12 years a slave What do these words mean in the context given? What do these words mean in the context given? d--d. G--n, D--n Extracts from: "12 years a slave" by Solomon Northup Chapter XVI Epps

David

12 years a slave What do these words mean in the context given? What do these words mean in the context given? d--d. G--n, D--n Extracts from: "12 years a slave" by Solomon Northup Chapter XVI Epps mused awhile, evidently impressed with the plausibility of my theory, and exclaimed: - I'm d--d, Platt, If I don't believe you tell the truth. He must take me for a soft to think he can come it over with them kinds of yarns, must'nt he? Maybe he thinks he can fool me; maybe he thinks I don't know nothing - can't take care of my own niggers, eh! Soft soap old Epps, eh! Ha, ha, ha! D--n Armsby! I think he is saying "dead or damned" and "Damn" but not sure about that. I have also found G--n, I believe this is: gawn, that is, gone. What do you think about? On the other hand, can anyone explain me how racist these words are in English? I have seen: coloured man, nigger, negro, black, etc. I know that afroamerican is the most correct word, bu what about the people living in Africa or Europe with no american roots? Thanks.

Jan 28, 2014 2:24 PM

Answers · 5

Spaces are often used to indicate vulgar words, so I suspect "damned" and "damn" are correct. Without context, I suspect G--n" is God-damn." This article and the comments following it address your other question: http://www.wisegeek.org/should-i-say-black-or-african-american.htm In the US African-American and black are both acceptable, although individual tastes may vary. Coloured(colored in American English) and Negro are both out-dated and may be considered offensive(both were considered polite terms many years ago), and nigger is so offensive that it gets bleeped on TV.

January 28, 2014

In Britain we will often say "black people/black man/black woman" because we obviously can't say 'African-American'. In the 1970s it was common to use quite dated terms such as "coloured", "darkie", and so on but these are offensive now and shouldn't be used. You might hear "Afro-Caribbean" used to refer to the black community.

January 28, 2014