I'm making my way through _Cotton Comes to Harlem_ by Chester
Himes and
am enjoying it immensely. One thing I find particular
striking is his
constant use of the term "mother-raper" as in "this stupid
mother-raper"
or "this mother-raping so-and-so". The funny thing is, I find
this
phrase considerably more jarring than the phrase for which it
is
obviously serving as a substitute. Odd. Anyway, was this a
common
substitute in the genre at the time (published circa 1965, I
believe)?
Was this particular term idiosyncratic to Himes? Did it have
to do with
publishing standards of the day? Insignificant question in
the grand
scheme of things but I'm genuinely curious. Sorry in advance
to offend
anyone.
Jacques Oppinger
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