Why do you think that white is often associated with pure and black is...?

Question

Why do think that white is often associated with pure and black is often associated with evil?

And yes, I'm prepared for the ignorant and racist answers I am bound to recieve. But hopefully a bright, open-minded people will answer this question.

I was just asking an intelligent question, no need for the dumb answers. So far only one person has given me a good answer.

Answer 1

because of light and darkness, i think

during the day, things are supposed to be safer and good, but in the dark secret evil acts are committed. in the Bible, light is righteoussness, and dark is wickedness. and light is white, and dark is black.

Answer 2

Thinking purely of the colors themselves and not associating them with race:

White is seen as pure based on what it tends to represent. Purity as in marriage, wedding dresses are white to show purity of the bride. Fresh snow is bright and gives a feeling of purity. White gloves are used to test for cleanliness. It is more an association thing than anything else. You can look at literature, movies, wherever you like and we are bombarded with the interpretation that white means good. Good guys wear the white hat in westerns, White Knights saved the day in fabled stories, white castle makes good burgers... wait that's the wrong post.

Black on the other hand is associated with dirt, filth, unknown, hiding, sinister things. Black magic. Pitch black. Don't go out in the dark alone. The black lagoon. Black and darkness are not really the same thing but are considered the same at least in cases of good and evil. Creepy things come from darkness. Darkness carries with it the unexplained simply because we can't see. Cowboys wore black in westerns. Witches always seem to be dressed in black if they are portrayed as evil. It's virtually identical to the white interpretation but opposite.

Sadly some people do affiliate that with opinions of race, but some of us choose to see it simply for what it is. Simply a color that we associate with an impression of something. If we were told that black was good and white was bad enough then that is what, as a whole, people would probably think.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary!

Answer 3

Think of all the stories you’ve ever read. Over the centuries writers and people in general have always had a fear of the night. Rather you feared that the Vikings would burn your village down tonight or that oog was eaten by a T-rex last night. And day has always been the bringer of new hope and the warmth of the sun after a cold night. So what I’m trying to say Is white is always linked with day in many of the stories that were passed down from generation to generation. While Black is related to night and there for fear and death in those same stories. Sorry for the long answer but only way I could answer this. ^_^

Answer 4

I agree with the association, but I have never associated it with color skin. I think because like light colors are considered bright and cheery where dark are gloomy so when you take the extremes it becomes an association of the pure and evil. I don't associate black with evil. It is in fact my favorite color. I love my black pants more than my jeans. I love my black car. I associate black with cool cars. I would never get a white car. I like to wear white in the summer, keeps you cool.

Answer 5

Okay hoenstly, this may seem like a rediculously simple answer, but I sorta think it may have arisen from the fact that in White and Black are sort of synonomous with Light and Dark right? In the light, you can see everything, in the dark, things can be hidden.... such as bad or evil things. So someone with something evil to hide would prefer the dark to the light and I sort of thing it's that concept that is the reason why White is associated with light and goodness and Black is associated with Dark and evilness. It's a simple explanation, but it's the best I've got right now. Kinda sick and stuffy headed, lol.

Answer 6

Its just how people see the color. Its kinda like white is light and black is dark. We like light because we can see things. Its just the idea passed down from generations back in the old times. Im pretty sure most of this came from religion. Its just how people see colors. Like all ipods were white but when black ones came out, it sold out immediately. Not all black is considered evil. There are black things that are cool like black metal. Probably because all metal is always silver and want a new color change :D

Answer 7

I'm not sure what the answer is but I'll try my best to answer it. Centuries ago, Europeans were still exploring the world and different races were new to them. As they discovered each race, they decided on how smart they would be, how much they were worth, etc(this contributes to some stereotypes even to this day). But the explorers always decided the most superior was the white race and black being one of the lowest. As generations change, so does their "theory" and that's how it led to how it is today. White=purity and black=evil. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

It basically comes from the definition of colors. White is considered a pure color. When related to a light, white light is the pure combination of all of the colors of the spectrum. Black is the absence of any color (or, in effect, the absence of "purity.").

White birds (doves) are considered pure, peaceful, etc. Black birds (ravens) are considered to be pests or nuicences -- or evil.

Of course, this then translated to Hollywood, where good guys wore white hats, and bad guys wore black.

In magic, there was the white wizards, who did good magic, and the dark wizards, who performed "black" or bad/evil magic.

Answer 9

Human are day creatures, meaning that sight is our primary sense for being alert. When darkness falls, that sense doesn't work very well and be feel very vulnerable.
When people are in the dark, they imagine that horrible creatures will creep up and harm them. When you have light in the dark, you can see better and feel less vulnerable.

Hence, we program our self through fear that white is pure and black is evil.

Unfortunately, when the question of race come into play, most of us don't stop and think about what we are talking about.

Answer 10

Well, I don't think that...actually, I never thought that.

If I beleived in stereotypes, my Italian heritage would be in big trouble. As it is, I have gone through a lot of years with kidding about being related to the Mafia, Cosa Nostra or Al Capone. Well, I don't know them nor do I have a gun, nor do I ever want a gun. Not every Italian is a killer or a wino. Some of us are teachers, doctors, actors, athletes or accountants.

Do you see how some silly jealous rumors can destroy a whole culture of people. I pray that nobody ever disrespects you or your parents heritage.

God bless you

Answer 11

maybe usually from novels. white is pure because its clean-no sin-, free of impurities such as angels. white can also show innocence which also contribute to the idea of an angel. black is usually associated wit evil because its a dark color- its mysterious and you never no whats hiding under the color (you may not get what you see). even the devil is associated with the colors red and black. it isn't always or usually associated with race.