(In the book black like me) What word did griffin notice leap out and always stung?

Answer 1

It's been a gazillion years since I read it, but I believe it was "boy." (It may well have been n|gger, though.)

What I really remember about that book was white folks not wanting him to serve them cheese. He was thinking that they must have thought his black would rub off on the nice, white cheese and slide down their nice, white throats. I've remembered that for over thirty years!