Is "Blackmail" a racist word. Why black and not whitemail?

Question

Blackmail is the act of threatening to reveal information about a person unless the threatened part fulfills certain demands.
http://en.wikipedia.org

I noticed some people being rude at me for my question. Englishisnot my first language and I noticed that there is a big problem with race in the US (where I don't live). So as I study the language, and notice the culture, I began towonder. Thanks to those who were nice to answer.

Answer 1

My son actually got detention for calling a black student a blackmailer.
so if someone wants to make a fuss they will, also while watching Jay Leno's headlines, one submission, had every "black" changed to African American, so the mouners in the story were wearing "African American arm bands"

Answer 2

Another Word For Blackmail

Answer 3

That's as stupid as asking "Is 'history' sexist? Why 'history', why not 'herstory'?" In both cases the words have nothing to do with race or gender.

Edit: The fact that English isn't your native language is an important detail to leave out when asking your specific question, as it changes the tone of your question. Next time it would be wise to include this at the beginning so that people know why you are asking. Part of the blame for the type of answers you're getting falls on you.

There's a problem with race everywhere, not just the USA.

BTW While "blackmail" might be an English word, English didn't originate in the USA, nor did the word "blackmail".

Answer 4

No. Ever watch a movie where there are white knights and black knights? The white Knights are usually the good, while Black knights are usually the bad. I believe the same concept is applied here. They called it blackmail because it's having to do with something bad. That's just my opinion though, this isn't based on facts.

Answer 5

The word is derived from the word for tribute paid by English and Scottish border dwellers to Border Reivers in return for immunity from raids. This tribute was paid in goods or labour (reditus nigri, or "blackmail"): the opposite is blanche firmes or reditus albi, or "white rent" (denoting payment by silver).

Answer 6

The word blackmail was in use when African Americans were called Negroes. How about the word niggardly? That means stingy, but because it sounds like another word, anyone with any sense will avoid using it.

Answer 7

I think anyting with the word black in it is considered racist. In England we were not allowed to refer to blackboards, they were chalkboards even though were could say whiteboards.

In Australia we have a sort of tree traditionally called a blackboy, even aboriginal in legend it was an aboriginal boy turned into a tree, we know have to call it a grasstree.

I asked my son (aboriginal) if he was offended by me calling it a blackboy and he said no.

So yes, some people would probably call it racist, I call it ridiculous.

Answer 8

No, it's not racist.
1552, second element is M.E. male "rent, tribute," from O.E. mal "lawsuit, terms, bargaining, agreement," from O.N. mal "speech, agreement;" related to O.E. mæðel "meeting, council," mæl "speech," Goth. maþl "meeting place." From the practice of freebooting clan chieftains who ran protection rackets against Scottish farmers. Black from the evil of the practice. Expanded c.1826 to any type of extortion money. Verb is 1880.

Answer 9

That's just how the word was created. It was not created with any racial connotation. To change it to "whitemail" would actually make it a racist word.

Answer 10

Why was it called white-water scandel & not black-water.

It's only racist if you make it out to be so.

howcome there is a movie called white men can't jump & I would be called a racist if I made a movie called black men ... "insert remark here"?..