The Significance of One Word One word out of an entire novel seems minute, but when that word is the “n-word” and is repeated two hundred and nineteen times people begin to question its necessity. Despite the fact that people are uncomfortable with this word, its use is crucial in the book, and the word itself is unavoidable in today’s society. The “n-word” in any situation is like a game of Operation depending on the context it will bother the other players with the shocking buzzing from the speaker’s lapse in words, or it will go unnoticed by the participants. In today’s society this single word is unavoidable including the title of Kayne West’s song “Ni**as In Paris.” Over time the “n-word” once used as a derogatory term has transformed in the African American culture to a word of selective comradery. Although the frequent use of this word brings a race together, it also contributes to a loose of consideration to those being repressed in slavery and racial segregation in American history. While today’s version of the word may dull the pain of slavery, this word “is attached to one of the most vibrant cultures in the Western world. And yet the culture is inextricably linked to the violence that …show more content…
Unlike the loose connotation of the word used in society, in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in this past time period the word is meant to shock the reader and to remind them of the
In the article, “A Letter My Son,” Ta-Nehisi Coates utilizes both ethical and pathetic appeal to address his audience in a personable manner. The purpose of this article is to enlighten the audience, and in particular his son, on what it looks like, feels like, and means to be encompassed in his black body through a series of personal anecdotes and self-reflection on what it means to be black. In comparison, Coates goes a step further and analyzes how a black body moves and is perceived in a world that is centered on whiteness. This is established in the first half of the text when the author states that,“white America’s progress, or rather the progress of those Americans who believe that they are white, was built on looting and violence,”
The Adventures of Huck Finn is a very controversial book which brings much debate on whether it should be taught to children in America. The main reason for this debate is because the offensive word ‘nigger’ is used commonly throughout. The book is a classic and is seen to some people as such a great book that we should overlook the offensive word to understand the real lessons Mark Twain wanted to get across. One solution to this ongoing debate is something called the New South Edition, which substitutes ‘nigger’ for a ‘slave’ a word that is less personal and describes the history of America. Dr. Alan Gribben writes about the controversy and how the change effects the new edition. He uses personal anecdote, emotional appeal, historical references.
Moreover, the racial terms can be a projection of more positive definitions and interpretations that can establish individuality. In “Meaning of a Word” by Gloria Naylor, she talks about instances where adults of her community/race have references of the ‘n-word’ that differs from how society or individuals who may use it.
The words Negro, nigger, and nigga have always been a sensitive topic, yet it is a topic that needs to be addressed in light of the more common use of its vernacular. One word is used to describe a color, while the others are used to define a people. It’s very clear to many the negative connotation these words carry, but where did these words come from? Furthermore, is there a difference between the word nigger and nigga; and why is it that African-Americans now use the word nigga to degrade each other in today’s society? These words, in spite of their spelling, still holds the same degrading power as it did during the time of slavery, and they are still spoken out of cruelty and ignorance, but who is to blame? Can one still blame the Spaniards for considering people of a darker skin tone –Black? Can we blame the Europeans for perpetuating their hatred and ignorance of superiority over a race of people to the point they felt it lawful to define and dehumanize them? Or does the blame lie with the African-American race as we use this degrading labeling on our own kind, thus becoming the victimizer. Either way nigger or nigga are words that should be eliminated from the vocabulary of every human being.
It is no secret that there is a complicated history with race in America. The issue has been discussed by scholars such as Sterling Brown or W.E.B Dubois. Brown’s article, “Negro Characters as Seen by White Authors” outlines a variety of common stereotypes for black characters in American literature from the late nineteenth century through the early twentieth century. DuBois went a step further in his essay “Of Our Spiritual Strivings”, in which he outlined his theory of “double-consciousness”, a theory that has shown itself time and time again, especially in hip hop. Kanye’s West’s fifth studio album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”, takes listeners on a lyrical journey through common stereotypes and double-consciousness. For example,
In “Citizens: An American Lyric” by Claudia Rankine the audience is placed in a world where racism strongly affects the daily American cultural and social life. In this world we are put as the eyewitnesses and victims, the bystanders and the participants of racial encounters that happen in our daily lives and in the media, yet we have managed to ignore them for the mere fact that we are accustomed to them. Some of these encounters may be accidental slips, things that we didn’t intend to say and that we didn’t mean yet they’ve managed to make it to the surface. On the other hand we have the encounters that are intentionally offensive, things said that are
Colored people were neat and quiet, niggers were dirty and loud” (Morrison 189). A character in the novel named Geraldine, a fare skinned African American women, married, one child, lives in a nice home with a cat, symbolizes the division of African American within their own culture. The ability to get an education made or broke an African American’s stance in society. While the irony in Geraldine’s characterization is that while she feels she is an upper-class African American, she is still viewed as inadequate as and less prosperous than White Americans. The desire for societal recognition evolved into the need for verification of societal status; with status entailed an education. Society began to allow African Americans who were not as fortunate to attend school r who were not given the same equal education the title of the N-word to remind them of their lack of racial and societal
The white negro attempts to escape the conformity of the time through not a pursuit of instant gratification can lead to the ultimate clash with society—violence.
