The Forbidden Word

by James Henry Harris

This book is about a Black man's reading of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for the first time while in graduate school. The story captures his emotional experience with Twain's use of the racial epithet "nigger" more than 211 times throughout the book. The visceral response to hearing the word verbalized by whites with Twain's permission, regardless of irony or satire, is a central theme of this personal history/memoir. The situation is a seminar in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy, where the Civil War is still being fought on many levels. The story is the complication of race as a topic of public discussion and the role the word nigger plays in postmodern society especially among Blacks and Hip-Hop music. The use of the word is a sign of evil both historically and culturally and cannot be flipped in a way that erases its history and meaning. It is also a reflection on language and culture.

146 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2012

About the author

Rev. Dr. James Henry Harris is the Distinguished Professor and Chair of Homiletics and Practical Theology and Research Scholar in Religion at the School of Theology, Virginia Union University and pastor of Second Baptist Church (West End) both in Richmond, VA.
Source: https://www.vuu.edu/theology/faculty-...

Reviews

[Brenda Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just completed this book and brought copies to share with my children and grandchildren. Mr. Harris gave a gripping account on how hearing the word "N" has effected him throughout the stages of his life. From his journey to adulthood to his first reading of "Huckleberry Finn" and as adult. The negative emotions he felt conjured up by the "N" word. I was unable to put the book down and was taken on this journey with him. This book should be a best seller as well as required reading in all high schools and colleges. The story of the "N" word along with the African American history and struggle must be told. Thank you Mr. Harris for sharing such to provocative book with us.