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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 11:12:28
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I have been wondering a longtime why we are called blacks. Is becos of our skins or hair? I find both not enough justification. This is becos i have seen the so-called white people with black hair. Besides these white people don't have white skins as such neither is their hair white. Is this got to do with false spirituality that good is white and black is bad?
I have seen certain expressions in the English language which sound offensive. Black Leg, Black Comedy, Black Sheep, Black list, Black Monday etc,etc
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madiss |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 11:51:19
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| but also black beauty ;) |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 12:15:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Jack
but also black beauty ;)
Black beauty was used first for a horse not humans |
madiss |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 16:07:33
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We, the 'Whites', are the real 'coloured' people! If we expose our skin to the sun, we are getting red. The same if we feel shy. If we suffer from nausea, our skin has a greenish colour, and if we are beaten, our skin is blue, green, and purple. Where the hell did the word 'White' come from??? Which ***** called us 'white'?  |
Edited by - serenata on 03 Apr 2007 16:10:08 |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 19:00:37
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| Believe me.. Some ppl really are WHITE... I saw them, my cousins, in Finland! |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 19:09:06
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| ...covered with snow! I found that Japanese women sometimes are really white, but maybe this is only because their light skin makes a big contrast to their black hair. And what are the Asians called? Yellow. It is all a bit ridiculous. |
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kisley
United Kingdom
214 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 21:57:09
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| why are native american indians called "red" |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2007 : 15:47:57
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Jack - did you mean 'Black is beautiful?'
Steve Biko under hostile cross-examination by Defence Lawyer Soggot in the BPC-SASO Trial in May 1976 ‘The importance of Language’ answered on the use of the word ‘black’ – black is beautiful – when speaking about understanding of the difference between black and white uses of language.
Soggot: When you have phrases such as ‘black is beautiful’ – what is the idea of such a slogan? Can it fit in with the Black Consciousness approach?
Biko: I think that slogan has been meant to serve and I think is serving a very important aspect of our attempt to get at humanity.
You are challenging the very deep roots of the Blacks man’s belief about himself. When you say ‘black is beautiful’ what in fact you are saying to him is: man, you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human being; now in African life especially it also has certain connotations; it is the connotations on the way women prepare themselves for viewing by society, in other words the way they dream, the way they make up and so on, which tends to be a negation of their true state and in a sense a running away from their colour; they use lightening creams, they use straightening devises for their hair and so on.
They sort of believe I think that their natural state which is a black state is not synonymous with beauty and beauty can only be approximated by them is the skin is made as light as possible and the lips are made as red as possible, and so on.
So in a sense the term ‘black is beautiful’ challenges exactly that belief which makes some negate himself.
Taken from - Steve Biko I write what I like.
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2007 : 18:41:34
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Yes,A really interesting topic and full of deep meaning I am sure!
Everything is alright with our country now then?
I can sleep at night and not think about the price of rice. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 08:18:32
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| I think to be black or white is a misnormer.I would rather prefer to call it pink and brown! |
Edited by salimina |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2007 : 17:28:14
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quote:
Originally posted by salimina
I think to be black or white is a misnormer.I would rather prefer to call it pink and brown!
And what about the yellow people then what colour would you call them, Hmmmmm!!!!! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 23:23:13
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| i can still categorize them as pink (laughter)! |
Edited by salimina |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2007 : 23:43:39
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quote:
Originally posted by salimina
i can still categorize them as pink (laughter)!
Quite right! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2007 : 18:08:58
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
I have been wondering a longtime why we are called blacks. Is becos of our skins or hair? I find both not enough justification. Is this got to do with false spirituality that good is white and black is bad?
I have seen certain expressions in the English language which sound offensive. Black Leg, Black Comedy, Black Sheep, Black list, Black Monday etc,etc
Madiba, i think its just to do with the language. if you allow such expressions to get to you you might pass as being too/over sensitive. i guess these phrases existed even before 'black' entered the mainstream. since antiquity, different words have been used for Africans from Ethio-, nubians, moors, negros, Afro-XX, now blacks etc. if Shakespeare were to write about Biko, he would call him a Moor.
