Abstract
The first time one is called nigger, or told to go back where you come from, one's identity is transduced and a great violence is done to one's self‐esteem. Thereafter one fights a rear‐guard action to keep other elements of oneself in focus. It is hard to get through the day without the shoulder coming into play, I don't mean the chip on the shoulder, I mean the glance over the shoulder. Once somebody has mounted a stealth attack on a part of who you are you had better be on your guard for you know it is coming again. Phillips (2004).