VOA慢速英语2019--Emoji Options for Couples of Color

Emoji Options for Couples of Color

In 1967, the United States Supreme¹ Court ruled that the banning of interracial marriage violated the Constitution.

The court decision against the state of Virginia helped lead American society to an acceptance of racially-mixed couples.

Now, mixed relationships have been recognized in emoji form. The non-profit group Unicode Consortium has approved 71 new emoji representing these unions. A technology activist² group, Emojination, and the dating app Tinder had called for the action.

Until now, emoji of two or more people have been available only in yellow.

The Unicode Consortium is made up of Google, Microsoft, Apple, Huawei and other international tech companies. Jennifer 8. Lee is a cofounder of Emojination and is on the emoji subcommittee of Unicode.

“Unicode is taking user demand for more skin tones across emoji very seriously,” said Lee. “Users around the world (are) demanding to see themselves…on the emoji keyboard.”

Jenny Campbell is the chief marketing³ officer for Tinder. She thinks many technology companies will include the new emoji in their products.

Last year, Tinder carried out an online petition in support of the new characters. Fifty-thousand people signed on.

Cambell said, “...we wanted to get the interracial emoji couple on people’s keyboards not only for equality, but also to spread acceptance for all couples no matter what their race.”

Emoji of single people of color and of same-sex couples were added in the last several years.

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

emoji – n. a small digital image or icon⁴ used to express an idea, emotion,

tone – n. a shade of color

keyboard – n. the set of keys that are used for a computer or typewriter

petition – n. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

4 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。