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Peripheral Naming Problems |
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Before I "draw a line in the sand" as to my preferences for what we shall call ourselves, let us pause to look at some of the peripheral implication controversial term.
For these as well as for terms used to label us, I understand both sides of the arguments for and against a given controversial term--but not necessarily their scope. My position is that all words are born equal and without meaning until someone gives each a meaning. And just because he/she gives it meaning does not make it right because their opinion is no better than that of any one else. Many conceptual doors have opened from my by-passing a need to judge something. Instead, I prefer to see what it is, where it leads, and why it appears to whom the way it does. But I am not intimidated because my opinion differs from their opinion. If their opinion does not work for me I simply let it go--and see no point in getting upset about it. If I did get upset then that means I am recognizing their power and giving my power to them. Other people feel differently and that is all right with me. Ancient Africans embraced contrary opinions because the conflict brought them closer to the truth in that there was some "right" in every differing opinion. Yet, discretion is the better part of valor. I will not intentionally use a term that bothers people if there are non-emotion provoking alternatives. But I do know someone will object to anything--and often because they do not listen well. Many feel that by objecting they are showing a sense of power and that a power display is better than heading toward a solution.
Nevertheless, the first peripheral controversial term having a bad connotation with Black people is the term "Ghetto"--despite its denotation deriving from an Italian term designating local European cultural areas that arose over time--areas either voluntarily selected or built up by the most disadvantaged people. In recent years it has been applied to struggling Black people, starting in slavery and continuing to the present to refer to conditions similar to those of the Slaves' quarters. For this reason, despite "Ghetto" being historically descriptive (which has significance to me), this is not sufficient for general acceptance by Black people. The reason I often use "Ghetto" is because this was a term fixed by the customs of its time and conveys a certain atmosphere and image setting. In no way do I intend it to be derogatory. In writing by book on Dwarfs, there were similar "Naming" problems. Although the name "Achondroplasia" was wrong medically, it was so well established in history that for me to change it would have created more confusion in understanding. Second, the same comments apply to the word "Slave." This present day controversial term is historically well-established for millennia back but a recent trend has been to use the substitute word "Enslaved" in referring to Black people. Again, to try to make such a change in a word so entrenched in the minds of people would not be in the best interest of historical reality; would be difficult to always substitute in the writing of history; and would confuse later historians.
Still other terms included as denigratory terminology in reference to African culture, heritage, or identity are ‘Tribe’ ("Ethnic Group" now preferred); ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’; ‘Negroid’; "Colored"; and ‘black Africa.’ Because Black people for centuries have been victims of cruel racial persecution, most are quite sensitive about racial Appellations (name-calling) and Epithets (descriptive expressions). When “black”, “colored” and “negro” were in respectful use, it was (and is) still necessary for Whites to assert their inhumanity to fellow humans. For example, to reinforce the demeaning nature of these words, particularly those which started with an “N,” Whites would write them with a non-capital. Each time these and offensive things regarding their names would happen, Blacks would feel vilified (spoken evil of) individually and as a "race.” Of all the peripheral terms, “Nigger” is by far the most emotionally charged. Spurred by the African Retention of ones Self-meaning and purpose or fate being encapsulated in the name of each African, there continually have been African descendants in the Americas who remain as strong advocators of a return to African labels. However, the terms they select in different time periods conform to the changing times of the Americas--with the changes being based upon what seems most reasonable to them at the time. In the process, they strongly reject non-selected connotations. On the other hand, some do not put that much emphasis on names because "a rose by any other name is just as sweet." I prefer "African Americans" for the Slaves and "Black Americans" for their today's descendants (from their race and values mixtures). |