To start with, Armstrong’s take on “Black and Blue” – originally written about a dark-skinned woman lamenting her lighter-skin lover’s infidelity – transcends one person’s microhistory and functions to poignantly address racism and its effects on African-American macrohistory (Alger). Through key diction choices, including repetition of the words “old” and “all,” Armstrong describes the omnipresent force that is racism and how it has affected the African-American community for generations (1-2; 3-4). In doing so, the singer transforms a song about infidelity into an anthem that directly comments on whites cheating African Americans out of life. As such, Armstrong’s “Black and Blue” is aimed at uniting an African-A...
Throughout the many works of Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn is one that can metaphorically serve as a time machine, in which as soon as one enters, one is quickly taken back to a time where social differences heavily marked history. Published in 1885. Addressing social defects, this novel sincerely illustrates the flaws of the 19th century. Mark Twain typically exemplifies issues through his writing and in this literary work, formally titled The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; he criticizes the attitude of the Gilded Age. This American novel can be closely assessed through many different types of criticism, however, two that,
It is a day in the summer of 1974 on the block of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NY. The grass is blazing, the air is fresh, and the kids are shrieking with joy. This is where it happened. DJ Kool Herc popped in his new record playing smooth rhythms of jazz and blues with the integration of Jamaican sound creating a new genre that would soon sweep the nation. He called it Hip-Hop. Some would call it “black noise”, but to urban African Americans it was music they could own; music they could learn to appreciate and adore. As they faced afflictions like racism, oppression, drugs, and much more, they used this new found hip- hop to express their thoughts and feelings. Today, we try to understand where this passion and substance in rap has escaped; if it was left to wither in the blazing grass, or blow away in the fresh air. Today, we try to understand what is hip hop, and why it’s becoming the “black noise” we once denied it to be. Ever since rap officially emerged in the 1970s, critics had a negative reaction; even when rap had meaning and substance and consisted of people telling their stories. Now that rap has become more contemptuous, critics have began to question what rap is really about. It is clear themes have changed: But at what point? And how? Furthermore, how has this impacted blacks and their image, who dominate the rap industry. Conclusively, while themes in mid 20th century rap have been known to revolve around aspects like politics and unity, currently rap has underwent a dramatic change now producing themes that promote violence, among many other things, and has ultimately painted a negative image of African Americans.
Massive amounts of people find it hard to believe that the “N” word is harmless. Little that they know, it inflicts a great deal of mental damage to the victim. Like when Mrs. Dubose stated to Scout, “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee 135).
1) In the chapter black and white, Bissinger uses a taboo words to point out the theme and problem of the town. “Niggger, Goddam Jesus christ, and shitty.” Are the words that are italicized in this passage. Obviously the N-word is used as an insult for black people in the community and it show that race is the biggest issue in this chapter. Then he uses Goddam Jesus christ because the community is a predominantly catholic, especially white people, they found it ruled and very offensive. “ It bothered them, and they frankly didn’t know how a decent person would say a thing such as that, show such utter disrespect for the Lord.” (Friday Night Lights, By H.G. Bissinger) This is just an example showing that the people who use the N-word had no idea that they were being disrespectful not just to Lantia Akins but every black person in the community. The N-word has multiple meaning, a lot of people are not aware of it’s history and the real meaning it gives. It has such a deep meaning that the people in the town shouldn’t say it so casually. “What the hell was racist about calling ‘em niggers when they acted like that? It was just the truth.” (Friday Night Lights, By H.G. Bissinger) Bissinger added this in the end of the last paragraph to show how white people blinded so much by stereotypes of black people. The taboo language is used to get the audience’s attention, because it’s thing that shouldn’t be said. Overall it just makes thing interesting and it show the effects of taboo words and the theme. That is everyone should be treated equally.
In this narrative essay, Brent Staples provides a personal account of his experiences as a black man in modern society. “Black Men and Public Space” acts as a journey for the readers to follow as Staples discovers the many societal biases against him, simply because of his skin color. The essay begins when Staples was twenty-two years old, walking the streets of Chicago late in the evening, and a woman responds to his presence with fear. Being a larger black man, he learned that he would be stereotyped by others around him as a “mugger, rapist, or worse” (135).
Dick Gregory was as an incredible author and social activist, born in 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was frequently active in the civil rights movements led by Martin Luther King Jr., which inspired him to utilize his experiences to write Nigger in 1964, the first volume of his autobiography. In his book, a short story entitled “Shame,” narrates his first encounter of experiencing shame at a very young age. As you continue to read the story, the perspective begins to change because in 1964, unfortunately, racism and segregation was still an issue for African-Americans in society. Therefore, the audience begins to gain an understanding of how ashamed Gregory was from the belittling comments his teacher made about his poverty, lack of a father-figure, and his poor academic performance in school. Accordingly, Gregory’s teacher inconsiderately assumed that his poor performance in school was a result of his stupidity, and did not