The Artificial Nigger
Encyclopedia
"The Artificial Nigger" is a short story
by Flannery O'Connor
. It was published in 1955 in her short story collection A Good Man Is Hard to Find
. The title refers to statues popular in the Jim Crow-era South, depicting grotesque minstrelcy
characters. Like most of her other works, the story reflects O'Connor's Roman Catholic beliefs and acts as a parable
.
, and Nelson is visiting Atlanta for the first time since his birth. Nelson is sure he will enjoy the city, but his grandfather tells him that he is naive, and pokes fun at Nelson during their train ride because he has never seen an African American. After seeing some impressive buildings, Mr. Head takes Nelson to see the less impressive side of the city, including the sewer system which reminds Nelson of hell and then Mr. Head walks Nelson through the predominantly African American
section of town where they get lost. Not wanting to ask anyone there for directions, Mr. Head finally acquiesces to Nelson's requests and allows the boy to ask an African American woman for directions. The situation is embarrassing for Nelson and the grandfather. They remain lost, and Nelson runs into an older white woman, knocking her down. When the crowd demands to know who is responsible for the boy, Mr. Head denies knowing him. Nelson feels betrayed and loses respect for the grandfather. Eventually, a stranger points them to the train station and along the way they pass by an African American figurine from which the story gets its title. Mr. Head explains that it is there because the people in that neighborhood don't have real ones so they need artificial ones. Mr. Head feels like he has redeemed their relationship at this point in the story, and Nelson has no intention to return to the city.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Flannery O'Connor
Flannery O'Connor
Mary Flannery O'Connor was an American novelist, short-story writer and essayist. An important voice in American literature, O'Connor wrote two novels and 32 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries...
. It was published in 1955 in her short story collection A Good Man Is Hard to Find
A Good Man Is Hard To Find
A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by American author Flannery O'Connor. The collection was first published in 1955...
. The title refers to statues popular in the Jim Crow-era South, depicting grotesque minstrelcy
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
characters. Like most of her other works, the story reflects O'Connor's Roman Catholic beliefs and acts as a parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
.
Plot summary
Mr. Head and his ten-year-old grandson, Nelson, live in a small rural town in GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and Nelson is visiting Atlanta for the first time since his birth. Nelson is sure he will enjoy the city, but his grandfather tells him that he is naive, and pokes fun at Nelson during their train ride because he has never seen an African American. After seeing some impressive buildings, Mr. Head takes Nelson to see the less impressive side of the city, including the sewer system which reminds Nelson of hell and then Mr. Head walks Nelson through the predominantly African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
section of town where they get lost. Not wanting to ask anyone there for directions, Mr. Head finally acquiesces to Nelson's requests and allows the boy to ask an African American woman for directions. The situation is embarrassing for Nelson and the grandfather. They remain lost, and Nelson runs into an older white woman, knocking her down. When the crowd demands to know who is responsible for the boy, Mr. Head denies knowing him. Nelson feels betrayed and loses respect for the grandfather. Eventually, a stranger points them to the train station and along the way they pass by an African American figurine from which the story gets its title. Mr. Head explains that it is there because the people in that neighborhood don't have real ones so they need artificial ones. Mr. Head feels like he has redeemed their relationship at this point in the story, and Nelson has no intention to return to the city.