Twitter Users Are Calling For A Change Of The Dictionary's Definition of "Black" And Are Being Heard

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AmyBrown
Jun 11, 2019 1:30 PM EDT

Loud and clear! It's another small step in the right direction. When @Dictionary.com got called out for its definition of the word "Black" being associated with 'darkness' and 'evil', they immediately took action to rectify the problem. 

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  • 01
    Text - Kenya Dixon Follow @Kenx2Doll Let's Change The Old, Insulting, Abusive, Objectionable, Hostile, Attacking Definition Of "Black/ black ". It's Not Who We Are Or What We a Stand For. So Let's Move To Change It And Proudly Represent BLACK, As We Really Are. @Dictionarycom 8:52 AM 6 Jun 2019 3 Retweets 29 Likes O_O
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 02
    Text - Nyshayla Follow @NyshaylaBarnes There are offensive words in the dictionary associated with the definition of 'Black'. It is vital that we have more positive meanings for this word because how we define words shapes our perception of them. @Dictionarycom 10:51 AM - 5 Jun 2019 12 Retweets 116 Likes
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 03
    Text - Nyshayla Follow @NyshaylaBarnes Rather than making words, such as 'depressing', 'threatening' and foreboding' synonymous to 'Black', we should instead use words that do not insinuate a biased undertone to a word that is commonly used to describe people of Black race and culture. 10:52 AM 5 Jun 2019
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 04
    Text - Text - Nyshayla Follow @NyshaylaBarnes Replying to @Roxesays Those were just some of the words. They be used to describe a group of people and the fact that these words are synonymous to 'Black' can unintentionally imply something. can SYNONYMS FOR BLACK dark, dusky; sooty, inky; swart, swarthy; sable, ebony. dirty, dingy. 4 sad, depressing, somber, 5 doleful, mournful, funereal. disastrous, calamitous. sinful, inhuman, fiendish, devilish, infernal, monstrous; atrocious, horrible; nefario
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 05
    Text - Jordennarijah Follow @jordennarijah Black is a color, usually seen as dark. Black shouldn't always be defined as "dark". Black is beautiful, black is brave, black is cultural and fun, it's mysterious and classy. Black is unique, Black is bold! Black is natural, and POWERFUL @Dictionarycom 7:05 AM -7 Jun 2019
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 06
    Text - Jessica closet Follow @Jessicacloset1 @Dictionarycom Black is beautiful, bold, strong and confident. 1:15 PM 6 Jun 2019
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 07
    Text - J-Hopetrasheu Follow @anya79666903 As of right now the definition of "black" in the dictionary is connected to "evil" and "dirty" but as it is also connected to African Americans this connotation needs to change @Dictionarycom #MyBlacklsBeautiful 3:35 PM - 6 Jun 2019
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 08
    Text - A'Shanti Overstreet Follow @overstreeta1208 There are offensive words in the dictionary associated with the definition of black. It's important not only to me but to all the little black girls and boys out there trying to find who they are, so with that being said we have to #RedefineBlack 11:10 AM 5 Jun 2019
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 09
    Text - Jason Follow @jasooon29 when the words to describe white in @Dictionarycom are "pure" and "rays of light" and the words to describe black are "hostile" and "threatening", we clearly need to change the language we are responsible for creating and defining. #RedefineBlack 10:54 AM -6 Jun 2019
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 10
    Text - Text - Dictionary.com D Follow @Dictionarycom Replying to @cyntetass We want to thank you for sharing your thoughts on the word Black. We're working on an update, but in the meantime, here's a look at what we're planning: black adj 1 di calamitous. -disaster. 4 discontent: 6 hostile; th quality or y sad, gloomy occurrence of stility or angr essimistic; dis iout any moral icked. 8 indicatin beautiful. censure, Redefine Black: Why Dictionary.com Is Updating Its Definition Everything Af... -
    via @Dictionary.com
  • 11
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    via @MBIB

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