E-mail a friendApril 18, 2007
Former prosecutor Bud Cummins discusses the aftermath of being fired by Attorney General Gonzales. The N Word author, Jabari Asim, says we must sometimes risk having people misuse the term to advance the dialogue on racism.
Harry "Bud" Cummins
Harry "Bud" Cummins
Is the Department of Justice too political (1:41)?
Former U.S. Attorney H.E. "Bud" Cummins III was one of the first federal prosecutors fired by Attorney General Gonzales—an act that has led to a firestorm of criticism. Cummins had a successful tenure in Arkansas' Eastern District from '01 to '06 before being asked to resign to allow a former White House aide to take the job. He previously served as Gov. Mike Huckabee's chief legal counsel, mounted a bid for a seat in the House on the GOP ticket in '96 and now works with a bio-fuel company.
Jabari Asim
Jabari Asim
The author of The N Word discusses an end to racism (1:02).
Full Interview (10:44)
An accomplished poet, playwright and fiction writer, Jabari Asim has been described as one of the most influential African American literary critics of his generation. He is deputy editor of The Washington Post Book World and also writes a weekly syndicated column on everything from politics to pop culture. He's written for local theater companies and is the author of A Road to Freedom, a novel for young adults. Asim's latest work is The N Word, which traces the growth of the word in America.