The Nigger in You

Is there a nigger in you? If you have attempted to avoid and/or escape oppression, been made to feel as if you are a problem, been treated as lesser than or even like a criminal, all just because you are different in a given context, then what Dr. J. W. Wiley asserts through the title of this book i [...]
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Is there a nigger in you? If you have attempted to avoid and/or escape oppression, been made to feel as if you are a problem, been treated as lesser than or even like a criminal, all just because you are different in a given context, then what Dr. J. W. Wiley asserts through the title of this book inescapably applies to you. Through any of our multiple identities our socio-economic class, level of education, gender, disability, age, race, sexual orientation, or religion we are all potential victims as well as perpetrators of denigrating language and discrimination. Dr. Wiley borrows the agency of "nigger" to re-frame the word as no longer just a racial term but one that symbolizes many of the ways we disrespect or bully one another, are inconsiderate of one another, prejudge one another, and internalize our demonization. He defines the word in a way that demonstrates its equivalence to other dysfunctional language ("retard," "bitch," "fag," "trailer trash," etc.) that suggests that those so targeted are unworthy of consideration in our society. By creating a conversation around such language, Dr. Wiley challenges us to recognize that, when we give in to our prejudices and stereotypes, the nigger in you is what we are apt to see when we encounter those different from ourselves.By dissecting the offensive language we often use, consciously or unconsciously, Dr. Wiley provokes us to recognize that, since every one of us has multiple identities beyond just the color of our skin, it is virtually impossible for most of us not to have felt the sting of oppression or the power of privilege. Consequently, it is morally incumbent on us to contest and ultimately transcend oppression wherever we encounter it, to respect the humanity of those different from us, and become allies in the war to protect and advance people s right to be different.Through personal stories, scholarship, poetry, commentary on current affairs, lyrics, and his experiences as a Black man both rooted in African American culture and the culture of the academy, Dr. Wiley leads us on a journey toward social justice. In doing so, he empowers us to embrace our leadership moments by engaging those who would perpetrate dysfunctional language or behavior, and help create a world in which differences are respected and validated.The Author: Dr. Wiley currently has a joint appointment as the Director for the Center for Diversity at State University of New York - Plattsburgh and a lecturer in Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies. Through his company, Xamining Diversity, he has clients including Pfizer Pharmaceuticals; University of California San Francisco Medical Center; Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; New York State Nursing Association; PACE University of New York City; Homeland Security; and the Plattsburgh New York Mayor s Office/City Council and Police Department.