mammy

American  

[mam-ee] / ˈmæm i /

noun

mammies plural

1. Informal. mother.

2. Disparaging and Offensive. (formerly in the southern United States) a Black woman engaged to take care of white children or as a servant to a white family.

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mammy British  

/ ˈmæmɪ /

noun

1. a child's word for mother 1

2. a Black woman employed as a nurse or servant to a White family

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Sensitive Note

At the time of the Civil War and into the 20th century, the mammy was characterized as being strong, kind, and loyal. But her image was also that of an overweight, unattractive, and often illiterate enslaved household servant. This reinforced the association of this designation with racial stereotypes of inferiority and abject submissiveness. See also Aunt Jemima.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mammies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mammy

First recorded in 1515–25; mamm(a) ¹ + -y ²

Example Sentences

For “Gone With the Wind,” Ms. de Havilland received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress but lost to Hattie McDaniel, who played the slave Mammy in the film.

From Washington Post • Jul. 26, 2020

The first, Hattie McDaniel, won the same prize 51 years earlier for her performance as the slave Mammy in "Gone with the Wind."

From Fox News • Jun. 12, 2020

Hattie McDaniel became the first black actress to be nominated for, and win, an Academy Award for her role as domestic servant Mammy.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2020

“A Physical History of Grace” descends directly from Betye Saar’s armed and able Mammy figures.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2019

Sometimes, after she was done with her chores, Laila crawled into bed next to Mammy.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini