Author Speaker Series with Hiram Smith

Dr. Hiram Smith PhD is professor at Bucknell University. His book: Wassup, My Nigga is the first book written by an African American linguist to explore the word's origin, history, and usage. Drawing on sources across time, from nineteenth-century slave narratives and ex-slave recordings to contemporary conversations on social media, the book reveals how the word's meanings vary according to context and across racial groups. It challenges myths about reclamation, explains why multiple pronunciations exist, and examines what the evidence really shows about how--and whether--meanings have changed over time.

By presenting the discussion within the context of African American English, Wassup, My Nigga sheds new light on one of the most controversial words in American English and what it reveals about language, race, and identity.

Dr. Smith will give a presentation about his work followed by audience Q&A