Furthermore, through this lost sensitivity of the N-word is that we're managing to redirect the interpretation of this word from unpleasant to a common and even uplifting term . But even so, others continue to believe the N-word still has little to no difference in it definition and shouldn’t be used due to its shameful history, this counterargument is nothing more than an attempt to elude at the problematic issues in Latinos of an underlying misidentification or rejection of their identity as Cepeda suggests “Many folks in our parents’ generation have rejected their blackness [...] but those generations more informed by hip-hop are embracing their Afro-Latino identity and evolving past our own self hatred” (141). That being the case, this doesn’t grant just anyone with the right of dropping the N-word casually and believing that a confrontation will never arise at some point-in-time due to this, because of course that would be naive in repercussion. Lastly, there must be knowledge and understanding if ever using the N-word and shouldn’t just be used in a ‘caricaturist quality’ or faddish manner’ but instead to teach and understand vital Latino roots that have been lost and are now being admonished through the…
Thelma B. Thompson's Bay Leaves and Cinnamon Sticks: Life is, is a riveting, simple read about relationships and societal norms, with a fresh new twist. Thompson presents the question to reader of whether or not strength can conquer all obstacles, thus stressing the importance of inner strength and mental security through the telling of her main character's story. The author's advanced knowledge of ethos, logos, and pathos help to properly convey the message and or point across to the reader and her overall target audience of women themselves. The novel itself is filled with adequate use of Pathos and Ethos but lacks in the overall deliverance of logos, but Thompson properly powers through and successfully conveys the message that inner strength conquers all.…
The reading for this week correlated well to each other, in the sense that they all play a critical role in demonstrating how culture, perception, and generations have on our daily interactions. These articles demonstrate how language is interpreted differently and has an impact on an individual differently. In the book is it stated that “words, in addition to being symbolic, are also arbitrary. They derive their meaning from the people who use them”. A great example to this statement is the usage of the N word.…
And perhaps, there is still some harsh meaning behind the word. Although there are instances where white people use the word positively, it is still unacceptable for them to refer to anyone as a "nigger". Usually if this is done, there will be negative reactions to its usage. Through our personal experiences and from the information provided in this text, we know that the word "nigger" is not meant to be disrespectful to another individual, but does that make it okay for other races to use the word "nigger"? The answer, of course, is no.…
Racial slurs used to be seen as slander and a form of expressing hatred. However, it is quite common to hear slurs used in the American vocabulary. The term, “nigger”, is a unique and a degrading insult. This word haunted and belittled generations of African Americans. Ironically, over time, it is now a popular, and casual phrase (along with other variations of the word) of fondness by the very same race who once had to tolerate such agony and despair.…
The novels constant use of the ‘N’ word is a major factor for people wanting the book banned (Lee 94, 124, 275). Murray explains her disapproval of Scout’s use of one version the term by stating “Well Dill, after all he’s…
Naylor’s use of imagery helps the reader relate to her personal experiences. Naylor closes the first paragraph by stating “Dialogue achieves its power in the dynamics of a fleeting moment of sight, sound, smell and touch”. Naylor implies that the power of a word is dependent upon the image it creates. From this implication Naylor insinuates her reasoning behind the purpose of this essay. Naylor then shifts to her reminiscing on the first time she heard the word nigger.…
American Tragedy Ronald Reagan is one of the best presidential speakers. Especially in “Speech on the Challenger Disaster.” Ronald Reagan’s use of ethos, logos, and pathos help to honor the seven astronauts, and unite the nation through the tragedy. President Reagan establishes his credibility and trustworthiness by using “I;” therefore, appealing to his own personality and experiences making him more credible. This example, “I know it’s hard, but painful things like this happen” (Paragraph 5), and “I have always had great respect for our space program, and what happened today did nothing to diminish it” (Paragraph 6).…
“Why Do They Get to use the N-word But I Can’t?” Growing up, I was always taught that the N-word was never an acceptable thing to say. I was always told that it was extremely offensive, and made it completely off limits for my vocabulary. When I would hear the word, I always associated it with something bad, worrying that whoever said it, would wind up getting in trouble. As I grew older and began listening to more rap and hip hop, I often wondered why Blacks could say the word, but White people could not?…
What I can vividly recall is the fact that in reading this book I first encountered the word “nigger.” I had always heard the euphemistic phrase of this derogatory term, “the n-word” in the childish hallways of middle school, but for the first time I was faced with the full word, staring pointedly at me in black ink. I could feel the hurt Scout experienced as her peers taunted her, simply because her father believed it is right to love and defend everyone, regardless of their race. I believe this book is an excellent stepping-stone in the ongoing conversation of racial inequality. It is important for students to be exposed to the fact that openly racist ideologies were all too common in this country, not too long ago.…
The "n" word is used by slaveowners and slaves alike. Today this taboo word is seen as a racial slur with a negative connotation, and it's use is frowned upon by society, prompting the banning. However, despite the hostility that this word represents, it is part of our history particularly as it relates to the southern states. The powerful emotions that the "n" word conjures appear in our current issues…
Today in 2016, we are still at a crossroad between racial identity and bondage. History has a strange way of repeating itself. Even though we made it through 250 years or Slavery, 90 years or Jim Crow, and 60 years of Segregation, we still are going through the same struggles in modern time. This systematic oppression of African Americans has been here far too long and it has been embedded into the American Culture. We are strong people born from super humans who survived the horrors or The Middle Passage to the pain of Chattel Slavery.…
In ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, set in the 1930s, racial slurs are still prevalent even though slavery had ended nearly a century ago. Terms like the word nigger were used consistently throughout the book and was not seen as racist by the uneducated as it became a social norm. Scout was no exception to this and loosely used the term until her father Atticus addressed it by telling her, “That’s common.” Primarily Calpurnia in the novel uses it as she labelled her informal register as ‘nigger talk’ and the church she goes to as a ‘nigger church’. The word itself is deemed offensive at was slang for African slaves in the past.…
I now understand that the meanings of these two words have been used in the same group inappropriately to also offend the same people from the same group. Additionally, Naylor in her essay at the bottom a footnote expresses how “The word “nigger” is reprehensible in today's society by the reason that today African Americans use it to degrade them even if spoken from their own mouths” (116). Therefore, I agree that others and among those in the group use these words to benefit or detrimental them. As a result, nowadays countless words are used in many different ways to detriment people and not to comfort them. This leads to a the main idea in Naylor's essay “ Words themselves are innocuous: it is the consensus that gives them true power” (116) and I believe that this is a true fact according to how our society is using words to detriment people .…
Naylor realized that the word was used all throughout her community. She learned that the word “nigger” can be used in different context and not always mean a something bad. She also asked her mother…