Black: So-called black skin = bad, wrong, evil, wicked, low, cheerless and depressing; gloomy. The opposite being white. Note 1: The achromatic color value of minimum lightness or maximum darkness; the color of objects that absorb nearly all light of all visible wavelengths; one extreme of the neutral gray series, the opposite being white. 1. Soiled, as from soot; dirty.
2. Evil; wicked. 3. Cheerless and depressing; gloomy: black thoughts. 4. Being or characterized by morbid or grimly satiric humor: a black comedy. 5. Marked by anger or sullenness: gave me a black look. 6. Attended with disaster; calamitous: a black day; the stock market crash on Black Friday. 7. Deserving of, indicating, or incurring censure or dishonor: “Man... has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands” (Rachel Carson).
8. Appearing to emanate from a source other than the actual point of origin. Used chiefly of intelligence operations: black propaganda; black radio transmissions.
Usage Note: The word "black" is a english word and is in the Indo-European language family. In Old English it was blaec, closely related to its equivalents in Old High German (blah, blach) and Old Norse (blakkr).
The word has alway been used to demonize indigenous people. Europeans and European Americans used the word too demonize brown skinned people globally. And to convince themselves and the world that these indigenous people are the opposite of Europeans. Who also decided to call themselves "white." Note 2: The term "black" directed towards indigenous people was and still is meant to create an antagonistic and adversarial role as opposite to the term "white."
@soymiguelalejandro23 Just because you were raised in a particular place doesn't mean that your race is erased. An example would be a cat being taken in by a family of dogs. The cat is still a cat, but may exhibit some LEARNED dog behaviors. Race is the same. An African can be raised in Europe or America, but their race stays the same. African is not an ethnic group, it's a race. There are thousands of different ethnic groups on the continent of Africa alone.
@Nzurilisha Yes there are thousands of ethnic groups each w/ their own tribes cultures languages etc. I'm using the word Black as it denotes from one whose ancestry originates in Africa. I'm Black. I live in America & I love my color & my races of Black & Indigenous (Native American). I've NO PROBLEM that part of my family line is of also Black of African decent. I'm simply saying that by way of CULTURE I'm not African. There are Black Englishmen Boricuas Hatians Brazilians etc.
I use Black American. American, African, Dominican, Russian, British, etc are locations w/ cultures. Now with being said I cannot say that I am culturally or ethnically African even though I am of African decent due to the fact I was not raised in African culture and don't know the first thing of ANY of the numerous African cultures. If you took me there I wouldn't know ANY of the social norms & I would very likely offend many and would be told that I am not African although I am clearly Black.
@soymiguelalejandro23 How can you be black and not African? The African identification is based on race and not nationality. You belong to the African race of people and are thus an African who lives in America. Very simple. I really hope that we stop giving up our identities to fit in and to make other people comfortable. We were created by God with different races and they should be celebrated and not erased.
@Nzurilisha Oye Mamita - I descend partially I'm mixed from Blacks that originate in Africa yes. Africa is a continent i.e.North America hence - American. Is American a race? America is country located on the North American continent along with Canada and Mexico. Black is a race like White is a race. Is Russian a race of people no it is a term used to describe the general culture/ethnicity of the people who live there. Blacks
also live in Mexico, The Caribbean, South America etc.
@soymiguelalejandro23 Again, you seem confused about what race and nationality mean? They are not always synonymous. People have migrated for thousands of years and they still belong to their original racial groups in their new location. People of African descent can be found EVERYWHERE. As far as your mixed comment, there are very few people who are 100% anything. I think there are those among us who claim other identities because being African is looked upon as negative.
@Nzurilisha I have traveled extensively and the same mentality exists wherever people of African descent are. Race is genetic and does not change. Nationality can be changed. A person of African descent residing in the Dominican Republic is still African, but a citizen of the Dominican Republic.
@Nzurilisha When I SAY Black I'm automatically acknowledging that the person in what ever country that they were born in due to the slave trade, voluntary migration, etc has origins by BLOOD from Africa. Being a student of Sociology I'm using the terms a bit different than you are however I am still very aware that although cultural identification to a country is what it is - race stays the same. Blacks is the name of the RACE & Africa is the name of the COUNTRY. I AM BLACK.
@soymiguelalejandro23 A student of sociology? That's interesting because I would never expect this kind of word usage. I study anthropology. Perhaps it is the difference in perspective. The term "black" is derogatory and doesn't accurately describe who I am as an African. It stems from the same mental sickness that cause us to call ourselves the n-word and women referring to themselves as the b-word. As a result, I can understand why so many can justify using these words.
@Nzurilisha Mami I think the N word is derogatory But there are many who feel the reverse of what you & I do regarding the term. Conversely I see Black as Proud Strong & Honorable as it pertains to race. Everyone will see if differently. Perhaps it makes your skin crawl to see me say Black the same as me when I hear someone say Nigger. I understand that. As much as I HATE when Nigger is used I don't debate it if someone likes to call themselves that. I just know that's NOT who I am.