In French Negre and Negress (female) are still relevant in academic circles but in the mainstream they are using the english equivalent 'Noir'. Remember Senghor with ''Negritude'. Objects are not even spared they can be male or female. it not targeted at anyone, i think thats just how the language is structured. there are many women, even in this bantaba who find the english language offensive and bais towards men.
Remember German Measles, Spanish Flu, French Leave etc
even in wollof, mandinka its the same. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2007 : 20:18:03
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As a link to another topic about tribalism and Jolas. Has their previously lowly position in society anything to do with their blackness?
It is my (western) understanding that the Jolas are the blackest people in Gambia. I actually find Jolas very beautiful looking. They have wonderful bone structure and very pure black skin. They would make wonderful photographic models. Also their pride in their clothes is amazing.
If 'whiteness' was valued in colonal times, are the 'whiter' tribes most valued?
Or is it simply that Mandinkas are the majority, so they have an assuredness connected to that?
My Mandinka friends welcome me to their homes and are lovely to me, but they definatley have a confidence or mild arrogance about them. They feel superior I think. Better educated? Masters, rather than slaves?
I have most in common with Woolofs...to me they are very like West Indians...... (of course with the slave trade)...... But they are tall, good looking, have a certain charisma, like material things (bling!) In Leicester I used to LOVE dancing with Jamaican guys, them when I went to Gambia i was taken by surprise, blown away.....Tall, black, good looking, good dancers, nice, non drinking guys. WOW. Had I gone to heaven?!!! I had gone with a charity group, men were the last thing on my mind!
If a western women is looking at a Gambian guy I would say a Woolof will fit in in any major british city with all the Jamaican guys. They are blood after all. They also tend to be in business or the tourist trade and are less rural.
I am thinking this posting is full of generalisations that will annoy Gambian people and if so, I am sorry in advance.
It is just my truth as I have seen it. I dont intend to offend. |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2007 : 20:32:45
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
I have been wondering a longtime why we are called blacks. Is becos of our skins or hair? I find both not enough justification. Is this got to do with false spirituality that good is white and black is bad?
I have seen certain expressions in the English language which sound offensive. Black Leg, Black Comedy, Black Sheep, Black list, Black Monday etc,etc
Madiba, i think its just to do with the language. if you allow such expressions to get to you you might pass as being too/over sensitive. i guess these phrases existed even before 'black' entered the mainstream. since antiquity, different words have been used for Africans from Ethio-, nubians, moors, negros, Afro-XX, now blacks etc. if Shakespeare were to write about Biko, he would call him a Moor.
In French Negre and Negress (female) are still relevant in academic circles but in the mainstream they are using the english equivalent 'Noir'. Remember Senghor with ''Negritude'. Objects are not even spared they can be male or female. it not targeted at anyone, i think thats just how the language is structured. there are many women, even in this bantaba who find the english language offensive and bais towards men.
Remember German Measles, Spanish Flu, French Leave etc
even in wollof, mandinka its the same.
Njucks welcome back.
Well to begin with in truth am not being too sensitive. I am trying to know the etymology(history of the word). Besides all the quoted phrases with the word black must have had their origins. You refrred to Senghor's Negritude. Negritude was an idea coined by a black consciousness group (Aime Cesare, Leopold sedar Senghor et al) to refine the negative views of being black or ******. This idea was to make the black or african proud of his identity despite all the junk heaped on him due largely by the colour of his skin.
In truth the word negre or ****** is never a compliment for us Africans.Its often spat at us in contempt or spite!
Yes there may have been different use of the word black by civilsations but not in terms of black sheep, black leg ect. both are negative whilst their white opposites are positives. you see my point?
Anyway its just a learning exercise for me. I am hardened. I never will go down because of irresponsible dictum. |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 06 May 2007 20:35:44 |
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