Should the law treat it as a provocation that reduces. Nigger by randall kennedy, 97803757712, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Randall kennedys book nigger invites readers to reconsider the nword, its meanings, and its appropriate uses. The book sets out to challenge americans oftentimes absolutist views on. The strange career of a troublesome word, tackles another stigma of americas racial discourse. The word, of course, is nigger, and in this candid, lucidly argued book the distinguished legal scholar randall kennedy traces its origins, maps. The strange career of a troublesome word, randall kennedy explores various meanings of this contentious and ambiguous word. Klein professor of law and focuses his research on the intersection of racial conflict and legal institutions in american life. The strange career of a troublesome word by randall kennedy about the book in nigger. The strange career of a troublesome word, published by pantheon books. Is it a more hurtful racial epithet than insults such as kike, wop, wetback, mick, chink, and gook.
Nigger ebook by randall kennedy 9780307538918 rakuten kobo. He traces the history of the word nigger, showing that it has been primarily deployed as an insult, probably the most notorious racial epithet in america, and perhaps, the world. Is it a part of the american cultural inheritance that warrants preservation. Randall kennedy, harvard law school professor and author of such critically acclaimed and provocative books as race, crime, and the law and the national bestseller nigger. Indeed, nigger is such an important term that to be ignorant of its functions, connotations, effects, and even of the way it. Kennedy traces the words history in literature, song, film, politics, sports, everyday speech, and the courtroom. He traces the history of the word nigger, showing that it has been primarily employed as an insult, probably the most notorious racial epithet in america, and perhaps, the world. The strange career of a troublesome word ebook written by randall kennedy. This is the phenomenon that underscores randall kennedys short book, nigger. The strange career of a troublesome wordgives us a keen and shrewd analysis of the complex relationship between the first black president and his africanamerican constituency. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read nigger. The strange career of a troublesome word, gives us a concise, gimleteyed, and deeply personal conspectus of the policy, refusing to shy away from the myriad complexities of. Its the nuclear bomb of racial epithets, a word that whites have employed to wound and degrade african americans for three centuries. The strange career of a troublesome word wikipedia.
The strange career of a troublesome word, harvard law school professor randall kennedy grapples with a key term in the lexicon of race relations. By randall kennedy, professor of law, harvard university t he word nigger is a key term in american culture. Randall kennedy an africanamerican professor at harvard law school who specialises in, among other things, race relations law has written a very interesting book about the word that no white person can say without risking denunciation as a racist of the very worst kind even though, as kennedy notes in the book, racism can do as much, or. Randall kennedy s new book sets what we know of barack obamas presidency in relief against the sorry history of racial politics in america. Should blacks be able to use nigger in ways forbidden to others. Randall kennedy has 20 books on goodreads with 6384 ratings.
Why do you think that kennedy used nigger as the only word in the title. The strange career of a troublesome word, gives us a concise, gimleteyed, and deeply personal conspectus of the policy, refusing to shy away from the myriad complexities of an issue that continues to. Kennedy traces the words history in literature, song, film, politics, sports, everyday speech, and the. The book sets out to challenge americans oftentimes absolutist views on what. Randall kennedy, a harvard law school professor and former law clerk for supreme court justice thurgood marshall, demonstrates his courage and wisdom by taking on the dangerous subject of the nword in his book, nigger the strange career of a troublesome word pantheon books, 2002. Random house for high school teachers catalog nigger. Kennedy gives an account of the words origin and history in 17thcentury america, examines revealing court cases in which it has figured, and in a chapter entitled pitfalls in fighting nigger analyzes the various efforts on campus and in the workplace to inhibit its use. This book is short and a fast read but is fascinating and full of facts and good thoughts. Randall kennedy, harvard law school professor, author and essayist, first came up with the idea for his new book, nigger. Randall kennedy talks about the history of the term sellout when the word can be used and why the label has been used to chastise him. The strange career of a troublesome word is a 2002 book by randall kennedy of harvard law school about the history and sociology of the word nigger the book was prominently featured in an episode of boston public in which a white teacher, played by michael rapaport, attempted to employ the book to teach his students about the history and controversy surrounding the word season 2.
Aug 12, 2011 randall kennedys new book sets what we know of barack obamas presidency in relief against the sorry history of racial politics in america. Reading the first chapter of randall kennedy s similarly titled nigger. 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.
Nigger the strange career of a troublesome word by randall kennedy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Renowned for his cool reason visavis the pitfalls and cliches of racial discourse, randall kennedyharvard professor of law and author of the new york times best seller nigger. That word, of course, is nigger, and it is quickly proliferating in the debate over kennedy s new book, nigger. The strange career of a troublesome word, in which he traces the history of the word and the way it has been used in film, literature, and politics. Kennedy born september 10, 1954 is an american law professor and author at harvard university in cambridge, massachusetts. The strange career of a troublesome word, in which he traces the history of the word and the way it. In this incisive and unflinching study, randall kennedy, author of nigger. The strange career of a troublesome word by randall. Nigger by randall kennedy 2002 a superb expose on the etymology beyond the most contentious word in the english language, or just a humdrum, halfhearted analysis with a sensationalist title. Kennedy, in this small book, asks more of us when it comes to race conversations, and it is this breaking of the boundaries that makes nigger an important study. The strange career of a troublesome word, a slim volume whose stated intention is to. Kennedy, a law professor at harvard university, has written a book that takes readers from the world of the internet.
Its the nuclear bomb of racial epithets, a word that whites have employed to wound and degrade african americans for. Am i wrongfully offending the sensibilities of readers right now by spelling out nigger. Does the title or kennedy s continued use of the word throughout the book offend you. He traces the history of the word nigger, showing that it has been. He explains the origins of the concept and shows how fear of this label has haunted prominent members of the black communityincluding, most recently, colin powell. 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. The book chronicles the history of the word from a neutral word in the 1600s to. The strange case of a troublesome word, i suspected that kennedy had the same understanding that whites generally dont cant.
Jan 14, 2003 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. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Kennedy claims that the term nigger is fascinating precisely because it has been put to a variety of uses and can radiate a wide array of meanings p. The word, of course, is nigger, and in this candid, lucidly argued book the distinguished legal scholar randall kennedy traces its origins, maps paradoxically, among many black people it has become a term of affection and even empowerment.
The first chapter, about the origins of the word nigger, had me shaking. Nigger isbn 97803757712 pdf epub randall kennedy ebook. Should kennedy have used the nword instead of nigger in his book. Kennedy nigger is a key word in the lexicon of race relations and thus an important term in american politics. Randall kennedy s book nigger invites readers to reconsider the nword, its meanings, and its appropriate uses. Kennedy, a law professor at harvard university, has written a book that takes readers from the. Nigger by randall kennedy overdrive rakuten overdrive.
The strange career of a troublesome word 1st vintage books ed edition. He has a welltuned ear for the diverse ways the word has. It is a profoundly hurtful racial slur meant to stigmatize african americans. It was hard to get into the second chapter, about the word and the law, but then that proved to be interesting too. The persistence of the color line by randall kennedy. Dec 18, 2008 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. The strange career of a troublesome word is a 2002 book by randall kennedy of harvard law school about the history and sociology of the word nigger. Should nigger be treated differently that other racial or ethnic slurs. 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.
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