Introducing Niggy Tardust. Part 1. The Rise and Liberation."Niggy Tardust is about what it means to look at history and the present as a whole, as opposed to running away in disgust or bowing one's head in guilt—saying 'yes' to all that has been, in full acknowledgement; saying 'yes, all of those things convene in me....'"Exclusive Bonus Audio: Saul Williams and Ken Wilber • Deconstructing Niggy (47:44)Read and ListenIn this incredible walkthrough of The Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust, Saul discusses the overall concept of the album, as well as an in-depth look at many of the songs. The album is about transcendence, pure and simple, as the title clearly states—whereas David Bowie used the Ziggy Stardust character to challenge people's notions of sex, gender, and image, Niggy Tardust challenges our attitudes of race, racism, and identity. It forces us to confront our accumulated fears, discomfort, and victimhood around some extremely sensitive issues, without the novocaine of political correctness or identity politics to numb our exposed nerve endings. He tells us how he is trying to redefine the "N-word" itself—liberating a word synonymous with human oppression by allowing us to fully feel its power, its violence, and its pain. It is an attempt to infuse the profane with the sacred, a Tantric impulse to recognize all of existence as truly not-two, where Spirit can fully embrace even the darkest regions of our soul.