Should I include the word "negro" in my MLK blog post?

[Charlemagne]

I work for an archive at a university. My specific job is to process the collection donated by a local newspaper (its a big, metropolitan paper). I do blog posts highlighting different photos from the collection. I usually write the caption that the paper had accompanying the photo so that people can see exactly what was said about the photo/event during that time (not sure if people realize that or take it into account). So I am doing a post for MLK day (which is monday). The post has about 20 pictures of MLK in the area. One of the captions says the following:

"Dr. King hits at Northern slums in New York talk...Describes five negro ghettos of Nassau County," May 13, 1965

Ok, so do I include that as the caption for the post? The reasons why Im thinking yes are:

1. It captures the zeitgeist of the time.
2. The word was rather common then, Ive heard MLK use it in recordings of interviews
3. It is literally what the paper said when it was published.

Reasons why I am thinking no:

1. It is racist as shit.
2. It could cause a stink among people who read it.
3. My boss and her boss may catch flak.
4. The flak will then be received by me.

What do I do?!?!?

[kayakjohnny]

1. I would run it by your boss and her boss.

Not a terribly good spot you're in.

Good luck and report back please.

[bigtree]

2. I guess it's my age

. . . but 'Negro' was always the most formal way to refer to black Americans in the time it was still in use in my youth. I haven't formed any dislike of the term. I do hate the way Lyndon Johnson said the word, tho. Sounded like . . . you know.

[frazzled]

3. Are all the 20 captions you're using verbatim from the paper?

If so, an overall note indicating that captions are those used in the Name of Newspaper, date range. That would alleviate your problem.

If not, I'd change it to Black ghettos.

If you do use the original word, it should be capitalized, however (Negro). It's okay to make that kind of change in quoted material.

[arely staircase]

19. might not changing one word and leaving the rest look like plagiarism?

might be best to re-write whole thing if not left as is - in which case i would, as you say, do the same with all captions and sorce them clearly.

[frazzled]

22. It's a caption, so I don't think so ... but still

Given that this is archival material, I still think your best choice is to use the original caption, and source either on the cut line, or if all the captions are from one source, with one overall note.

[immoderate]

4. I would stick with the text. People should understand.

Besides, words go in and out of fashion. You don't know what the style will mean to future readers. If you feel guilty (sic) it.

Interestingly I heard black writer Stanley Crouch claim that word to describe American blacks. He said that African or black doesn't describe the unique American black heritage.

Disclosure: I am not now or have ever been black. And there's no reason to take my word for anything.


--imm

[Swamp Lover]

5. Yes. Absolutely. I do archival work all of the time and you must preserve historic accuracy!!!

You should include a narrative explaining that you are maintaining the vocabulary of the time, but you should maintain accuracy.

If you were dressing an MLK manequin in a museum exhibit showing his body splayed out on the balcony and had access to his actual clothes, would you wash the blood out of the shirt to make it more presentable?

It's a tough reality, but we should never forget.

[Charlemagne]

7. Awesome

Archivists!

[barbtries]

6. it''s a quote

but if you're really in doubt ask your boss.

[quinnox]

8. I would not change it a bit

It is still being used today - United Negro College Fund

Some blacks don't have a problem with the word, mainly older folks, that is what I have read on the internet.

[Jazzgirl]

9. Absolutely use the exact caption.

I don't see any reason why you wouldn't want to use the exact quote. I don't know how the word Negro became so offensive all of a sudden. As another poster states, it was the proper term used for many years. Use what it says.

[Luminous Animal]

10. Absolutely include.

Perhaps a note can be added to the blog that all captions are verbatim from the source.

[PO2_Mike]

20. Verbatim or not...

Historical context and accuracy should be what is what you should strive to achieve.

We should not try to change history, to be politically correct.

