Racism In The English Language

Did you know racism was inherent in the english language we all take for granted today?
did you know much of the world's history today is a racist modified slant of eurocentrism?

Some may blackly (angrily) accuse me of trying to blacken (defame) the English language, to give it a black eye(a mark of shame) by writing such black words (hostile). They may denigrate (to cast aspersions; to darken) me by accusing me of being blackhearted (malevolent), of having a black outlook (pessimistic, dismal) on life, of being a blackguard (scoundrel)?which would certainly be a black mark (detrimental fact) against me. Some may black?brow (scowl at) me and hope that a black cat crosses in front of me because of this black deed. I may become a black sheep (one who causes shame or embarrassment because of deviation from the accepted standards), who will be blackballed (ostracized) by being placed on a blacklist (list of undesirables) in an attempt to blackmail (to force or coerce into a particular action) me to retract my words. But attempts to blackjack (to compel by threat) me will have a Chinaman's chance of success, for I am not a yellow?bellied Indian?giver of words, who will whitewash (cover Lip or gloss over vices or crimes) a black lie (harmful, inexcusable). 1 challenge the purity and innocence (white) of the English language. I don't see things in black and white (entirely bad or entirely good) terns, for I am a white man (marked by upright firmness) if there ever was one. However, it would be a black clay when I would not "call a spade a spade," even though some will suggest a white man calling the English language racist is like the pot calling the kettle black. While many may he niggardly (grudging, scanty) in their support, others will be honest and decent?and to them I say, that's very white of you (honest, decent).

Many words lead to a demeaning characterization of groups of people. For instance, Columbus, it is said, "discovered" America. The word discover is defined as "to gain sight or knowledge of something previously unseen or unknown; to discover may be to find some existent thing that was previously unknown." Thus, a continent inhabited by millions of human beings cannot be "discovered." For history books to continue this usage represents a Eurocentric (white European) perspective on world history and ignores the existence of, and the perspective of, Native Americans. "Discovery," as used in the Euro?American context, implies the right to take what one finds, ignoring the rights of those who already inhabit or own the "discovered" thing.

Eurocentrism turns these definitions around to serve the purpose of distorting history and justifying Euro?American conquest of the Native American homelands. Euro Americans are not described in history books as invading Native American lands, but rather as defending their homes against "Indian" attacks. Since European communities were constantly encroaching on land already occupied, then a more honest interpretation would state that it was the Native Americans who were "warding off," "guarding" and "defending" their homelands.

Please read the rest of this excerpt on Ijebuman's diary. http://naijaman.cfmxdeveloper.co.uk/diary/ijebuman.html

Your comments are duly welcome.

Sure I've always had the same ideas about this for long. There's racism against Native Americans currently yet Americans don't seem to realise they're Europeans. The people they've forced into reservations are the real owners of the land.

We're lucky that stuff like that didn't happen to us in Nigeria. In Australia, the aborigines are also given similar treatment  -- pathetic.

That is very white of you, Davidylan, as Clint Eastwood would say.  Your post has filled my mind with many dark thoughts, but I have chosen rather to look for the lighter side to this discourse, and will therefore wait until this dark cloud has lifted before blacklisting you for abuse of the queen's language, while resisting any attempts to blackmail me into a premature response by the Forces of Darkness whose sole motivation is to blacken my image.

Lol @Nwoke

Seun is absolutely unaware of the systemic aspects of racism. You can have racism working in subtle ways, undermining equal opportunities without those acting racist even being aware of it.  Actually, nowadays most racism is of that type. Dreaming up ideas that all racist effects need to have an racist intention is laugable.
Categorising the consequences of systemic racism as an intentional plot by the man to bring down black people is ridiculous, but flatly ignoring those racist consequences is even worse. By doing so, you are perpetuating that system.

Seun needs a reality check and stay either in North-America or Europe for a couple of months.

My position:

1)  Unintentional racism doesn't make me angry.  It is only natural.  Getting angry over unintentional white-on-black racism is really stupid, because it only reinforces it.  Behaving in an inferior manner because some people subconsciously see you as being inferior is retarded.  you are only worsening the problem. Once racism is no longer being pursued consciously, the best you can do is install affirmative action and treat it as a non-issue.  This black lady that is popularly reviled as GW Bush's right hand woman did not get there by hating white people. 

Example: It is only natural for a white man to prefer to employ a white boy who looks and talks like him than someone who looks difference and talks different and gets angry unpredictably because he thinks you are racist.  It's not malice, it's just human nature.  Why is it that most world leaders are tall and pretty goodlooking men?  Human nature, not malice.

2)  Most black people are more racist than the white people they are reviling.  Example: Nigerians abroad wanting to marry their own kind and treating their white lovers like shit.  let him that is without sin cast the first stone.  most of you talking here have no right whatsoever to accuse white people of being racist.

We're only complaining because they seem to be more successful than us.  But success doesn't come by complaining, it comes by excelling.  If you are in Rome, be a Roman.  Unjustified hatred against innocent whites will only increase the problem.  Your fight against "racism" is mostly a childish fit of envy.

For once Nwoke, i tend to agree with you. Good point here.

I haven't experienced racism here yet though i've "heard" it from other people, it would take a large hearted fellow to be racist to my face. I believe the way out is not by complaining (as Nwoke mentioned) but by taking conscious steps to do better. It is often said that a black kid needs to be 2ce as good as a white kid to get the same level of treatment, if that is what it takes brothers, we can do it.
Racism towards asians is on the decline not because the asians have suddenly developed white skins too but because it is becoming apparent that some of the world's most powerful nations economically and millitarily are asian nations. Japan, China, Korea e.t.c at least 50% of cars used in the USA are now asian cars, China now owns a part of IBM (Lenovo), China, Malaysia produce most of the world's computers and electronics. The world is sitting up and taking notice of the asian tigers.

Racism against black people is based on stereotype, sincerely if many of us were white, we'D be more biased than many of the whites we blame. Take one look at Africa today and tell me why someone would not grow up with the feeling that black people are somehow inferior humans. No nation led by blacks is anywhere today.
i was in church last sunday where two white american women did a slide show on their recent visit to Zambia, it was apalling. For the first time in my life i was ashamed to be African. The poverty, disease and lack was so glaring, there was no water, electricity, roads. people still living in mud huts, children orphaned by AIDS,,  i had to admit if i'D been white, i would be looking at black people in a diff light from that day.

I don't blame white people all that much. my mantra is "what a white man can do, i can do much better!" racism will not be stamped out by court orders and affirmative action, we need to look inward and strive to take away the negative mentality that other people have of africans. Many people have the oppinion that black americans are only successful because they live in a "white" society.
The asians have done it, we can do it too.

Recently, Chinese is being increasingly taught in mainstream American schools, many white parents who a few years ago despised asians are now wanting their kids to go on summer camps in asia to learn mandarin.
When will africa get it right and take her rightful place in history.

interesting to read - this thread , very thot provoking.

i totally agree with daidylan - the attidudes of whites towards asians is changing for the better, this is simply because of the increasing profile of asian economic and military power . IF WE WANT RESPECT , WE GOTA EARN IT  - SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If nigerians are suffering so much abroad, they should come back home to enjoy.

Seunnnnnnnnn!!!!!!! why do You always decide to talk sh*t