Nick Andrei Vicencio
Instructor Megan Skelly
FIQWS 10115
13 October 2020

“Story in Harlem Slang”by Zora Neale Hurston

A ten-page fiction short story that is written entirely in Harlem slangs also known as Harlemese. It contains a three-page translation of slangs she used to help the reader better understand the story. The author, I believe, provides a very insightful glossary of terms to help those who are not knowledgeable in Harlemese. Speaking of the context, the story basically tells of a day in the life of Marvel from Alabama, who after changed his name to Jelly as he settles on the streets of Lenox Avenue in Harlem. He was described as a “pimp,” Although it is word for a man who obtains prostitutes for other men, it does not mean the same thing before. As Zora Hurston clarify in the piece, “The Harlem pimp is a man whose amatory talents are for sale to any woman who will support him, either with a free meal or on a common law basis; in this sense, he is actually a male prostitute” (Hurston, 1001). In short, pimp is a man who makes his living by offering himself to get the things he needs. Therefore, Jelly is portrayed as a male prostitute. In addition, another character is introduce named Sweet Back, he is characterized as another Harlem pimp, who has been keeping in touch with Jelly. Fortunately, their companionship does carry a meaningful friendship, they would spend some time on the streets while keeping their eyes out for an adult female to sweet talk to into a meal and being arrogant with each other. For example, a dialogue from the piece, “Aw, man, can’t you take a joke? I was just beating up my gums when I said I was broke. How can I be broke when I got de best woman in Harlem? If I ask her for a dime, she’ll give me a ten-dollar bill; ask her for drink oflikker, and she’ll buy me a whiskey still. If I’m lying, I’m flying!” (Hurston,1002).

Although their closeness is sincere, there is also part where Jelly is being dishonest. He likes to brag about certain things in front of Sweet Back even though he knows what the truth is. As they continuously to have a conversation, they suddenly met a girl from Georgy. The girl has met both of the pimps before and unexpectedly points them out. She claims much information about them like getting caught by a cop and makes them both feel dumb for even coming to her. At the very end, Jelly is eventually reminded of
everything he left behind in Alabama afterwards, and forgets to act rich in front of Sweet Back. He knows the life he left behind, and how poor his life is at the moment.

As I read over Zora Neale Hurston: “Story in Harlem Slang, I tried to analyze and include all the rhetorical term she used to convey her message.

Author & Audience:
• The author is Zora Neale Hurston, she was an American author, anthropologist, and
filmmaker. She wrote several fiction and non-fiction stories.
• Her target Audience is generally white people. For this piece “Story in Harlem”, she is
targeting majority of people who is not literate to Harlem slangs/Harmelese.
Tone & Purpose:
• The tone of the short story was “Absurd” The author wrote several dialogues that include
foolish communication between the two main character: Jelly and Sweet Back.
Furthermore, her tone was also “Sarcastic” and “Provocative” in addition to numerous
dialogues from the piece.

• As I read through, I feel that Hurston’s purpose was to show that people sometimes make
decision in order to pursue their dreams but can end up to the opposite way. Also, another
purpose that she is trying to convey about the way of life and difference in north (Harlem,
New York) and the south (Alabama)
Genre & Medium:
• The genre was Short Stories. She sets her stances by using narration and dialogues to
communicate with her audience.
• Medium: published book | online source.
Stance & Language:
• I feel like it is a type creative writing, in terms of stances, I would say she was Passionate,
she had a purpose to tell the story of Two adult males about their hustling life in Harlem
by using slang which is a part of Harlem’s cultural identity.
• Most of her language was Harlem Slang based and mostly dialogue & narration.

 

Lloyd Bitzer’s definition of a rhetorical situation:

Exigence
• In the text, since Jelly is being dishonest all the time when he is with Sweet Back, the
exigence would be either embarrassment or being of his situation.
Constraints:
• Some people might not get the story because it is mostly written in Harlem Slang, and
scrolling over to the bottom page to look over the terms would too much work for them.