Date:  Mon, 27 Oct 1997 16:36:53 -0500
From:  Evan Morris <words1[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]WORD-DETECTIVE.COM>
Subject: Re: PC Dictionaries?

Here's the NAACP press release:


BALTIMORE -- NAACP President & CEO Kweisi Mfume criticized the
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary's definition of a "nigger" as a
"black person" or a "member of a dark-skinned race" and has announced the
NAACP plans to join a national letter-writing campaign to pressure
Merriam-Webster to either drop or change the definition.
"The NAACP finds it objectionable that Merriam-Webster would use black
people as a definition for a racist term," Mfume said. "A 'nigger' is not a
black person or a member of a dark-skinned race as defined by
Merriam-Webster. It is not a definition of a person's race, but a derogatory
word," Mfume added. "There clearly needs to be a correction immediately."
President Mfume warned the publishers of Merriam-Webster that if the
dictionary is not changed more forceful action will be taken.
"We will soon be asking colleges, universities and public school systems to
cease purchasing the dictionary if changes are not forthcoming," Mfume said.
"It is unacceptable that such a word would be used to define African
Americans."

Evan Morris
words1[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]word-detective.com