Go to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary and type in the word nigger. The first definition you will see is "a black person." The second definition you will see is "a member of any dark-skinned race." The third definition is "a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons." This is an outrage! Merriam-Webster, MUST change this! Not only is it highly offensive, it is incorrect. Sign this petition and let Merriam-Webster know that we will not stand for this!
Updates
July 8, 2016
I have reached out to the editorial team at Merriam-Webster to formally request a review of these offensive entries. While I await a substantive response regarding their lexicographical standards, your continued participation ensures that this issue remains at the forefront of their public accountability.
July 8, 2016
The momentum behind this petition highlights the urgent need for a change in how this word is defined in our dictionaries. Your collective response demonstrates that accurate and responsible language matters to this community.
27 Comments
I remember this word meaning " a person of ignorance", allowing everyone to be one. Though still an ugly word, its even uglier knowing that it is solely targeting dark/ black people.
So incredibly offensive! This is why we Black publishers need to come together and start publishing dictionaries and other literature under our companies. My company will definitely be publishing dictionaries and thesauruses to rival these racist companies.
There are a lot of words in the English language whose definitions are ever-evolving; however, this new "definition" just DEvolved the term, and the weighty social implications associated with it, by about 60 years...
This definition is inaccurate and offensive. This is a derogatory and racist TERM referencing a black person, but it certainly is NOT what defines a black person. Change this now!
Maybe it should be changed to: 1. a negative term used by slave owners, traders, and overseers during slavery to demean and belittle slaves. 2. an ignorant person. This needs to be changed not now, but right now.
This word was once defined as an ignorant person…Why did it change?
This needs to change. The definition in the 70's was an ignorant person. This new definition is a disgrace
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Go to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary and type in the word nigger. The first definition you will see is "a black person." The second definition you will see is "a member of any dark-skinned race." The third definition is "a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons." This is an outrage! Merriam-Webster, MUST change this! Not only is it highly offensive, it is incorrect. Sign this petition and let Merriam-Webster know that we will not stand for this!
Updates
July 8, 2016
I have reached out to the editorial team at Merriam-Webster to formally request a review of these offensive entries. While I await a substantive response regarding their lexicographical standards, your continued participation ensures that this issue remains at the forefront of their public accountability.
July 8, 2016
The momentum behind this petition highlights the urgent need for a change in how this word is defined in our dictionaries. Your collective response demonstrates that accurate and responsible language matters to this community.
27 Comments
I too remember the definition being described as an ignorant person and showed it and taught it to my now adult children when they were young. This NEW definition is DEFINITELY a disgrace! To make it so pretty, I HAVE YET TO FIND THE OLD DEFINITION ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET. I even found where it read that the definition was NEVER that of any ignorant person and has always been a been a black or dark skinned person! To continue to insult the intelligence of my people is terrible! I’m hoping this petition recirculates NON STOP in order for this definition to go back to its original! If anyone can scrape up a old dictionary that’ll be great!
I remember this word meaning " a person of ignorance", allowing everyone to be one. Though still an ugly word, its even uglier knowing that it is solely targeting dark/ black people.
So incredibly offensive! This is why we Black publishers need to come together and start publishing dictionaries and other literature under our companies. My company will definitely be publishing dictionaries and thesauruses to rival these racist companies.
There are a lot of words in the English language whose definitions are ever-evolving; however, this new "definition" just DEvolved the term, and the weighty social implications associated with it, by about 60 years...
This definition is inaccurate and offensive. This is a derogatory and racist TERM referencing a black person, but it certainly is NOT what defines a black person. Change this now!
Maybe it should be changed to: 1. a negative term used by slave owners, traders, and overseers during slavery to demean and belittle slaves. 2. an ignorant person. This needs to be changed not now, but right now.
This word was once defined as an ignorant person…Why did it change?
This needs to change. The definition in the 70's was an ignorant person. This new definition is a disgrace
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I too remember the definition being described as an ignorant person and showed it and taught it to my now adult children when they were young. This NEW definition is DEFINITELY a disgrace! To make it so pretty, I HAVE YET TO FIND THE OLD DEFINITION ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET. I even found where it read that the definition was NEVER that of any ignorant person and has always been a been a black or dark skinned person! To continue to insult the intelligence of my people is terrible! I’m hoping this petition recirculates NON STOP in order for this definition to go back to its original! If anyone can scrape up a old dictionary that’ll be great!