory? Wow...
Guess what, Mr. Dick Gregory is not losing any sleep over your lame comments.
He has forgotten more knowledge than you could possibly ever know. The man has walked among giants in this society; Mr Gregory is considered an icon, while you my friend are considered a loser.
Get a life and stick to reading manuals on anti-government propoganda, bomb-making and making your own currency.
Book Description
The Vulture and The Nigger Factory is an omnibus edition of the two highly successful novels from the early 1970s by one of America's most outspoken and important postwar commentators on race, politics, and culture. Digging the rhythms of the street, where the biggest deal life has to offer is getting high, The Vulture is a hip and fast-moving thriller set in lower Manhattan. The Nigger Factory is a scornful statement on the way in which human beings are conditioned to think that takes place on a conservative university campus in Virginia.
Customer Reviews:
Politcal and Poetic.......2002-03-11
Even though I have heard the name, Gil Scott-Heron, I never thought about reading anything other than his poetry. But these two works are well worth reading.
The first novel, The Vulture, captured me and had me searching to find the truth. On the other hand, I could not ignore the politcal and social messages that ran throughout the work. The struggle between right, wrong, and survival was ever present. The story was great and I was totally shock at the end. The search for "Who killed John Lee?" sometimes got lost in other the other stories but I was always brought back to that main question. So in the end, I must say, job well done.
The second work, The Nigger Factory, hit me very close to home. With many family members (as well as myself) attending Black colleges I was draw in and connected with the characters and their need for change. The push and pull of those in power and those seeking change is some thing that I felt personally. Many of the descriptions made me think of my undergrad days. I could not help but laugh at the fact that some things never change.
Would I recommend these novels? YES. They are well worth your time.
Average customer rating:
- Look a Little Deeper
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- Nothing Learned
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- Refreshing
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40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule: The Diary of a Nigger, Negro, Colored, Black, African-American Woman
Kim Williams
Manufacturer: Butterfly Ink Publishing
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Binding: Paperback
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Book Description
What does it mean to be a Nigger? Is it just a word created to distinguish black from white? What is the real meaning of Colored? Again, is it just another word that was created to separate sections and restrooms? Nigger, Negro, Colored, Black, African-American. These words all have the same meaning but in today's society they have all come to mean very different things.
This fictional diary follows the journey of Racey Thomas, an African-American woman, as she tackles issues and perceptions of black Americans in a predominantly white workplace. The story examines the true meaning and consequences behind the struggle of fighting "Nigger-type" perceptions and finally advancing to an African-American status. Racey's journey is filled with real situations, truthful thoughts, honest reactions, and hilarious moments that all African-Americans have experienced in the workplace.
Customer Reviews:
Look a Little Deeper.......2005-04-09
I read this book and I knew it would be contraversial. I read a few of the other reviews and some did not seem to go as deep as the author intended. The author is not a hero trying to be white. She is a hero striving not to be judged by the stereotypes that have grouped African Americans for centuries.
She makes comments to other characters in the book, such as I don't listen to rap music because not all African American people listen to rap music, and she refuses to be characterized by what society has deemed normal for her people. Not all African Americans are ghetto fabulous, nor are all of them trying to be down for some non-existent cause.
Racey is a courages African American woman who dares to challenge her superiors in the workplace. She dares to question their motives and ask them questions (without actually asking the questions) who are you to tell me how to speak or ask.
When she is faced with counterparts in the work place, she realizes they are courageous enough to be themselves and act like no one else in the workplace. This is very uncomfortable for her. She wants to know how could you let them see us this way. They already think all of us steal (my own conclusions). But in the end, she realizes that it is ok to be who she is and not worry about what anyne else thinks and feels about it anyway.
This was a very good book and a very good read. Go just a little deeper and get the symbolism and irony in the book.
Love this book!.......2005-04-09
This book will make you laugh, cry and more importantly, think about what African-Americans go through daily in their work environments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thoughtful approach at dealing with the racial divide in the workplace.
Nothing Learned.......2005-04-08
I already knew the book was going to be controversial from the title, but I embrace controversy. I like to learn about different perspectives and being a black woman in a fairly-white working environment, I was intrigued by the plot. Unfortunately, that's where it ends. The structure and the dialogue of the story was well-written and sadly, very realistic. I've dealt with quite a few situations like this in college instead of work though.
But the main character in this story is still stuck in the same clueless arrogance that she started with. The same way she says white co-workers judge her style of music, dress, dance, and vocabulary, she judges her black subordinates. She pointed out more than a few times that she wears Banana Republic and seems to think Phat Farm and Fubu are ridiculous (along with hip-hop). Black people supporting black businesses is one of the few healthy ways we survive as a unit and I didn't appreciate her looking down on this group of people. The main character had the audacity to actually embrace the n-word at the end of the book, regardless of how offended she was by race jokes.
