mammy

American  

[mam-ee] / ˈmæm i /

noun

plural

mammies

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.

Etymology

Origin of mammy

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

Example Sentences

Like Wiletta, Burke had also done her fair share of mammy roles, and she would later appear in the original Broadway “Porgy and Bess.”

From New York Times • Nov. 3, 2021

Per Ferris State University‘s Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, the mammy caricature was “deliberately constructed to suggest ugliness.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2021

The thing is, when you see a family with mammy and daddy strolling along with their nice nice children, and you feel a twinge of green, don’t hurt your head.

From The Guardian • Apr. 15, 2020

“You were a very proud mammy and you children will grow up knowing how strong their mammy was and make you so proud. RIP beautiful. Shine bright like the diamond you were.”

From Fox News • Feb. 5, 2019

“Your mamma too proud for you. What mammy say.”

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner