What Does Nigger Mean?

What does the word ‘nigger’ means? Why does ‘nigger’ generate such powerful reaction? Should blacks be able to use ‘nigger’ in ways forbidden to others? First, I would like to turn to etymology. ‘Nigger’ is translated from Latin languages for the color of black - ‘nigger’. At the begining, it did not originateas a slur, but took on a derogatory connotation over time. It has been spelled in a varities of ways. By the end of first third of the nineteenth century, this word had already become a familiar

name any African American can be called is the word ‘nigger’. Some people believe that it is okay in specific contexts, but it is not. If someone were to Google the word, the definition will be: “a contemptuous term for a black or dark-skinned person.” Contemptuous also means showing scornfulness. Gloria Naylor’s “Mommy What does ‘Nigger’ Mean,” examines the power of language with dialogue, personal experience, tone, and specifically the word ‘nigger’ that inflicts confusion and harm. In her essay, she

Names and Titles in Gloria Naylor's novel, Mommy, What Does Nigger Mean   "Words themselves are innocuous; it is the consensus that gives them true power." (Naylor 344) A name is a mark of classification, a basis for self identity. Able to elevate or annihilate a persons' perception of herself and the surrounding society, these designations can uplift, joke, chide, mock, insult, degrade. "Society" implies the people and the atmosphere encompassing an individual in her daily life

In “Mommy, What Does Nigger Mean?”, author Gloria Naylor explains throughout her piece that reality shapes language and language can shape reality. Naylor explains this, “chicken or the egg dispute” (Naylor 1) through her experiences with the word nigger. Gloria explains how she starts on one side of reality and shaping her language, then comes to another understanding from the boy in her third grade class. Language can be how words are used, what their meaning is and the purpose behind that selection

Loss of Innocence in Cullen's Incident and Naylor’s Mommy, What Does "Nigger" Mean?   Unfortunately, a question that many African Americans have to ask in childhood is "Mommy, what does nigger mean?," and the answer to this question depicts the racism that still thrives in America (345). Both Gloria Naylor’s "'Mommy, What Does "Nigger" Mean?'" and Countee Cullen's "Incident" demonstrate how a word like "nigger" destroys a child’s innocence and initiates the child into a world of racism.  Though

friendship. The word Nigger has ranged in popularity in the terms of usage since the beginning of its existence. White people today are usually “not allowed” to say the word nigger, but during the days of slavery, it was popular. They used the term in a demeaning way to insult the black slaves and any other black person. Now in

Nigger: Historical and Current Use “Nigger: it is arguably the most consequential social insult in American History, though, at the same time, a word that reminds us of ‘the ironies and dilemmas, tragedies and glories of the American experience’” (Kennedy 1). Harvard Law Professor Randall Kennedy’s book Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word is at the center of debate because of its controversy. It addresses questions among a diverse audience of students and scholars of all racial

The word "nigger" has become a popular saying amongst our current population. The word appears to be used more each day by an assorted group of people. I've conducted a research in order to gather a better understanding as of to why the word "nigger" is so commonly used. I've collected responses from my fellow class mates and read a book called nigger to acquire addition information about the different opinions brought on by its usage. In these responses were patterns that helped me to get better

story use mean phrases and words to use against people that are not the same as them or that doesn’t look like them. Why does the author use derogatory terms in his book Mice and Men, what message was he trying to send to his readers? “In John Steinbeck 's novel Of Mice and Men, the author illustrates that people discriminate against one another because they want to feel better about themselves and to gain self-pride. People discriminate because they are insecure about themselves. What this idea

story use mean phrases and words to use against people that are not the same as them or that doesn’t look like them. Why does the author use derogatory terms in his book Mice and Men, what message was he trying to send to his readers? “In John Steinbeck 's novel Of Mice and Men, the author illustrates that people discriminate against one another because they want to feel better about themselves and to gain self-pride. People discriminate because they are insecure about themselves. What this idea