Navigating the "N" Word: How keeping "Niggas" alive is killing black folk

by Brady Goodwin Jr.

"Nigger" is arguably the most divisive word in the history of the English language. But it is not just history, the word is very much alive today. Some say that it no longer serves its original purpose and, over the last 50 years, African Americans have commandeered the word and given it new meaning. This book analyzes that claim by surveying the different perspectives taken by black, cultural leaders in the past, as well as the process by which Hip Hop culture embraced the term. Readers will find a fresh new perspective on an old debate, but a debate that is still, very much, worth having.

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2015

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thought-provoking and left me wondering what I can do in my small corner of the world to help make positive changes.

[Will Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a white pastor in a predominantly African American context I found this book especially helpful. Many of my friends use this word and I am often just left there sitting quietly shaking my head in sadness.

I'm still not sure how much I'd be able to speak these words into their lives but handing them off this book may help.

Goodwin presents a great case for the eradication the "n" word.

My only complaint is that I wish there was a deeper focus on Christ and the redemptive hope he offers. While Maslow's hierarchy was interesting applied to this question he ended by simply saying that we must look to spirituality. Spirituality is not enough. Spirituality will not redeem our language. Only Christ saves and only Christ redeems our words.