[limpyhobbler]

11. For the benefit of all mankind, do not include the word negro in your caption.

You have cool job. Avoid bullshit. There is nothing wrong with the word negro, especially in this context. But save yourself time and energy by not trying to be too thought provoking and controversial. Do your boss a favor and just move on and leave her/him out of it. Select a different story and pretend you never saw this article.

If you only have room for the caption, without an opportunity to provide context or explanation, skip the negro caption.
If you do have room to provide context and explanation, then make up your own caption, and in the explanation say "This originally ran in 1965 with the caption '...five negro ghettos...' ".

Wait I changed my mind.

Run the original caption. We shouldn't hide from the vocabulary of the past. The truth will set us free. Anybody who complains will look a little deeper and it may actually encourage some people to read or listen to the original works of Dr. King.

I like it with the "five negro ghettos" in the title.
Go for it!

[rhett o rick]

12. This is a great subject to debate.

Should you be able to use an offensive word in an in-offensive context? I believe in intelligent company you can. How absurd to be able to say F'in but not say fucking. Both have the same meaning. So is it the sound that is offensive? On TV you can use the term SNAFU. That's cool. But you cant actually say the words that it stands for. So it's not the meaning that's offensive it's the sound of the word. It's like if you bleep out the sound of a word it's ok even tho everyone knows what the word is.

George Carlin pointed out there were 7 words you cant say on TV. But on cable Bill Maher will say all seven of those words and worse. But there is one word he wont say....the "n" word. The "n" word is soo horrible that one teacher got fired for using the word niggardly. The word is in the dictionary and has nothing to do with African-Americans. But apparently it sounded bad. So it is the sound and not the meaning that we fear.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. If you have it as a quotation, absolutely nt

[cthulu2016]

14. Of course you should. It is not racist.

In 1965 negro was the most very politically correct term for a person of African ancestry.

Moynihan's THE NEGRO FAMILY was a ground-breaking work. There's always the United Negro College Fund--that was a step up from the NAACP's out-dated "colored," which had been the most polite term earlier on.

King said negro... what else could he have said? A peson who, in 1965, had said black would have been being very offensive.

Negro was never a bad word. It is a passe word today, but it is not one of those racist terms people used back in the day because they didn't know better.

"Negro" fell into disfavor as a cultural demarcation within the African-American community. It was an older word and thus associated with a pre-cvil rights era and the adoption of "black" was shaking off the past.

But racist whites never ran around calling black people negro. It was never derisive until it was discarded. Then the Rush Limbuaghs of the world started using it 1) to show their affinity for a pre-civil rights society, and 2) because it sounds kind of like the N-word.

In 1965 there was no possible better word for the caption writer to have used.

[malthaussen]

15. Depends on what your objective is

If it is to display intellectual integrity, then use the caption without modification. If it is to CYA, then don't. Any use of the forbidden word will draw fire from those who look for such things.

You could put the caption in quotes, add "sic" after the forbidden word, or use the quote but omit the forbidden word, either with ellipsis or not. The quote is coherent without the qualifier.

But the most sensible advice is ask your superiors if they feel like having to fight a battle over the forbidden word or not, and go from there.

In 1965, "negro" was not racist, in fact it was the word used by "sensitive" liberals who were uncomfortable with the expression "colored people." Even though "colored people" was not considered racist in the context of the times -- it is highly unlikely the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People would have chosen a racist name for their organization.

-- Mal

[DirkGently]

16. Is "The United Negro College Fund" racist?

I'm no expert, but I think "negro" was the attempt at respectful terminology at the time. It may be culturally out of step, but it's not what racists used to describe people.

[Ohio Joe]

17. If you are quoting the source exactly, it should not be any problem

I expect it is noted in some fashon that you are doing so?

[LadyHawkAZ]

21. I'd leave it as is

I think historical perspective is important in understanding what the times were really like and what the civil rights fighters were up against. Language gives a good insight into that. If the possible reaction is bothering you, you might make a note that this was the wording used by the media at that time.