I completely didn't understand why she was so offended by the "ask-axe" clarification. If she embraced Ebonics so much, then why be embarassed of embracing other black stereotypes (i.e. being the best dancer at the Halloween party). The main character was stuck-up but wanted to be "down". Throwing in a "y'all" but saying you don't like rap EVEN THOUGH she danced to rap music shows me just how confused this woman is. This type of attitude is why black people have such a hard time in the workplace. If she stopped paying so much attention to what she'd never be (white) and stopped downgrading what she wouldn't be(hip, black, and confident), she'd find her day goes by much faster and way less stressful. I thought this author had some really good points, but sentences like "I am n-word" show me nothing was learned. I thought Craig and Derrick were two of the strongest characters, but they were barely mentioned. Embracing your race but insulting it with racial slurs makes the main character just as bad as Lisa and Amy.
A Diary Worth Reading.......2005-02-02
Racy Thomas is a woman on a mission in Kim Williams', 40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule: The Diary of a Nigger, Negro, Colored, Black, African-American Woman.
After leaving home to go to college, Racy is determined to prove that her mother, Uncle Ray-Ray and a host of other family members are wrong. For the majority of her life, Racy's family has warned her about the funny ways of "the white folks." Convinced that her family cannot possibly be right, Racy decides against going to a historically black college and instead opts for a more culturally diverse campus. It is there that she receives her wake-up call and realizes that her family may not be wrong after all. After graduating, Racy leaves her college experience behind and walks into her first job with thoughts of
being treated as an equal. Once again -- she receives a wake-up call. It is then that she grows from what she describes as a nigger child trying to fit in, into a self-confident, African-American woman, that could care less what Caucasians think about her.
As an African-American woman, I found this book to be wonderfully hilarious. From coming into work and having to answer numerous questions about my braids, to eating leftovers in the break room and having to explain what I'm eating, to the occasional insensitive joke - I have experienced it all. Williams definitely has her finger on the pulse of Caucasian/African-American relations in the office.
If you are an African-American woman I definitely recommend this book. While it does not solve the world's problems on race-relations, it definitely confirms something that we should all know -- it is okay to be ourselves.
T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOO BookClub
Refreshing.......2004-11-13
If choosing a title for a first novel is any indication of how well the novel plays into society - then 40 Hours and an Unwritten Rule should be at the top of the best sellers list - if for no other reason, for the "Racey" title. The title caught me instantly, as I'm sure if has or will with many others. And I was very happy to say that the contents were very true to the implied message...overcoming the stereo-types of a particular race and/or culture and standing your ground in the process while trying to stay true to "self". I know that so many people struggle with the issues that Racey put out there and it was refreshing to have a young, African-American women come to comfortable terms with herself in the end. Kim William's first novel was a thoughtful, true, fun and quick read. I guarantee that anyone who's attention is caught by the clever, catchy title will open the book to find situations that may be pages in their diary as well. Wonderful!
Book Description
More than any other black leader, H. Rap Brown, chairman of the radical Black Power organization SNCC, came to symbolize the ideology of black revolution. Die Nigger Die!-which was first published in 1969, went through seven printings, and has long been unavailable-tells the story of the making of a revolutionary. But it is much more than a personal history-it is a call to arms, an urgent message to the black community to be the vanguard force in the struggle of oppressed people. Forthright, sardonic, and shocking, Die Nigger Die! is not only an illuminating and dynamic reading experience, but a vitally important document that is essential to understanding the upheavals of the late 1960s. University of Massachusetts professor Ekwueme Michael Thelwell has updated this edition, covering Brown's decades of harassment by law enforcement agencies, his extraordinary transformation into an important Muslim leader, and his sensational trial.
Customer Reviews:
Powerful and Bold; Raw yet Fresh.......2007-01-16
This is the autobiography of the type of man who has long gone out of style in the black community--an original man. While down-to-earth in manner, H. Rap Brown had a understated intelligence that served him well. But it's his ability to translate thoughts into words that make this book worth reading. From issues like skin color to class divisions, Brown outlines many issues that still face the black community today.
A lot of political works get caught in the trap of trying to reflect the intelligence of the writer, Brown does the best job of effectively communicating from the black street perspective.
I'm sure he would like for everyone who reads this to read his Revolution by the Book, and when you compare the two you can chart the evolution of an original man, from street scholar to religious cleric. Read it for yourself and make up your own mind.
