Social Norm During World War II: Casablanca

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During World War II, Rick Blaine, the protagonist of the timeless classic Casablanca, runs a nightclub, called Rick's Café Américain, in Morocco. The movie is recognized for its themes of love, sacrifice, diverse cast, and unclear morals. Although Casablanca does have a diverse cast, it still has problems with race. Sam plays the piano in Rick’s cafe and is a friend of Rick’s. In one of the scenes in Casablanca, Ilsa refers to Sam as “the boy on the piano”. The term “boy” used to refer to Sam, a black man, reflects outdated language that would be inappropriate in today’s society due to changes in cultural perceptions, changes in language surrounding race, and media coverage. To start, in the 1940s, societal norms, and language use were influenced …show more content…

These portrayals gave negative narratives and racial prejudices. African Americans faced widespread social and economic inequality, limiting access to education, job opportunities, and public services. To continue, language was significantly impacted by the Civil Rights Movement. It questioned and changed social norms, especially the terminology used to talk about and define racial issues. The movement raised awareness of the significance of speaking inclusively and respectfully, as well as the power of words. Leaders and activists in the Civil Rights Movement highlighted the significance of rejecting slurs and insults that were used to degrade and dehumanize African Americans. They encouraged the use of language that acknowledged each person equally. This change in terminology contributed to changing public conversation and increasing awareness of the significance of racial equality. There have been changes in the meanings of some phrases over time that were used to support inequality or maintain racial stereotypes have been reclaimed or rephrased. For example, words like “Colored” or “negro” are no longer used and are now insulting and out of

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