After these three readings I have gained an insight into the lives of African American women. In Gloria Naylor's Essay, "A Question of Language" the use of the word "nigger" is questioned. I have always seen the word as derogatory and have always wondered why African Americans would use it as if it meant nothing. After reading this essay, by an African American woman I have a greater insight into why these people would use what I thought to be such a demeaning, demoralizing word. I can now see the word can have many meanings. "... In my third grade class... I remarked that once again (the little boy) had received a much lower mark than I did... he spit out that word..."(232)

The second story, "How it Feels to be Colored Me" was an eye opener. When I read this story I was stupefied. "I remember the very day I became colored. Up to my thirteenth year I lived in the little Negro town of Eatonville, Florida."(99) Wow, this was something I really never though of before. This person really had no idea what it was to be colored, this person had no idea that there was a difference between white, black, and brown. I suppose in an ideal society this would be the case, but not living in an ideal society I was surprised. I've always empathized with African American people in their struggles to be recognized as equals. This story was basically an enforcement of those feelings. But I like some of the things Ms. Hurston writes. "...I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed uo in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all. I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature... I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife." It seems to me that Ms. Hurston has adapted really well to her situation. When exposed to the "other side" of the world she does not condemn herself to silence or deny herself anything that she deserves. She does not wallow in sorrow because she was ridiculed because of her skin color. She stands up for herself and lives her life t

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ms Hurston, African American, Florida99 Wow, Feels Colored, african american, Question Language, American Women, , Cade Bambara, African Americans, african american women, american women, feels colored, read story, person idea, word nigger, ideal society, ms hurston, american women world, reading essays, eyes understand,
Approximate Word count = 899
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)