The 'N' Word

Most of the books I read come from the list I keep and continually update with new tomes.  I came across The 'N' Word while browsing my local library.  With a title like that, I just picked it up and headed to the check-out kiosk.  Since I'd never heard of the book, I was able to read it with an open mind.  The book is a history of the use of the N word in the United States and of racism in general.  Jabari Asim is the author.  I enjoyed this book and am disappointed that it took me three weeks to finish it.

The structure of the book makes it easy to follow.  Asim take the use of the word and divides the History of the U.S. into five time periods with several subchapters in each.  This structure provides helps show the use and evolution of use of the N word.  I really felt like I grew with the word.  For each era, Asim provides ample storytelling to showcase how the word was used and who used it.  He successfully destroys the myth that the the only users to the word are merely uneducated people from The South.  Plenty of educated people from The North and The South took occasion to use the word.  Along with the use of the word Asim demonstrates the racism that went with the word, even among American heroes.  Many consider Jefferson and Lincoln as the great believers in equality in the U.S., but both held views that were not entirely consistent with that image.

The most striking chapters for me came when Asim brings the word into the modern era.  Knowing the history of the word and better understanding the baggage associated with it make these chapters all the more meaningful.  Asim makes the case against banning the use of the word entirely in these chapters.  He shows how artists are able to use the power of the word to be ironic or to make certain social point.  He cites Richard Pryor as being key in filling this role.  Asim also suggests that African-Americans should not be concerned with whites who use the word behind closed doors.  Not that he approves of the use of the word, but it's not something that can be policed.  I get the sense that he sees such a pursuit as futile and maybe he believes the word will fall out of fashion eventually.  He points to LBJ's use of the word behind closed doors, though he was also responsible to making sure some of the most important Civil Right legislation was passed.  He's making the point that people realize they live in a culturally diverse world and they will behave accordingly, as long as there is accountability.

The only real weakness I found in the book came in a few of the chapters.  The overall structure kept the thoughts consistent and on track, but there were times in the book when too many quotes were used causing some lack of cohesion on some thoughts.  This wasn't a major problem, but certainly noticeable.

As I stated above, I enjoyed this book.  I admit to having used the word, though most of the time has been to mock racism (mostly in my adult life).  Fortunately, it hasn't been a major problem for me.  Since reading the book I've been able to reflect on using that kind of language, even when not serious.  I am certainly less inclined to use that kind of language or similar terms, thinking mostly of Fag/Faggot (Asim touches on slurs against homosexuals, but leaves those two out the the discussion for some odd reason).  I will certainly be more conscious in the future.