Black Boy Vocabulary

crude, simplistic verse, often in sing-song rhyme

abundantly; plentifully

a weak or lifeless feeling

secretly

a bad smelling substance from certain plants, used as a medicine

unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence

having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable

A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something

a feeling of excessive concern

grew uninteresting

insulting, abusive, or highly critical language

in a way that has a deep, pleasant sound

disrespectful

(adj.) highly colored, reddish

a moving force, impulse, stimulus

(v.) to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression

willingness to obey others unquestioningly

(adj.) offensive, disagreeable, distasteful

(adj.) showy and flashy but lacking in good taste

painful or laborious effort

brief and to the point

Wine or other liquids (poured on the ground as a sacrifice to a god)

indirect; slanting

to avoid, shun, keep away from

to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

to prevent; to make unnecessary

silent; not talkative

beginning to come into being or to become apparent

former; of an earlier time

deadly to both sides

shortened; cut off

related to the working class

split apart