Black: So-called black skin = bad, wrong, evil, wicked, low, cheerless and depressing; gloomy. The opposite being white. Note 1: The achromatic color value of minimum lightness or maximum darkness; the color of objects that absorb nearly all light of all visible wavelengths; one extreme of the neutral gray series, the opposite being white. 1. Soiled, as from soot; dirty.
moonstar7 2 months ago
2. Evil; wicked. 3. Cheerless and depressing; gloomy: black thoughts. 4. Being or characterized by morbid or grimly satiric humor: a black comedy. 5. Marked by anger or sullenness: gave me a black look. 6. Attended with disaster; calamitous: a black day; the stock market crash on Black Friday. 7. Deserving of, indicating, or incurring censure or dishonor: “Man... has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands” (Rachel Carson).
moonstar7 2 months ago
8. Appearing to emanate from a source other than the actual point of origin. Used chiefly of intelligence operations: black propaganda; black radio transmissions.
moonstar7 2 months ago
Usage Note: The word "black" is a english word and is in the Indo-European language family. In Old English it was blaec, closely related to its equivalents in Old High German (blah, blach) and Old Norse (blakkr).
moonstar7 2 months ago
The word has alway been used to demonize indigenous people. Europeans and European Americans used the word too demonize brown skinned people globally. And to convince themselves and the world that these indigenous people are the opposite of Europeans. Who also decided to call themselves "white." Note 2: The term "black" directed towards indigenous people was and still is meant to create an antagonistic and adversarial role as opposite to the term "white."
moonstar7 2 months ago
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@soymiguelalejandro23 Just because you were raised in a particular place doesn't mean that your race is erased. An example would be a cat being taken in by a family of dogs. The cat is still a cat, but may exhibit some LEARNED dog behaviors. Race is the same. An African can be raised in Europe or America, but their race stays the same. African is not an ethnic group, it's a race. There are thousands of different ethnic groups on the continent of Africa alone.
Nzurilisha 2 months ago
@Nzurilisha Yes there are thousands of ethnic groups each w/ their own tribes cultures languages etc. I'm using the word Black as it denotes from one whose ancestry originates in Africa. I'm Black. I live in America & I love my color & my races of Black & Indigenous (Native American). I've NO PROBLEM that part of my family line is of also Black of African decent. I'm simply saying that by way of CULTURE I'm not African. There are Black Englishmen Boricuas Hatians Brazilians etc.
soymiguelalejandro23 2 months ago
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Nzurilisha 2 months ago
I use Black American. American, African, Dominican, Russian, British, etc are locations w/ cultures. Now with being said I cannot say that I am culturally or ethnically African even though I am of African decent due to the fact I was not raised in African culture and don't know the first thing of ANY of the numerous African cultures. If you took me there I wouldn't know ANY of the social norms & I would very likely offend many and would be told that I am not African although I am clearly Black.
soymiguelalejandro23 2 months ago
Comment removed
Nzurilisha 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@soymiguelalejandro23 How can you be black and not African? The African identification is based on race and not nationality. You belong to the African race of people and are thus an African who lives in America. Very simple. I really hope that we stop giving up our identities to fit in and to make other people comfortable. We were created by God with different races and they should be celebrated and not erased.
Nzurilisha 2 months ago
@Nzurilisha Oye Mamita - I descend partially I'm mixed from Blacks that originate in Africa yes. Africa is a continent i.e.North America hence - American. Is American a race? America is country located on the North American continent along with Canada and Mexico. Black is a race like White is a race. Is Russian a race of people no it is a term used to describe the general culture/ethnicity of the people who live there. Blacks
also live in Mexico, The Caribbean, South America etc.
soymiguelalejandro23 2 months ago
@soymiguelalejandro23 Again, you seem confused about what race and nationality mean? They are not always synonymous. People have migrated for thousands of years and they still belong to their original racial groups in their new location. People of African descent can be found EVERYWHERE. As far as your mixed comment, there are very few people who are 100% anything. I think there are those among us who claim other identities because being African is looked upon as negative.
Nzurilisha 2 months ago
@Nzurilisha I have traveled extensively and the same mentality exists wherever people of African descent are. Race is genetic and does not change. Nationality can be changed. A person of African descent residing in the Dominican Republic is still African, but a citizen of the Dominican Republic.
Nzurilisha 2 months ago
@Nzurilisha When I SAY Black I'm automatically acknowledging that the person in what ever country that they were born in due to the slave trade, voluntary migration, etc has origins by BLOOD from Africa. Being a student of Sociology I'm using the terms a bit different than you are however I am still very aware that although cultural identification to a country is what it is - race stays the same. Blacks is the name of the RACE & Africa is the name of the COUNTRY. I AM BLACK.
soymiguelalejandro23 2 months ago
@soymiguelalejandro23 A student of sociology? That's interesting because I would never expect this kind of word usage. I study anthropology. Perhaps it is the difference in perspective. The term "black" is derogatory and doesn't accurately describe who I am as an African. It stems from the same mental sickness that cause us to call ourselves the n-word and women referring to themselves as the b-word. As a result, I can understand why so many can justify using these words.
Nzurilisha 2 months ago
@Nzurilisha Mami I think the N word is derogatory But there are many who feel the reverse of what you & I do regarding the term. Conversely I see Black as Proud Strong & Honorable as it pertains to race. Everyone will see if differently. Perhaps it makes your skin crawl to see me say Black the same as me when I hear someone say Nigger. I understand that. As much as I HATE when Nigger is used I don't debate it if someone likes to call themselves that. I just know that's NOT who I am.
soymiguelalejandro23 2 months ago
@soymiguelalejandro23 Indeed.
Nzurilisha 2 months ago
@Nzurilisha Amen.
soymiguelalejandro23 2 months ago