The autobiography of comedian and social activist Dick Gregory, co-authored with Robert Lipsyte, nigger was originally published in September 1964 by E. P. Dutton, and has since 1965 been reprinted numerous times in an edition available through Pocket Books, altogether selling more than one million copies to date.[1] The book has never been out of print since its publication.[2] Gregory continued his life story in two subsequent books, Up From Nigger and Callus On My Soul. Gregory earned a $200,000 advance from the book.[3]
It was written during the American Civil Rights Movement. Gregory comments on his choice of title in the book's primary dedication, addressing his late mother,
Dear Momma -- Wherever you are, if ever you hear the word "nigger" again, remember they are advertising my book.[4]
Table of contents
Not Poor, Just Broke
"...and they didn't even have what I wanted."
One Less Door
The book contains photographs of Gregory performing at the Village Gate; he and his brother (1942); his mother, Lucille; Gregory as a drummer at Southern Illinois University (1953); as an SIU sprinter and Outstanding Athlete of the Year (1953); with coach Leland Lingle (1954); with Sammy Davis Jr. at Roberts Show Club, Chicago (1959); in a jail cell in Chicago; performing at the Hungry i, San Francisco (1963, shortly before the murder of Medgar Evers); at a voter registration rally, Greenwood, Mississippi (April 1963), among others.
Quotes
Addressing his maternal ancestors again,
You didn't die a slave for nothing, Momma. You brought us up. You and all those Negro mothers who gave their kids the strength to go on, to take that thimble to the well while the whites were taking buckets. Those of us who weren't destroyed got stronger, got calluses on our souls. And now we're ready to change a system, a system where a white man can destroy a black man with a single word. Nigger.[5]
Cover title
The original book cover stylizes the main title, "nigger", in all lower case, cursive writing. The title in its other appearances is otherwise formatted as most other books, either in all uppercase, or with normal book title capitalization.
Powerful and ugly and beautiful...a moving story of a man who deeply wants a world without malice and hate and is doing something about it."[6]
The book has been the subject of critical commentary, particularly in reference to its use of the pejorative term as the title.[7][8] It remains one of his best known works.[9]
In 2016, the Dean of Matteo Ricci College at Seattle University was forced to resign after students protested her recommending the book to an African-American student.[10] While the controversy was ongoing, Dick Gregory published an article supporting her against the protesters.[11]
See also
The Nigger Bible, a 1967 analysis of the word, with a preface by Gregory
References
^Gregory, Dick (1986) [First published 1964]. Nigger; an autobiography by Dick Gregory. Pocket Books. ISBN0671735608. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
^Lipsyte, Robert (8 August 2019). "Tomgram: Robert Lipsyte, A Comic Stands Up to Racism". Tom Dispatch. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
^"Obituary: Richard "Dick" Gregory died on August 19th". The Economist. 7 September 2017.
^. Dickgregory.com. 1932-10-12. Archived from the original on 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^Autobiographical Occasions and Original Acts: Versions of American Identity From Henry Adams to Nate Shaw, Albert E. Stone, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1982, page 238
^Nigger, Dick Gregory with Robert Lipsyte. New York: Pocket Books, 1965 (12th printing), Standard Book Number 671-7509
^Ridley, John (2006-12-03). . TIME. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^""Mark Twain threw it up in the air and I grabbed it" | The Book Haven". Bookhaven.stanford.edu. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^. Blackchristiannews.com. 2011-10-10. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
^. June 5, 2020. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020.
^. June 5, 2020. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020.
