2006-10-08 15:18:41 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Your question reminded me of the Steven Biko movie with Denzel Washington. Steven Biko was on trial and the judge asked him "Why do black people call themselves black when they are really more brown?" Then Mr. Biko eloquently replied "Why do white people call themselves white when they are really kind of pink?" The judge couldn't answer. Colors are based on societal standards and was a means to separate a person from either being white or other(brown, black, etc.) The whole standard is that white is supposed to be the "normal" color and everyone else was something else.
2006-10-09 10:02:07 · answer #1 · answered by moma 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you mean as a way to describe people I wonder that myself the only idea I have is negro which is the color black in Spanish and the non offensive term for ni##er in English which is both stemmed from Nigeria which is where the slaves came from but the people couldn't say Nigerian. I'm black so I'm not being racist!
2006-10-08 15:31:04 · answer #2 · answered by Mrs. Butler ♥2 B♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Society has been conditioned to think that the term "black" represents all that is bad or evil.
Synonyms for black are:
1. dark, dusky; sooty, inky; swart, swarthy; sable, ebony. 4. dirty, dingy. 5. sad, depressing, somber, doleful, mournful, funereal. 7. disastrous, calamitous. 9. sinful, inhuman, fiendish, devilish, infernal, monstrous; atrocious, horrible; nefarious, treacherous, traitorous, villainous.
African Americans have been called Black in an attempt to mentally "break" us down. We (some) have struggled to to disprove this claim........
2006-10-10 09:36:24 · answer #3 · answered by Natural_Woman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Africans, who are exposed to the strong African sun, are much darker than most American "blacks". Sadly, most American black people also bear the genetic code of the slave masters as well as their last name, further complicating matters.
Strangely, if you go to Mexico and other countries, the "brown" people there use the term "negro" ("black") to describe their skin color, especially if they are Indians (uh, Mayans, etc).
2006-10-08 15:27:26 · answer #4 · answered by geek49203 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure about that one. But i believe you are refering to the color Black as a race. I dont understand the whole thing but white people are called white and they are technically peach so dont take to much offense to the whole issue.
2006-10-08 15:27:38 · answer #5 · answered by Jenna 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because black ppl's skin tone differs from light to dark.If ur dark ur balck if ur light ur brown which is black in general.
2006-10-08 16:13:35 · answer #6 · answered by Nicholais S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question I'm "Black" and don't even know the answer to that.
2006-10-08 17:22:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because people full of hate had to make it seem like we were complete polar opposites - black and white.
2006-10-08 15:26:10 · answer #8 · answered by charleston chew 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because brown is reserved for describing mestizos.
2006-10-08 15:21:29 · answer #9 · answered by midwestbruin 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
im not certain....but i think that brown is spanish...black is negro...
2006-10-08 15:58:11 · answer #10 · answered by jen4802051709 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