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The Nigger Bible

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The Nigger Bible is a book by Robert H. deCoy, originally self-published by deCoy and then reissued by Holloway House in 1967, and again in 1972 (ISBN 0-87067-619-9).[1] It is a social and linguistic analysis of the word "nigger" and of the origins and contemporary circumstances of the black peoples 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 the word "nigger" (and deCoy lists over forty derivatives of the word[2]), and 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. In one of the chapters he discusses "the genealogy of Jody Grind"; Eugene B. Redmond remarks deCoy is one of many African-American writers who "continues a tradition by seeking out folk epics and ballads as sources of poetry".[3]

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.

DeCoy also published Cold Black Preach (1971, ISBN 0-87067-627-X). The Black Scholar summarized: "Noted author of the explosive best seller The Nigger Bible takes on the black preaching establishment".[4]

Chapters

  1. Preface by Dick Gregory
  2. Foreword: The First Nigger Testament
  3. The Word Was Not for a Nigger
  4. (1) Words in Testament to My Nigger Son, (2) The First Dictionary of Nigrite Words
  5. Separation is "The Nigger Salvation"
  6. What A Nigger Needs Most is a God
  7. (1) Prelude to a Nigger Genesis, (2) deCoy's Song of Genesis
  8. A Sermon to My Nigger Soul: (1) The Prayer, (2) The Text
  9. What is this Power of Positive Thinking?
  10. History Does Not Happen, It is Made
  11. The Departure or "The Northward Flight of the Niggers"
  12. Proverbs and Notes to My Nigger Son
  13. 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
  14. A Drama in Nigger Neurosis
  15. A Journey Back to the Mother City
  16. The Mardi Gras! (1) National Observance of the Nigger Dream, (2) Oh Come to a Mardi Gras Morning
  17. The Black Blueprint
  18. Two Parables: (1) Dream of the Alabaster Daughter, (2) Super Spade at the Pearly Gates
  19. special words, names and other for niggers

References

  1. ^ "The Black Book Roundup #7 Spring 1981". The Black Scholar. 12 (2): 31–69. 1981.
  2. ^ Fabio, Sarah Webster (1968). "What Is Black?". College Composition and Communication. 19 (5): 286–87.
  3. ^ Redmond, Eugene B. (1971). "The Black American Epic: Its Roots, Its Writers". The Black Scholar. 2 (5): 15–22.
  4. ^ "The Black Scholar Black Books Roundup # 9". The Black Scholar. 13 (2/3): 49–80. 1982.
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