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In her essay “The Meanings of a Word,” Gloria Naylor explores the connection between language and culture through the lens of the word “nigger.” She argues that the word has been used to oppress and dehumanize Black people, and that its continued use perpetuates a culture of racism and inequality.
A woman could never be a “nigger” in the singular, with its connotations of confirming worth. The noun girl was its closest equivalent in that sense, but only when used in direct address and regardless of the gender doing the addressing. Girl was a token of respect for a woman. The one-syllable word was drawn out to sound like three in ...
Names matter. Words matter. In what ways does Naylor’s 1986 essay help situate the use of naming? How should we approach this in our course? Share some ground rules for the use of the n-word.
Feb 20, 1986 · The Meanings of a Word. Gloria Naylor. 4.38. 8 ratings2 reviews. 2 pages, ebook. Published February 20, 1986. Book details & editions. About the author. Gloria Naylor. 26 books621 followers. Gloria Naylor was an African-American novelist whose most popular work, The Women of Brewster Place, was made into a 1984 film starring Oprah Winfrey.
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The Meanings of a Word GLORIA NAYLOR Novelist and essayist Gloria Naylor was born in New York City in 1950. She worked as a missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses from 1967 to 1975 and then as a telephone operator until 1981, the year she graduated from Brooklyn College. Naylor later started aurad-
The essay “The Meanings of a Word” by Gloria Naylor discusses the many definitions of a word and how its meaning can change according to context and delivery. She made this point by telling a story of her childhood and the first time she heard the n-word used by a white person in a derogatory, demeaning way.
