"Mommy, What Does Nigger Mean?" by Gloria Naylor

Link to story:

http://apewiki.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/62984024/Naylor_Mommy_What_Does_Nigger_Mean_000-1.pdf

Rationale for piece: I think that this piece is really important for students to read, especially in a society where this word is still used, despite that when it's offensive. It is probably in music they listen to, or at least heard a lot. Students can also recognize other offensive words that they should be avoiding. This could be a lot of things for different students, and it would provide discussion for them. It's important for students to realize that they need to be sensitive towards those around them. As a high school student, I think that this work could help students understand the weight of the words they use, and how they affect others. As a teacher, you could do several activities about the words we use. It's important for students to realize these things while they are still young. Students need to be educated about why something is offensive, otherwise they will not see the significance behind it.  Reading Naylor's story would be helpful for students because they can see someone who has been affected by racist remarks. Also, they can see how children can be hurt by words even when they are so young. Here I included a link to the story, and a picture of the author.