A 1930's caricature of a "negro".
_"Negro"
- Member of a black-skinned race of Africa
- A person of black ancestry or appearance
- A racial slur used to describe African-American men and women, now unacceptable
In the text negro is used to describe Maycomb's African-American population, in particular Tom Robinson.
The Negros of Mockingbird live on the fringes of Maycomb; ostracised from the white townsfolk. They are treated as lessers by most of Maycomb, except the by likes of Dolphus Raymond and the Finches.
- Member of a black-skinned race of Africa
- A person of black ancestry or appearance
- A racial slur used to describe African-American men and women, now unacceptable
In the text negro is used to describe Maycomb's African-American population, in particular Tom Robinson.
The Negros of Mockingbird live on the fringes of Maycomb; ostracised from the white townsfolk. They are treated as lessers by most of Maycomb, except the by likes of Dolphus Raymond and the Finches.
"Nigger"
Today probably considered the most offensive racial slur, very common and acceptable up until quite recently, unlike "negro" was always used as an insult, rather than just a term of identification. In some parts of the world it is illegal to use the word, and jail terms/community service can follow.
The term "nigger-lover" was used as an insult to describe white people who associated with or liked people of an African-American background, as back in the time the text was written and set this was deemed wrong. Atticus Finch describes the term "nigger-lover" to Scout as
'Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything - like snot-nose. It's hard to explain - ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favouring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.'
Today probably considered the most offensive racial slur, very common and acceptable up until quite recently, unlike "negro" was always used as an insult, rather than just a term of identification. In some parts of the world it is illegal to use the word, and jail terms/community service can follow.
The term "nigger-lover" was used as an insult to describe white people who associated with or liked people of an African-American background, as back in the time the text was written and set this was deemed wrong. Atticus Finch describes the term "nigger-lover" to Scout as
'Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything - like snot-nose. It's hard to explain - ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favouring Negroes over and above themselves. It's slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.'