The N-Word Part 3

Kennedy is among a growing number of what could be called Black counter-opinion-makers; African Americans who can be counted on to help whites rationalize racism. This peculiar and perverted little industry has its own specialists and, like flies drawn to cow dung, they find each other. It is useful here to remind readers of the December 1, 2001, New York Times story on Erroll McDonald, Pantheon’s Black editor of Kennedy’s book, as cited by Dr. Kilson in his June 27 guest commentary, “The N-Word as Therapy for Racists.” McDonald, a true soul mate of Kennedy’s, couldn’t get enough of hearing the N-word streaming from white mouths. Contemplate the sick games he played:

Mr. McDonald enjoyed the reactions of colleagues, almost all of them white. He carried a piece of paper around the office with the word “nigger” written on it, asking people to pronounce it. Presenting the idea [for the book] at a planning session in January, he asked about 45 editors and other executives to say it [nigger] in unison. In both cases, some refused. “I think it is pretty fun[ny],” Mr. McDonald said, imagining customers asking a bookstore clerk, ‘Can I have one Nigger, please?’ He added, “I am not afraid of the word ‘nigger.'”