The N-word is used throughout the novel. The N-word is a profoundly offensive racial slur that has been used to demean, dehumanize, and oppress Black individuals, particularly those of African descent. The word originated from the Latin term niger, meaning "black," which evolved into Spanish and Portuguese as negro. People used this term, particularly during the transatlantic slave trade, and the eras of slavery and segregation in the United States adapted and weaponized the term as a tool of systemic racism and hatred.
Before starting the text, it is imperative that teachers prepare students for its use in the text. Black or African American students, in particular, can be harmed by seeing the word in the text without any warning. Teachers should understand the history of the word and unpack and facilitate discussions with students about the history and usage of the word. In your classroom communities, establish that the word should never be said aloud in class. If reading the text aloud, teachers should replace its use with "N-word." When citing the text in classroom materials or in writing, replace it with "N-word" or "n—" as seen in our lesson plans. Below are some resources to further prepare you and your students for its use in the text:
In addition, it might be confusing to some students why Black characters use the racial epithet towards one another. A helpful resource to use with students is Gloria Naylor's essay "The Meaning of a Word" which explores how words can take on different meanings depending on who uses them and for what purpose. She recounts how growing up in her Black family and community, she heard the word many times, but only when a white classmate directed the word towards her did she really hear the word. This essay could provide a foundation for students being able to understand the differences between the use of the word by Black and white characters in the novel.
In the novel, the words "colored" and "Negro" also appear as racial descriptors. Before reading the novel, be sure to explain to students that these words were once the terminology used to refer to people of African descent and were replaced by "Black" or "African American" in the 1960s, primarily due to the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement. Students should understand that these terms are now offensive and outdated. Additionally, Fishtank capitalizes "Black" in accordance with The New York Times's decision to capitalize "Black" in 2020 to reflect a shared cultural identity. Consider explaining to students why "Black" is capitalized and why white is not capitalized. Have students follow this style guideline for written responses throughout the unit.