By Attorney Roy Miller
Roy Miller
I remember back in grammar school
I was taught all the golden rules
To always maintain honesty
But where was honesty in history
Being taught about how America
became great
It seems the Black man's accomplishments were erased
But there is no reason for this to happen today
Unless we sit and let things happen that way
Lets do it for the children of
tomorrow
Lets do it for the children of
today
Lets do it for the children and
show that we care
What our forefathers accomplished yesterday
Do you remember or have you forgot
How hard we fought to get to where we've got
Don't be a fool and erase what we've done
Lets leave our marks for our
daughters and our sons
Lets do it for the children...
Many years ago I wrote this song as part of an effort to
restore a historic Black Theatre in Macon, Georgia,
the Douglass Theatre. I was talking about how White America had failed to
document Black accomplishments in history books. I never knew that it was
possible that major Black publications could deny historical Black
accomplishments from being known. I now realize that if you don't stand up for
what you believe it is quite possible to live a long life and die an invisible
man.
In March of 1994, I succeeded at getting the n-word taken
out of a major dictionary. They could have left it in, but they took it out. I
have delivered a message of respect for years. I have long ago known that
around the world, in every society, in every culture and in every group, two
things have always been certain. Those that demand respect have always been on
top and those that accept disrespect have always been on the bottom. At its
worse, the n-world is the ultimate form of disrespect against Blacks. I have
fought to keep it from being used as a way of conditioning Black children to
accept disrespect.
In 1994, my niece was confronted with the n-word in a bad
way. She went to her new dictionary for meaning. What this innocent Black child
saw was not a definition, but a description of profanity that pointed right
back at her. Other dictionaries had similar definitions that amounted to
defamation. Regardless of low down ways between adults, such a description
could never apply to our innocent Black babies and children. As printed,
defamation appeared to exist. After being given notice, intent would be clear.
This could lead to highly publicized lawsuits and requests that people not buy
any dictionaries with the "n" word in them. It could have a huge
domino affect in sales and worldwide controversy within school systems and
libraries.
That same year, I made argument to Funk & Wagnall's; as
well as, other major dictionary companies. I gave a certain deadline to avoid
legal actions. Before the deadline, I received notice that the n-word would not
remain in Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary and would be deleted in all
forthcoming publications. Some dictionaries made changes, but never responded
in writing. Funk & Wagnall's expressed heart in their writing and made it
clear that they cared. They spoke of how my niece should be very proud of me.
They could have left the word in the dictionary, but they took it out. I then
became the first and only person to succeed at having the n-word deleted from a
major dictionary. What would this accomplishment mean?
This amounted to a precedence of historical magnitude and
acknowledgement, by an expert of words, that such n-word definition was
unacceptable as a description of a race. A zero tolerance in disrespecting a
race was being established. Much of Black America is unaware of what amounts to
a precedence. It has now been fourteen years and many major Black publications
have denied the documentation of this Black history. By many media entities
ignoring the accomplishment, certain companies with interest were being given
time to sanitize the word. The signing of Black musical artist that screams out
the n-word, without knowledge of the damage, has contributed significantly to
the attempted sanitizing of the n-word. This has made it possible for the
ultimate insult of disrespect against Blacks to remain in the books. Court cases
involving racism, discrimination and hate crimes needed the precedence. The sad
part is that in doing this, many Blacks willingly accept the disrespect from
anyone. What has always been guaranteed is still guaranteed. Those that demand
respect will always be on the top and those that allow disrespect will always
be on the bottom. I am extremely appreciative of all the outstanding Black
publications and journalists that have given exposure and I hope that they
understand why I feel it's so important to set history right for the next
generation.
Some leaders attempt to choose who delivers medicine of
blessings to the weary, even as people suffer. When I feel down, I always try
to remember, Men don't make Gods - God made man. Rather than make adversaries,
smile and keep moving. The intent of this article is to document a historical
accomplishment and to reach Black children and let them know that them being
called n-words is wrong. In life, I know how the story ends. It always ends the
same. We come here with nothing and we'll leave here with nothing. The only
reason that I can see for our existence is to make a difference.
Attorney Roy Miller may be contacted at 1401
Peachtree Street, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia
30309 or (478) 745-2402. email: selfrespect1@bellsouth.net
CONTACT:
Attorney Roy Miller
478-745-2402
selfrespect1@bellsouth.net
-END-
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