In this lecture, Randall Kennedy discusses the profound history of this "troublesome" word in an attempt to further understand the racial dynamics that define American society. Using the major points of his research, both legal and sociological, Kennedy relates his lessons with sparkling clarity. This is one lecture that everyone who has ever heard the famous "N-word" should hear. Kennedy asserts, "Given the power of 'nigger' to wound, it is important to provide a context within which presentation of that term can be properly understood. It is also imperative, however, to permit present and future readers to see for themselves directly the full gamut of American cultural productions, the ugly as well as the beautiful, those that mirror the majestic features of American democracy and those that mirror America's most depressing failings."
Forum Network
Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas