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The Student as Nigger
The Student as Nigger is the title of an essay & subsequent book by American educator Jerry Farber. The essay 1st appeared in the Los Angeles Free Press in 1967 & is cited as one of the 1st underground publications to receive wide recognition. It was reprinted over 500 times in the the 1960s & was published in book form in 1969 by Pocket Books.
The essay, published during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement, in which Farber was an active participant, draws an extended analogy between the status of students at California State University & the status of African Americans.
The essay, published during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement, in which Farber was an active participant, draws an extended analogy between the status of students at California State University & the status of African Americans.
142 pages, paper
First published January 1, 1967
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 22, 2008
If you are currently in college, don't read this one. I wanted to return all my books and hitchhike straight back to Jersey. It is, however, a quite insightful easy read. It was orginially a printed article by Jarry Farber, among one of the first black members of the underground in early 1967. Farber discusses with the reader the motives behind schooling in American society and how the "exploit and enslave us." I found it very interesting, especially attending such a conservative university, how little things have progressed since its publication.
April 22, 2014
A fantastic critique of the school system written around 40 years ago. And in 40 years not a single thing has changed.
The main idea expressed is that the school system is detrimental to the student. It forces learning when learning should never be forced. The most important lessons you learn have nothing to do with subject; rather they're the implicit inculcation of docility, passivity, fear of questioning authority, inability to think, plan and act by ones self, and constant dependence of authoritative figures.
He also argues for a school that is run by teachers an students. So that they choose what to learn, when to learn it and the method employed.
Overall very enjoyable and eye opening read, which still has great relevance in this day an age.
The main idea expressed is that the school system is detrimental to the student. It forces learning when learning should never be forced. The most important lessons you learn have nothing to do with subject; rather they're the implicit inculcation of docility, passivity, fear of questioning authority, inability to think, plan and act by ones self, and constant dependence of authoritative figures.
He also argues for a school that is run by teachers an students. So that they choose what to learn, when to learn it and the method employed.
Overall very enjoyable and eye opening read, which still has great relevance in this day an age.
September 24, 2012
This had a huge effect on me in the late sixties when I read it, along with Kozol's Death at an Early Age, John Holt's How Children Learn, Dick Gregory's Nigger, others.... constructing an activist core in me...
March 25, 2009
I read this book in the version published by the Students for a Democratic Society towards the end of high school on the recommendation of a friend.
September 7, 2026
This (intentionally) provocatively-titled book is, as you may have guessed, quite old. The copy I picked up from the Sacramento Book Den was literally falling apart in my hands. Farber’s essays vacillate wildly between genuinely paradigm-altering insights into the problems with the education system and their possible solutions to some of the wildest shit I’ve ever read that I can’t imagine ever co-signing. And yet, you should read it.
I’m only in year one of teaching and a lot of these reforms seem impossible, improbable or even undesirable to implement. I just hope that as the years go on, I get more converted to Farber’s worldview than less. Most of his worldview, that is. I still think that all children should learn to read and that college professors shouldn’t have intercourse with their students. If this makes me a draconian enemy to student liberation in his eyes then so be it (I’m being humorously uncharitable here, probably…)
I’d love to sit down with Farber and have a conversation about how to implement some of these changes. But, then again, I suppose that’s my servile mind seeking desperately, once again, to be told what to do
I’m only in year one of teaching and a lot of these reforms seem impossible, improbable or even undesirable to implement. I just hope that as the years go on, I get more converted to Farber’s worldview than less. Most of his worldview, that is. I still think that all children should learn to read and that college professors shouldn’t have intercourse with their students. If this makes me a draconian enemy to student liberation in his eyes then so be it (I’m being humorously uncharitable here, probably…)
I’d love to sit down with Farber and have a conversation about how to implement some of these changes. But, then again, I suppose that’s my servile mind seeking desperately, once again, to be told what to do
May 4, 2017
The title is quite offensive, but the subject matter of the book remains pertinent to this day. It deals with our current school system dealing with its students as robots. In the interest of hierarchy and organization, creativity and actual thought is inhibited. More importantly, however, learning becomes stilted because children are forced to learn what they don't want to.
Still, there aren't really any good solutions, even to this day. I'd love to be a provo at one point in my life, however.
Still, there aren't really any good solutions, even to this day. I'd love to be a provo at one point in my life, however.
June 27, 2020
I found The Student and Society essay the most thought provoking and I had to chuckle at Teaching Johnny to Walk. Hancock Park in Late September was lovely. And A Young Person’s Guide to the Grading System had some great lines in it, such as “Can you imagine what would happen if they graded you on sex? The race would die out.”
September 19, 2023
absolutely hate this analogy!
February 15, 2023
This book is a good one, and unfortunately, must say that the things the author talks about are relevant even now. I'm an African American student and sometimes I feel a big discomfort That's why once I decided to spend more time on my job and less at the uni. It was pretty hard at first, but then I found this source https://essays.edubirdie.com/top-writers , and things go better now. I hope thanks to BLM people realize that there is not our choice to be what we are. We are just living our life and don't want to hurt anyone, that's all...
Want to Read
October 23, 2007Really want to read this book. If any of you have read it, let me know what you thought.
May 2, 2013
A mind-expanding thesis unfortunately not fully fleshed. Claims schooling is a 12 year course in servility and doing what you're told. I'm inclined to agree.
July 22, 2013
The first step in a long journey.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews