Comment: When I saw the episode of Girlfriends when Lynn’s white cousin was singing along with one of Jay-Z song that has the n-word in it, I couldn’t understand why they all got upset with her when she actually said the word, yet Lynn, Mia and the others were pumpin’ their fist and singing the song as well. My point is black people we can’t have it both ways how is it okay for us to address each other with the n-word but we want to declare war on white people when they use it. Quit foolin’ yourselves the word is degrading, spell it anyway you want pronounce it anyway you want it’s still offensive. And please quit giving Chris Rock credit for saying “there are black people and there are N*ggers! A white racist said it first not Chris Rock!

Dear H. Lewis Smith,

I'm ecstatic that you have written a book condemning the use of the n-word.  To me, it's unfathomable to use the same words that were used to denigrate our ancestors.  Can you imagine how many times the word was used when they massacred Emmit Till, or when they lynched, burned, castrated, and mutilated African men allover the western hemisphere?  Malcolm X once said that the worst thing racism did was to make us hate ourselves.  And the continued usage of this word provides us with no greater example of this self-hatred! 
I would like to request a complimentary media copy.

I hope you can publicize your book on such shows as the Tom Joyner Morning Show and others, because your book is long over due!!!

Thanks A Million,

Jack M. Parker, Jr.

Dear H. Lewis Smith:

I received your article from Black News and will order a copy.  After reading Nigger by Randall Kennedy your book should be refreshing.  A friend from Nigeria has introduced me to a worse term--black trash. Which the Africans use to point out black people with disparaging behavior. Hearing them say, "look at that black trash." Was a very hurtful experience, and our own people have no clue as to how we are seen by others.  Randall Kennedy seemed as if he were trying to convince us that using the word was now okay. However, he like most people fail to realize that all races have their own definition of niggers. We are just begining to become aware of their useage and lifestyles from association. Just as whites always have referred to their own as "poor white trash".  Worse, it seems that we are always on display, or displaying ourselves.  However, we cannot remove the word as Websters' has tried to delete it from their dictionary, because it defines the United States. Without the "n" word, slavery, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement or American history would not exist.

Looking forward to reading your book!

Jackie Brown