--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is understandable how this shame came…" description: "\"“It is understandable how this shame came into being. The nation made the black man's color a stigma. Even linguistics and semantics conspire to give t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/martin-luther-king-jr-2-1523_black-sheep_it-is-understandable-how-this-shame-came_2068226.jpg" --- # It is understandable how this shame came into being. The… ![“It is understandable how this shame came into being. The nation made the black man's color a stigma. Even linguistics and semantics conspire to give this impression. If you look in Roget's Thesaurus you will find about 120 synonyms for blacK, and right down the line you will find words like smut…” quote by Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/martin-luther-king-jr-2-1523_black-sheep_it-is-understandable-how-this-shame-came_2068226.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/martin-luther-king-jr-2-1523_black-sheep_it-is-understandable-how-this-shame-came_2068226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/martin-luther-king-jr-2-1523_black-sheep_it-is-understandable-how-this-shame-came_2068226.jpg) > ““It is understandable how this shame came into being. The nation made the black man's color a stigma. Even linguistics and semantics conspire to give this impression. If you look in Roget's Thesaurus you will find about 120 synonyms for blacK, and right down the line you will find words like smut, something dirty, worthless, and useless, and then you look further and you find about 120 synonyms for white and they all represent something high, noble, pure, chaste - right down the line. In our language structure, a white lie is a little better than a black lie. Somebody goes wrong in the family and we don't call him a white sheep, we call him a black sheep. We don't say whitemail, but blackmail. We don't speak of white-balling somebody, but black-balling somebody. The word 'black' itself in our society connotes something that is degrading. It was absolutely necessary to come to a moment with a sense of dignity. It is very positive and very necessary.”” [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how language embeds racial bias, assigning negative connotations to "black" and positive ones to "white," reinforcing systemic racism. **In simple terms:** Language links black with bad and white with good, shaping prejudice. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge biased language. Themes racism language bias identity social justice Mood thoughtful critical hopeful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - education reform - media analysis - personal reflection - policy drafting Key Concepts semantic framing cultural conditioning stereotype reinforcement Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our perceptions of race? - What steps can we take to neutralize biased terminology? A Different Perspective Changing words alone won’t erase deep-rooted prejudice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black sheep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-sheep/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [White lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-lie/) ## Related quotes > [ “The moon’s a dead rock, but I still like the word, so black in its white space. \[…\] what can we say to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/the-moon-s-a-dead-rock-but-i-still-like-the-word-so-black-in-its/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [Somebody told a lie one day. They couched it in language. They made everything Black ugly and evil. Look in your dictionaries and see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-told-a-lie-one-day-they-couched-it-in-language-they-made-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [When I say the n-word, black people are clear that I'm on their side. And it's not disingenuous - I am on black people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/when-i-say-the-n-word-black-people-are-clear-that-i-m-on-their-side/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [When you get called the n-word, as a black person you can do anything. It's like getting a gold star in Super Mario Brothers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/when-you-get-called-the-n-word-as-a-black-person-you-can-do-anything/) [Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/) > [“I maintain that any writer of a book is fully authorised in attaching any meaning he likes to a word or phrase he intends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-maintain-that-any-writer-of-a-book-is-fully-authorised-in-attaching/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Somebody told a lie one day. They couched it in language. They made everything Black ugly and evil. Look in your dictionaries and see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-told-a-lie-one-day-they-couched-it-in-language-they-made/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I will not sit in a room with black people when the N word is used. I know it was meant to belittle a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-will-not-sit-in-a-room-with-black-people-when-the-n-word-is-used-i/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I learned the word "black" in every language just so I know when to be offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-learned-the-word-black-in-every-language-just-so-i-know-when-to-be/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [The Word is the Magic that Humans possess and misuse of the Word is Black Magic... Be Impeccable with Your Word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-word-is-the-magic-that-humans-possess-and-misuse-of-the-word-is/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [I don't like being lied to, so I only lie about the stupid things. White lies, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-iglesias/i-don-t-like-being-lied-to-so-i-only-lie-about-the-stupid-things/) [Enrique Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-iglesias/) > [The families of Aboriginals who have died in custody in NSW will suffer again because of these white lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-murray/the-families-of-aboriginals-who-have-died-in-custody-in-nsw-will/) Arthur Murray > [“Black Creek Burning: “It was a polite, white lie,” Brie whispered. “I’ll have to remember you think that way,” Nathan said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-wolfe/black-creek-burning-it-was-a-polite-white-lie-brie-whispered-i-ll/) [R.T. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-wolfe/) > [She tells enough white lies to ice a wedding cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/she-tells-enough-white-lies-to-ice-a-wedding-cake/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [White lies always introduce others of a darker complexion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-paley/white-lies-always-introduce-others-of-a-darker-complexion/) [William S. Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-paley/) > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by Martin Luther King Jr > [We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-have-learned-to-fly-the-air-like-birds-and-swim-the-sea-like-fish/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [I had a dreamthat you would just shut the fuck up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/i-had-a-dreamthat-you-would-just-shut-the-fuck-up/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/yes-if-you-want-to-say-that-i-was-a-drum-major-say-that-i-was-a-drum/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-must-forever-conduct-our-struggle-on-the-high-plane-of-dignity-and/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/it-may-be-true-that-the-law-cannot-make-a-man-love-me-but-it-can-stop/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“Privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/privileged-groups-seldom-give-up-their-privileges-voluntarily/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [God has set the type of marriage everywhere throughout the creation. Every creature seeks its perfection in another. The very heavens and earth picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/god-has-set-the-type-of-marriage-everywhere-throughout-the-creation/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [A nation that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/a-nation-that-continues-to-produce-soft-minded-men-purchases-its-own/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“It is not enough to say, 'We must not wage war.' It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/it-is-not-enough-to-say-we-must-not-wage-war-it-is-necessary-to-love/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“When, for decades, you have been able to make a man compromise his manhood by threatening him with a cruel and unjust punishment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/when-for-decades-you-have-been-able-to-make-a-man-compromise-his/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/the-question-is-not-whether-we-will-be-extremists-but-what-kind-of/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“Deep in our history of struggle for freedom, Canada was the North star”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/deep-in-our-history-of-struggle-for-freedom-canada-was-the-north-star/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/and-he-s-allowed-me-to-go-to-the-mountain-and-i-ve-looked-over-and-i/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-know-through-painful-experience-that-freedom-is-never-voluntarily/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/returning-hate-for-hate-multiplies-hate-adding-deeper-darkness-to-a/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) [Explore all 219 Martin Luther King Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) ## More Black sheep quotes > [“Constantly changing feelings can pull us off balance. Our Black Sheep Values help us stand firm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brant-menswar/constantly-changing-feelings-can-pull-us-off-balance-our-black-sheep/) Brant Menswar > [Do not cringe and make yourself small if you are called the black sheep, the maverick, the lone wolf. Those with slow seeing say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/do-not-cringe-and-make-yourself-small-if-you-are-called-the-black/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [I'm the black sheep in a family of cops. I understand how difficult the job is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/i-m-the-black-sheep-in-a-family-of-cops-i-understand-how-difficult/) [Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/) > [The Happy Black Sheep I love being a weird outcast. Crazy socks, weird and colorful clothes. I honestly don't see why people want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila/the-happy-black-sheep-i-love-being-a-weird-outcast-crazy-socks-weird/) [Leila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila/) > [I am the black sheep of my family. They are all super talented and intelligent and got proper jobs. Most of my family is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/i-am-the-black-sheep-of-my-family-they-are-all-super-talented-and/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [“Ryder Delaney was the one imperfection in my life.He was the bad boy,black sheep,the one your mother always warned you about.He had only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-weaver/ryder-delaney-was-the-one-imperfection-in-my-life-he-was-the-bad-boy/) [Paige Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-weaver/) > [I was a bit of a humour black sheep. I would make these jokes full of irony and dark cynicism and that just didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayda-field/i-was-a-bit-of-a-humour-black-sheep-i-would-make-these-jokes-full-of/) [Ayda Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayda-field/) > [“They came late to the empty land and looked with bitterness upon the six wolves watching them from the horizon's rim. With them was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/they-came-late-to-the-empty-land-and-looked-with-bitterness-upon-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Baa Baa Black Sheep’ makes Marx’s Capital look like Mary Poppins .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/baa-baa-black-sheep-makes-marx-s-capital-look-like-mary-poppins/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Monday. The black sheep of the weekdays. The middle finger of the workweek. The weekend-is-over bitchslap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/monday-the-black-sheep-of-the-weekdays-the-middle-finger-of-the/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [A black sheep is a biting beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bastard/a-black-sheep-is-a-biting-beast/) Thomas Bastard > [Within three months I had gone from being this black sheep of the town to suddenly becoming a pop star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/within-three-months-i-had-gone-from-being-this-black-sheep-of-the/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [“I had choosen the path of the black sheep rather than that of the unicorns and puppies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magenta-periwinkle/i-had-choosen-the-path-of-the-black-sheep-rather-than-that-of-the/) [Magenta Periwinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magenta-periwinkle/) > [“Followed white rabbit. Became black sheep. - Gabrille Maconi”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-fershleiser/followed-white-rabbit-became-black-sheep-gabrille-maconi/) [Rachel Fershleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-fershleiser/) > [Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me. A toast to piracy and it's many shiny rewards. As a career, what could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirates/yo-ho-yo-ho-a-pirates-life-for-me-a-toast-to-piracy-and-it-s-many/) Pirates [Browse all 104 Black sheep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-sheep/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is understandable how this shame came into being. The nation made the black man's color a stigma. Even linguistics and semantics conspire to give this impression. 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