Blog One, Learning Outcome Two

A lot has changed since the year 1964.  In “Why We Can't Wait", by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, he explains the times that African Americans went through during the extent of segregation.  The use of the word "negro" is very different from the way we use that word today, both verbally and in our writings.  For an example, on page 50, line 22, Dr. King uses the word "negro" in the quote "...refused to hire Negroes in other than menial capacities, refused to promote the few Negroes in their employ and would not serve colored people at their lunch counters."  This quote brings me to my first point of relating this to learning outcome two; which is how this first quote relates to the impact of language changes over time.  This quote shows how the word "negro" was used in a negative or bad way.  This quote makes the reader think the "negroes" are a group of people who are less important or who have fewer rights than others.  In this quote, it states that Negroes would not be promoted in their employ and would not be served their lunch.  This immediately gives the readers the negative impression of Negroes because of the fact that they have no rights although they are still human.  Also, the quote found on page 160 relates to the change of language with the word "negro".  "What more does the negro want?" which implies that during the time of slavery and racism, Negroes were not called by their names.  This quote also implies that Negroes did not have a lot of freedom.  Now a day, Negroes are free and they have the same rights as every other American.  We refer to all Americans by name and when the word "negro" is used, it is no longer an adverse or degrading word. We use Negro very seldom, and if this is used, it is used just to refer to African Americans as human beings.