Meanings of a Word Essay Although many African Americans support the use of the word "nigger" in certain circumstances‚ the mass majority of African Americans who lived in the times where whites used the word in order to degrade African Americans would passionately believe that the word "nigger" should be eliminated from all forms of language. Gloria Naylor clearly states her stance on the issue in "The Meanings of a Word" when she writes‚ "The people in my grandmother’s living room took a word
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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn explores the longing for freedom. Huck and “nigger” Jim want nothing more than freedom from the proper ways of society and the lives they once lived. Thus‚ resulting in their travel down the Mississippi River in search for family and adventure in Cairo‚ Illinois. Although‚ Jane Smiley states that Jim was not acknowledged as a human by Huck due to his racism and continuous use of the word “nigger”‚ Huck concludes by the end of the novel that Jim is a human and friend in
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excuse about him having problems with his legs‚ but the foreman says she has heard enough excuses. Next she says “And the niggers is the worse (…) I’m sick of you niggers”. Mr. Johnson is African American himself‚ and starts to get mad at the foreman. First of he is very collected and tells the foreman that it is okay for her to get mad‚ but that nobody has the right to call him a nigger. This is where he first has the urge to hit someone “He felt a curious tingling in his fingers and he looked down at
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than “nigger”. It’s not the meaning of the word nigger that causes issues‚ it’s the agreement among different groups of people what the word means‚ when‚ and how it is used. Naylor begins telling her story of the first time she heard the word nigger. She starts by informing us how growing up “the word nigger was used in my presence‚ but it was set within contexts and inflections caused it to register in my mind as something else”. Therefore in the third grade when she was called a nigger‚ it wasn’t
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Does ‘Nigger’ Mean?” as she discusses how the word “nigger” is often misinterpreted. Similarly‚ the connotation of the word “faggot” has changed greatly over time. In this day and age‚ the word contains many meanings. Therefore it is important to distinguish the context in which it is used; failure to do so results in offensive behavior. In her essay‚ Naylor explains the evolution of the word “nigger” and how it was misinterpreted. She claims that she first recalled listening to the word “nigger” in
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that‚ he read his speech and received his prize: a briefcase with a scholarship to the college for Negroes in it. That night he dreamed of his dead grandfather and he was told to open the briefcase. In the briefcase was a paper that said‚ “Keep This Nigger Boy Running‚” this was what blinded him from the rest of the world. The narrator went to college‚ where he soon got expelled and was sent back to New York City. While working at his new factory
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“Artificial Nigger” & “Judgement Day” Analysis Regarding Color After reading this story over five times I certainly think I have an understanding of what this story is about. Mr. Head is an old racist who believes everything that he says is word. He is domineering and seems to argue with Nelson whenever he gets the chance. Whether it be about the place Nelson calls home or the color of skin. Nelson is only ten; it makes you wonder why a man who is supposedly intelligent seems awfully absurd
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“Mommy‚ What Does ‘Nigger’ Mean?” In a time where everyone seems to be tiptoeing around each other’s feelings‚ not wanting to offend anyone‚ racism continues to remain a significant problem that affects almost every person of color. In spite of the fact that many people have not dealt with racism and therefore do not comprehend the impact it has on the mind‚ everyone understands that words can pack an injurious punch. Whether it was a bully who pointed out your flaws‚ or a friend that unintentionally
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An Analysis of a Passage from Heart of Darkness The chosen passage in this analysis is “Therefore he whacked the old nigger mercilessly‚ while a big crowd of his people watched him‚ thunderstruck...(8)”. This passage is relevant to the motif of savagery when the exploitation of colonies in Africa was widespread. During this period‚ there was an abuse of the native inhabitants and natural resources‚ and Joseph Conrad invites the reader to see how this so-called process of expansion and progress became
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Hannah‚ I see where your train of thought is headed concerning Mark Twain’s use of the word nigger‚ but I would like to add to it as well as bring up another perspective. Twain may be speaking out about the demeaning aspects of slavery and the lifestyle those people had during that time period‚ but I believe the use of the word nigger is not ment to be offensive. From what I gathered from the novel the word nigger was a synonym for black person‚ just like to a child poddy is code for bathroom. To say
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