Hiram L. Smith — Wassup, My Nigga: The Hidden History of a Controversial Word
Hiram L. Smith presents *Wassup, My Nigga: The Hidden History of a Controversial Word*, an examination of one of the most disputed words in American English. The event considers the relationship between the related pronunciations and spellings, who uses them, how their meanings vary by context and racial group, and whether one form can be understood as reclaimed language or a term of endearment among Black people.
Smith’s discussion draws on nineteenth-century slave narratives, recordings of formerly enslaved people, and contemporary social-media conversations. He addresses the word’s origins, changing interpretations, competing ideas about reclamation, and what African American English reveals about language, race, and identity.
When: Monday, August 31, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free admission. Seating is first come, first served.
Speaker: Hiram L. Smith, the Ruth Everett Sierzega Chair in Linguistics at Bucknell University.
About the speaker: Smith published the first historical study of the word examined in the book and is the first African American linguist to write a book-length study of it. His research includes African American English, Afro-Hispanic creole languages, Spanish, and Pennsylvania Dutch.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests made up to the event.
Related book: *Wassup, My Nigga: The Hidden History of a Controversial Word* by Hiram L. Smith is available for preorder in hardcover for $29.95. The book is scheduled for publication on September 1, 2026, and has ISBN 9781647127398.
Run time: No run time is provided.
Age guidance: No age restriction is listed.