The Nigger Bible
Encyclopedia
The Nigger Bible is a book by Robert H. deCoy, published by Holloway House in 1967. It is a social and linguistic analysis of the word "nigger
" and of the origins and contemporary circumstances of the black people
s of America. The form is varied and might be described as a series of reflections. In the preface, Dick Gregory
(whose autobiography was entitled Nigger
) writes: "In abolishing and eliminating the Caucasian-Christian philosophical and literary forms while recording his black experiences, this writer has removed himself from their double-standard frames of reference."
The book examines not just the word "nigger", but attempts to tease apart the cultural, philosophical, and scriptural origins of what the author calls an "Alabaster Man", one that experienced the conclusions and prejudices at the root of their oppression. It examines, among other texts, the Christian bible and its terminology. the book explores the power of words, and re-interprets and critiques core western religious and philosophical constructs, including those that are central to much of the modern African-American religious experience.
DeCoy re-examines the word "nigger", demystifies it, and attempts to embed critical thinking skills about black personality types and categories. The author deconstructs the Christianity of "Niggers" (including, in his view, Black Muslims) as well as the values of the New Left
. The book contains an analysis of the cultural and racial significance of Mardi Gras
.
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
" and of the origins and contemporary circumstances of the black people
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
s of America. The form is varied and might be described as a series of reflections. In the preface, Dick Gregory
Dick Gregory
Richard Claxton "Dick" Gregory is an American comedian, social activist, social critic, writer, and entrepreneur....
(whose autobiography was entitled Nigger
Nigger (1964 book)
Nigger: An Autobiography by Dick Gregory is an autobiography by comedian and social activist Dick Gregory, published in 1964 by E.P. Dutton, and reprinted by Pocket Books from 1965 to present. The book was co-authored by Robert Lipsyte...
) writes: "In abolishing and eliminating the Caucasian-Christian philosophical and literary forms while recording his black experiences, this writer has removed himself from their double-standard frames of reference."
The book examines not just the word "nigger", but attempts to tease apart the cultural, philosophical, and scriptural origins of what the author calls an "Alabaster Man", one that experienced the conclusions and prejudices at the root of their oppression. It examines, among other texts, the Christian bible and its terminology. the book explores the power of words, and re-interprets and critiques core western religious and philosophical constructs, including those that are central to much of the modern African-American religious experience.
DeCoy re-examines the word "nigger", demystifies it, and attempts to embed critical thinking skills about black personality types and categories. The author deconstructs the Christianity of "Niggers" (including, in his view, Black Muslims) as well as the values of the New Left
New Left
The New Left was a term used mainly in the United Kingdom and United States in reference to activists, educators, agitators and others in the 1960s and 1970s who sought to implement a broad range of reforms, in contrast to earlier leftist or Marxist movements that had taken a more vanguardist...
. The book contains an analysis of the cultural and racial significance of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
.
Chapters
- Preface by Dick Gregory
- Foreword: The First Nigger Testament
- 1: The Word Was Not for a Nigger
- 2: (1) Words in Testament to My Nigger Son, (2) The First Dictionary of Nigrite Words
- 3: Separation is "The Nigger Salvation"
- 4: What A Nigger Needs Most is a God
- 5: (1) Prelude to a Nigger Genesis, (2) deCoy's Song of Genesis
- 6: A Sermon to My Nigger Soul: (1) The Prayer, (2) The Text
- 7: What is this Power of Positive Thinking?
- 8: History Does Not Happen, It is Made
- 9: The Departure or "The Northward Flight of the Niggers"
- 10: Proverbs and Notes to My Nigger Son
- 11: Letters to the Nigger Children: (1) Discard the "Act of Christening," (2) Justice is a "White Woman," (3) Epistles to My Nigger Beings, (4) Niggers, God, Church and Ministry
- 12: A Drama in Nigger Neurosis
- 13: A Journey Back to the Mother City
- 14: The Mardi Gras! (1) National Observance of the Nigger Dream, (2) Oh Come to a Mardi Gras Morning
- 15: The Black Blueprint
- 16: Two Parables: (1) Dream of the Alabaster Daughter, (2) Super Spade at the Pearly Gates
- 17: special words, names and other for niggers