A classic on Black liberation.......2003-03-23
When H.Rap Brown's classic autobiography was first published, he was former chair of SNCC, the leading Black liberation group in the United States. Back then, I used this book as an introduction to the Black Power movement. Rap Brown was a grassroots leader, and he spoke the language of the grassroots community. In my estimate, H. Rap Brown was one of the most successful political agitators of the black revolt. With the exception of Malcolm X, there were few that could match his effectiveness of moving people in the streets. For that precise reason, Brown, now Imam Jamil Al-Amin, has been a key victim of repression, for fighting for black liberation.
An anachronistic rant against "the system.".......2002-10-18
H. Rap Brown has been called the african-american Jim Goad. In Mr. Brown's case, however, his screed is directed not at women and liberals but instead at "honkeys," "crackers" and, of course, "THE MAN!" This autobiography gives the reader insight into the anger that fueled one man's efforts to bring down "the system." Overall, though, the book is kinda insubstantial and considering the darn thing cost nearly 15 bones, there are much better books on the subject.
Richard Pryor meets Malcolm X.......2002-06-20
While rightfully cited as an articulation of Black anger in the 60s, there are portions of this book that are difficult to take seriously. Rap/El-Amin's hilarious descriptions of pilfering items in Lyndon Johnson's White House, the story of his being stopped by the Louisiana cops for wearing ragged clothes, his refusal to eat or drink anything in prison for 43 DAYS (last time I checked in biology class, no human could go that long without water) etc. come off like wild tall tales told by one of Richard Pryor's characters. Even when the book is serious, there is never a dull moment. His observations on Ebony magazine, poor whites, and the explaination of the book's title, will make you laugh as well as think. Oh yeah, check out his "Rap" early on in the book, the contents of which would make NWA blush!
The recent noteriety of Rap/El-Amin adds a somber note to the proceedings, but in the meantime, read this. You can see why this wild, controversial, and colorful book was so popular in the late 1960s. A cross between Richard Pryor and Malcolm X! Certainly one of the most entertaining of the Black Power manifestos.
Customer Reviews:
the New New Testament.......2004-07-19
This book is a must read for all Black people. The author challenges the reader to think outside of the norm. The read should not try to compare his or her beliefs to that of the author, instead the reader should try to search for the truth in the book.
The author tried to write a testament that was relevant to Black people in the 1960's. He succeeded in writing a book that was visionary for that time and still relevant today.
All the chapters in the book are interesting. The chapter "Proverbs and Notes to My Nigger Son" is a collection of of proverbs that range from being profound to being comical. "Super Spade at the Pearly Gates" is both entertaining and educational.
The Nigger Bible is a true classic of Black literature. This book should be recognized as one the most culturally important books of the 20th Century.
Can we say "ISSUES"?.......2003-05-02
The author of this atrocity obviously has issues. That is not to say that blacks have not been put down, beat down, and downtrodden. The plight of blacks in America is an incredible story full of treachery and the lowest of human conditions. It is also the story of triumph and all that humans can be despite their past and their circumstances. This book misses all of that. The author focuses on debunking Christianity, but only uses his own fictional illusions. I feel sorry for the author of this book. It must be a sad life to feel victimized the way he does. There are much better alternatives out there. Avoid this one like the plague.
Robert H. deCoy.......2003-02-27
this has to be the greatest book i've ever ever read. this book isn't for everyone though especially for those who can't mentally comprehend and accept the real history of blacks in amerikkka. RIP Robert H. deCoy
a fallacy of history.......2002-11-11
this book really states a very antagnotistical perspective of black people and is no different from the writings of Hitler or any other books dealing with a strong racial outlook. there is nothing in this book that can be said as informative, only failing, outlandish insights on what certain blacks like the author theorizes was the black person's history and their view of black people's interactions with others is terriblely jaded and misguided. the author rambles on and on about topics he meant to open the reader's mind to the "truth of black people" but he forgets that the truth he is writing about is totally his own bizzare imagination. for those who want a respectable book on black history, this is not for you. also, any african american reading this book is surely to be offended and his/her pride diminished by a black history that serves only to satiate those who enjoy angry and unnecessarily antagonistical slander.
I don't get it.......2001-11-05
Somebody handed me this book when I was in college and I dutifully tried to read it thinking that I was going to discover some deep knowlege. Nah. The history is pedestrian. Your child's black history encyclopedia gives more facts and figures. The book is written largely in slang that no-one born after 1970 can understand anymore. It's paranoid, defeatist and wallows in victimology.
Average customer rating:
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Carl Van Vechten and the Harlem Renaissance: A Critical Assessment (Studies in African American History and Culture)
Leon Coleman
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
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Book Description
This book evaluates Carl Van Vechten's contribution to the Harlem Renaissance by presenting hitherto unexamined documentary evidence. The author draws on correspondence, manuscripts, personal memorabilia, and published materials to examine the origins and development of the period in the 1920s which was termed the "New Negro Renaissance."
In the later years of the 1920s, as a result of the success of his novel, Nigger Heaven, Carl Van Vechten received extensive publicity associating him with Harlem and with the Harlem Renaissance. The vehement controversy which the book aroused among African American critics and the black press, who attacked it, and the African American authors and friends of Van Vechten who defended it, obscured the true extent of Van Vechten's role in the Harlem Renaissance. This study sheds light on the Van Vechten controversy which has continued to the present day.
(Ph.D. dissertation, University of Minnesota, 1969; revised with new preface)
Customer Reviews:
12 Keys to Self Acceptance and Acceptance of Others.......2006-12-09
While I admit to a real problem with the title of this book, I would wholeheartedly recommend it unreservedly for the depth of understanding that the author unfolds in his exploration of the history of Africans in America. He has shown with brilliance, the shattering damage that this history has done in varying degree, to the psyches of Africans (black folks) of all hues, born and living in America.
Learning, internalizing and practicing the 12 keys to self-acceptance first, and then the acceptance of others as outlined in this book, is absolutely essential if we as a people are to re-emerge as the true descendants of a people who gave civilization to the world. In the current America of no-holds barred materialism, militarism, war and racism that it exports all over the world, perhaps a transformed black population in America can lead to the transformation of the nation and the world.
Skip the title and crack the spine.......2006-07-19
This book, first and foremost, addresses issues of self esteem, a topic relevant to everyone, especially those of us who have been living in America for the last five years. Dealing with the swirl of political misdealings and global crisis brought on by an American government that leaves little to the imagination and forces its constituents to fend for themselves concerning national identity and ethical conciousness, Dr. Lee's book cuts to the quick. It's a practical understanding of marginalized people and the history of oppression we've inherited, regardless of the so-called milestones of democracy; emancipation, the women's rights, the civil rights movement, and the still struggling gay pride movement. Lee makes it clear that the "rights" and "pride" we think we've attained, though progressive, remain unresolved to a large degree and personally impacts us in ways we were heretofor unaware of. This isn't a book to read in one or two sittings, its a life long companion to daily existance.
Pracital Selfhelp Keys.......2006-07-05
There are countless self help books flooding the market, but few are specific to the current needs and concerns of the broad African American community. There have been numerous significant studies researching the subject of whether, and to what degree, Black Americans still suffer from the self-hatred engendered by years of enslavement and oppression. Yet none of those studies has anything to offer the average Black American who is functioning with the normal problems of living of the modern world.
With more than thirty years of experience as a psychotherapist, educator, Yoruba Priest, and student of African practices and traditions, Dr. Lee presents practical and simple KEYS to unlock the remaining psychological and physical chains that impair healthy functioning for African Americans. Acknowledging the "Nigger" in Us All picks up where Harold Cruse's Crisis of the Negro Intellectual and Franz Fanon's Black Skin, White Mask left off more than forty years ago. In presenting a book that informs with living examples rather than with theory, New African KEYS offers the reader 12 interconnected KEYS developed to arm Black Americans or anyone else with tools for individual and group self improvement. Dr. Lee emphasizes that the work of individual transformation has to include work toward changing the world, but all of this "work" must be done in a playful and compassionate way. The book also provides a major critique of our current approaches to relationships based on romantic love and suggests an approach that offers the possibilities for deeper and more satisfying intimate relationships.
The book initiates a re-investigation of the history of Africans in the Americas and examines the adverse effects that this history has had on the African self. Dr. Lee exposes why the concept of the "nigger" was created and advises African Americans not to repeat the destructive mistake that White Americans made by creating some scapegoat in order to feel good about themselves. He makes the diagnosis that all humans individually and collectively have "good" and "bad" qualities and potentials; and he prescripts unconditional self acceptance as the only prescription to prevent the scapegoat trap. This concept of unconditional self acceptance that Dr. Lee calls - ASHE - is a simple and ancient, yet revolutionary concept. The KEYS are offered to assist in the internalization of this concept that can also assist in the development of alternative coping mechanisms. Dr. Lee's goal is to empower readers to do battle both individually and collectively with the strains of living within our sexist and racist society. More importantly, he attempts to empower readers with the keys to change their world.
Books:
- On the Court with Kobe Bryant
- On the Technique of Acting
- Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Allen Iverson
- Ontological Engineering: with examples from the areas of Knowledge Management, e-Commerce and the Semantic Web. First Edition (Advanced Information and Knowledge Processing)
- Print the Legend: The Life and Times of John Ford
- Rainbow High
- Ready When You Are, Mr. Coppola, Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Crowe
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
- Sammy Sosa: An Autobiography
- Shakespeare the Thinker
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