Nurah Speaks

Our language and choice of words matters a great deal when discussing the history of this nation.   This week’s episode is an examination of common language usage and how our words influence that on which we focus. Episode 125 gives the listener a grammar lesson reminiscent of that which we received in elementary school.  For example:  “Teachers teach.” Here you are presented with a subject and verb.  In this sentence, teachers are the actors. “Teachers teach students.” This example shows us the object of the teacher’ actions.  The object in this sentence is ‘students’.  The students are being acted upon by the teachers. Often in review of American history, specifically that deemed “Black History,” we are presented with something like the following: “Blacks were enslaved.”  “Blacks were lynched.” “Blacks were killed.” The subject in each of the sentences is “Blacks.” The sentences informs us that Blacks had something occur to them.  But, the picture is inco