Flannery O'Connor's, "The Artificial Nigger" impresses me even though the n word is used consistently throughout the short story. The n word does not scare me, but does make me uncomfortable with repetitive use. The racial slur strips African Americans of their identity and is one of the most demeaning words in the English language. I believe works of art can be impressive even if they make the reader question morality. Part of the reason O'Connor's story is impressive is because of how uncomfortable the reader feels. Since the reader is out of their comfort zone, it makes the story have an impact unlike any of the other stories they have read. The discomfort of the n word provides shock value and emphasizes the power one word can have. O'Connor's