January 20, 2023
nigger, autobiography, dick, gregory, autobiography, comedian, social, activist, dick, gregory, authored, with, robert, lipsyte, niggerwas, originally, published, september, 1964, dutton, since, 1965, been, reprinted, numerous, times, edition, available, throu. The autobiography of comedian and social activist Dick Gregory co authored with Robert Lipsyte niggerwas originally published in September 1964 by E P Dutton and has since 1965 been reprinted numerous times in an edition available through Pocket Books altogether selling more than one million copies to date 1 The book has never been out of print since its publication 2 Gregory continued his life story in two subsequent books Up From Nigger and Callus On My Soul Gregory earned a 200 000 advance from the book 3 NiggerFirst hard cover editionAuthorDick Gregory with Robert LipsyteSubjectAfrican American culture Asian American cultureGenreAutobiographyPublisherE P Dutton h b Pocket Books p bPublication dateSeptember 1964Media typeHardcoverPages209Followed byWrite Me In 1968 Contents 1 Origins 2 Table of contents 3 Quotes 4 Cover title 5 Reception 6 See also 7 ReferencesOrigins EditIt was written during the American Civil Rights Movement Gregory comments on his choice of title in the book s primary dedication addressing his late mother Dear Momma Wherever you are if ever you hear the word nigger again remember they are advertising my book 4 Table of contents EditNot Poor Just Broke and they didn t even have what I wanted One Less DoorThe book contains photographs of Gregory performing at the Village Gate he and his brother 1942 his mother Lucille Gregory as a drummer at Southern Illinois University 1953 as an SIU sprinter and Outstanding Athlete of the Year 1953 with coach Leland Lingle 1954 with Sammy Davis Jr at Roberts Show Club Chicago 1959 in a jail cell in Chicago performing at the Hungry i San Francisco 1963 shortly before the murder of Medgar Evers at a voter registration rally Greenwood Mississippi April 1963 among others Quotes EditAddressing his maternal ancestors again You didn t die a slave for nothing Momma You brought us up You and all those Negro mothers who gave their kids the strength to go on to take that thimble to the well while the whites were taking buckets Those of us who weren t destroyed got stronger got calluses on our souls And now we re ready to change a system a system where a white man can destroy a black man with a single word Nigger 5 Cover title EditThe original book cover stylizes the main title nigger in all lower case cursive writing The title in its other appearances is otherwise formatted as most other books either in all uppercase or with normal book title capitalization Reception EditThe New York Times wrote in its review Powerful and ugly and beautiful a moving story of a man who deeply wants a world without malice and hate and is doing something about it 6 The book has been the subject of critical commentary particularly in reference to its use of the pejorative term as the title 7 8 It remains one of his best known works 9 In 2016 the Dean of Matteo Ricci College at Seattle University was forced to resign after students protested her recommending the book to an African American student 10 While the controversy was ongoing Dick Gregory published an article supporting her against the protesters 11 See also EditThe Nigger Bible a 1967 analysis of the word with a preface by GregoryReferences Edit Gregory Dick 1986 First published 1964 Nigger an autobiography by Dick Gregory Pocket Books ISBN 0671735608 Retrieved 9 August 2019 Lipsyte Robert 8 August 2019 Tomgram Robert Lipsyte A Comic Stands Up to Racism Tom Dispatch Retrieved 9 August 2019 Obituary Richard Dick Gregory died on August 19th The Economist 7 September 2017 Dick Gregory Global Watch About Dick Gregory Dickgregory com 1932 10 12 Archived from the original on 2007 06 17 Retrieved 2013 10 08 Autobiographical Occasions and Original Acts Versions of American Identity From Henry Adams to Nate Shaw Albert E Stone University of Pennsylvania Press 1982 page 238 Nigger Dick Gregory with Robert Lipsyte New York Pocket Books 1965 12th printing Standard Book Number 671 7509 Ridley John 2006 12 03 Viewpoint Why I m Good with the N Word TIME Archived from the original on December 6 2006 Retrieved 2013 10 08 Mark Twain threw it up in the air and I grabbed it The Book Haven Bookhaven stanford edu 2010 04 21 Retrieved 2013 10 08 Dick Gregory Bestselling Author of Nigger says Occupy Wall Street Has Whiff of 1960s BCNN1 Blackchristiannews com 2011 10 10 Archived from the original on 2012 04 25 Retrieved 2013 10 08 Dean at Seattle U subject of protests seeking her ouster and defending her retires June 5 2020 Archived from the original on June 5 2020 Dick Gregory writes to student protesters about which battles matter most essay June 5 2020 Archived from the original on June 5 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nigger An Autobiography by Dick Gregory amp oldid 1072629554, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
