Week 9 discussion- Shirley Miranda

When it comes to literary works that include offensive language, like racial slurs, there’s a tricky balance between preserving historical context and being mindful and considerate of the audience. In Flannery O’Conner’s writing for example the use of harsh language reflects the reality of the time and place she’s writing about the American south in the 1960’s. Keeping that language in the text helps readers understand the characters and the social issues O’ Conner is addressing. It makes the story feel authentic and shows how normalized racism and prejudice were in that time in society. That said offensive language can be hurtful to readers now in days. It might  make people feel uncomfortable, and some might not even want to continue with the text because of it. One possible solution is to keep the original language but provide context, like content warnings. This way, readers can better understand why it’s there and how it fits into the story without overlooking the uncomfortable parts of history.