The Artificial Nigger Analysis

Why do people care about another ones skin color? The short story “The Artificial Nigger” by O’Connor is giving the character Mr. Head a chance to explain his opinion as to why he doesn’t like black people by taking a trip with this grandson. His grandson Nelson is very young and doesn’t quite get what his granddad is really trying to tell him and as to why. Mr. Head made me furious in the short story because he plans on taking his grandson Nelson to Atlanta to show and try to teach based on his opinion why it is not okay to like back people. In the short story there are two main characters, Mr. Head and his grandson Nelson. Mr. Head plans on taking Nelson to the city of Atlanta to try and convince him that it is not a good place to go to and that black people aren’t good people to be around. Nelson is kind of confused because he knows that he was born there and doesn’t think to expect nothing out the ordinary he pretty much seems excited about going and claims that he is familiar about the place. …show more content…
Head and Nelson got lost in a neighborhood. I was furious when Nelson stated “Black people after black people keep walking past me”. He also says “Niggers live in all these houses” it is already starting to show by his language that he is picking up on his grandad’s vocabulary. While they are still walking Nelson becomes scared about being there. It made me angry because he has no reason to be scared. I feel as if Mr. Head had achieved his goal by making him scared. Nelson saw a lady standing outside her door and he asked her for directions back to the train even though he was scared. Mr. Head snatched Nelson in the middle of talking to lady. By that time, Nelsons’ feet were starting to hurt and he wanted to take a break but Mr. Head yelled at him claiming that he was born there so he should know his way around and that he was the one that made them get lost. Mr. Head is starting to step out of his character because he is the one that is scared not so much