1. Read 3 more Talking With monologues aloud
2. Read Gloria Naylor's essay silently. Post a response on blog.
Some questions to think about:
•Naylor opens this essay with the assertion "Language is the subject." From your reading, what would you say is Naylor's main point about this subject?
•"Words themselves are innocuous; it is the consensus that gives them true power." What, in your judgment, is the meaning of this statement? Do you agree or disagree with it? Drawing from personal experience, give an example to support your position.
3. Work on Scholastic entries! Print out submission forms and get them signed by parent/guardian.
4. Finish monologues and upload to Google Classroom.
I find the Gloria's perception of the words meaning quite rare. I'd never think to associate it with the connotation of confirming worth. I mainly thought of it as a word used to degrade black people when coming from the mouth of a non-black person and that Black people took the word as a way to take back the power that white people took away from them during slavery and the civil rights movement. And because of that I always respected the fact that only black people could say the word which is something that I'll continue to stand by. Other than that I find Gloria's words insightful and thought-provoking. After reading the essay, my feelings about the word aren't exactly definitive but I'll continue to think about what Gloria said and look-over her essay once more to see if I have a different outlook on it.
ReplyDeleteNaylor discusses the different interpretations of language in her essay. She makes the point clear that words are malleable and change with the context and usage of the word. That words can come out differently, be used differently, from the mouths of different people. I, personally, have always agreed with the idea of this statement because it has been explained to me constantly (long story there). As for the statement, "Words themselves are innocuous; it is the consensus that gives them true power." People create and shape language, and come to a consensus of sorts as to what it means. A beautifully voiced essay.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion on the essay is obviously someone felt as if the N word was not very offensive i see where this person came from and i like it now i see what the N word means to other people like her
ReplyDeleteThe essay was very intriguing. It shows the many underlying meanings of a derogatory word. This derogatory word used can mean many different things when said by or about different people.
ReplyDeletei feel like the essay was really powerful because being in third grade, you're still a child and just hearing that word and being called that is crazy. the words people use depending on how they say and use them does shape reality, it defines our society in a way.
ReplyDeleteFrom Gloria Naylor's introductory sentence "Language is the subject", after reading I feel she meant that the topic wasn't about racism regardless of the rest of what the rest of the essay circled around. To sum it up she was saying that words are words, and she wanted to go in depth of one controversial word in particular. When she said words are innocuous and it is the consensus that give them meaning is how people look beyond the word and develop an interpretation. I completely agree with that statement Naylor makes. Ironically I don't use profanity but when it comes to the word she focuses on, same goes for every word in my perception, because words are just words and usually just synonyms to other words, and it is people that take them one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI think it is fascinating how one word can have so many meanings based on who is saying it and what context the word is being spoken. I think that the complexity of a word that is rooted in racism, but has been transformed to give black people back their power is hard to comprehend to many people and is an important thing to talk about. I continue to believe that black people should be the only people who can use this word without it being offensive. There is too much history in it.
ReplyDeleteI think it was very eye opening because we have all these words in the English language but one word can have so many meanings both offensive and non offensive.
ReplyDeleteI always felt that it was something that no one talked about and it had a sort of silent understanding. But after reading this article I think that it should be more of an open topic. There is a lot of opinions on the meaning and connotation of the n word and if everyone had a clearer idea of what it's being used as then I think there would be less conflict. However, I do think that no matter what, if a white person uses it in regards to a person of color, it is offensive, because of the history behind it.
ReplyDeleteI think that by reading the essay, I noticed the different views of what people thing of the word. I think that it is offensive because of the history of the word.
ReplyDeleteI think that the word "nigger" is being stressed to much. For her child to ask "Mommy, what does nigger mean?" is just weird because she had to have heard it to even be questioning it and why does it matter what it means ? Its just a word. People making it more than what it is. Nigger can be a regular word if ya'll let it and don't take it the wrong way. every one has there opinions and i just feel like its not that serious. it doesn't offend me. I barely hear the word anyways
ReplyDeleteI think the article was good to read to learn the different view points of that word. TO me, nobody who isn't black would be able to understand what the word means to a black person, but the view points of what others think of the word is something I never thought about before. I thought it was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe article was a very good one. The article explores different perspectives of how different people see the word. It's just mind blowing how a word, a mere word has such history behind it. A word deep in the roots of racism, with power to cause chaos and riots.
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