Gloria Naylor's Mommy What Does Nigger Mean

“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 said something hurtful, no one has avoided the afflictive sting of a well-placed word or two. But are the words themselves hurtful, or is it the connotation they have? Gloria Naylor expresses that the power of consensus is what gives a word power, instead of
Throughout “Mommy What Does Nigger Mean?” Gloria explains the words’ many meanings and uses in her Harlem, New York (African American) household. First, she states “In the singular, the word was always applied to a man who had distinguished himself in some situation that brought their approval for his strength, intelligence, or drive”(Naylor 421). Secondly, she explains “When used with a possessive adjective by a woman–"my nigger"–it became a term of endearment for her husband or boyfriend”(Naylor 421). Thirdly, she explains how “…it could be more than just a term applied to a man. In their mouths it became the pure essence of manhood–a disembodied force that channeled their past history of struggle and present survival against the odds into a victorious statement of being”(Naylor 421). Last, Gloria says, “In the plural, it became a description of some group within the community that had overstepped the bounds of decency as my family defined it”(Naylor 421). The word always had a specific dynamic, offering an outlet, or providing a descriptive word that held no more power than any