The Meaning Behind The Colors: Racism
Color is a unique gift to mankind. It signifies the different ways we perceive the world. Imagine having a particular pattern in different colors. We can go as far as having different shades of a particular color. The whole essence of having a vision is to behold beauty, and this is in relation to the colors we see. When you wake up in the morning and open your eyes, you see something and the light/colors, go with it.
It is impossible to talk about colors without talking about the rainbow. The rainbow is a sight to behold. A blend of colors presented in the same plane. This shows the beauty of the color mix.
Do colors have Connotative Meanings?
Colors have connotative meanings. As we know, language is one way we perceive the world. In language, we have color terms. In some languages, we can have two terms – black and white and every other color is described in relation to them. Other languages can have a third term, Red.
A language like English has a long list of color terms. A particular color can have different shades. For example; we can have navy and sky blue. This defines the type of concepts they have in their worldview. Another connotative use of colors can be that of drawing an inference. The color Red may mean blood. Green – vegetation or purple meaning royalty. This shows how important colors are to native speakers of particular speech communities.
The connotative use of colors we are focusing on here is that of ‘RACE’. The issue of race has been one of controversy and war, tracing down to the era of colonialism and independence. The slave trade, the war for freedom, independence, democracy and finally, now Nepotism. Color is one element that we can use in defining a race. This is in relation to skin color.
What is Responsible for the Skin’s Color?
The element responsible for giving the skin its color is MELANIN. So, a lack of or possession of it can result in different colors for the skin and in some cases a type of colored hair.
For African languages, e.g. Nigerian languages, we have two color terms, i.e. white and black. We are black and the white man is white. Even in our everyday conversations, we are likely to refer to a Nigerian who is fair in complexion as a white man. Beyond this worldview is one with a lot of varieties. So we have, blondes, dark-skinned. Light skinned, chocolate, pale-looking, red-skinned, albino, etc.
The main argument is that we identify a human race by their skin color. We can distinguish people by their culture, language, and geographical location. A major factor in their skin color (e.g. a red- Indian and an American). Yet we may have exceptional cases of persons with different skin colors. This is as a contrast to the general color of their race. This may be as a result of recessive genes or inter-marriage.
What Then is the Meaning Behind the Colors?
The body is like a label and the skin its tag. Labels like Gucci, Lacoste, D&G, etc. They represent the designers, their taste, their skills and most especially their brand. It’s the same for colors. They represent people who come from a race.
It’s like a dark room with laser lights of different colors. Colors help us make generalizations. If this person is dark-skinned, he/she must be an African. So, the skin color is a tag that people carry everywhere with them. We can never escape our roots with color tags.
Human beings create a society that is governed by laws and certain thought patterns. We have people of the same society having the same perception of concepts. So, we always make reference to worldviews. Generally, the attitude towards color as a function of aesthetics is positive. But, towards skin color, it’s been negative. This leads us to the concept of RACISM.
What is Racism?
Racism, as defined by the dictionary, is the belief in the superiority of one race over another. This often results in discrimination and prejudice towards people. It is based on their race or ethnicity. In the cause of racism, there are two predominant races which are; the BLACK and the WHITE race.
The Black Race.
The black race consists of Africans. They are victims of colonization and the slave trade. Their skin colors range from ebony to caramel, dark, chocolate, brown, etc. They are not on either side of the coin. They are beneath it. They have a low economy, high population rate, and low technological advancement.
The White Race
Unlike the black race, they consist of non- Africans with a mix of migrated Africans. Their skin colors range from light-skinned to blonde, tanned, pale, etc. They are above the coin. They have a high economy, controlled population rate, and advanced technology.
Yet we can say that Racism is actually a color of the mind. This brings us to the use of the term COLORISM. This is the ill-treatment of humans based on their skin color. The latter causes the former. Why is this? Now, we see migrants who settled in different parts of the world. They have to some large extent, contributed to the society in which they find themselves. But yet may suffer segregation.
A major turn in History is the emergence of Barack Obama as the president of the United States of America. Also the production of the popular marvel movie; Black Panther. It exposed a lot about the black race and her culture as well as the beauty in their skin color. Another is the emergence of Meghan Markle as the Duchess of Sussex. These are individuals who are in mixed societies and contribute to its development.
Yet, in the same society, punishments of the law are in different degrees based on skin colors. In Ohio (2019), the Police killed black teens for carrying toys. Blacks are the ones known for internet fraud. In the last presidential election in the U.s, there was an uproar. Blacks were under threat of deportation to their countries, regardless of their contributions to society. Children are still bullied in school because of their skin color.
Apart from the black-white distinction, there is the concept of Albinism. These sets of individuals face a lot of colorism. This is due to the fact that we have them in all races/societies. Their skin color is distinct. This is in comparison to the others and they experience some other defects too.
The Black Woman
Traditional Batwa Women
A major factor that defines our existence is SOCIETY. Society determines what we do, say, how we do it, say it, etc. We behave according to the laid down rules. If Racism is a color of the mind and Colorism the color of the eye, then society plays a major role in defining our race.
The meaning behind the color black includes;
- STRENGTH
The black woman has the attribute of strength. She is strong and bold. Her strength is shown in how she handles the situations in her life. Issues of polygamy, illiteracy, poverty and the likes are such that she has handled.
There is this will to survive, even the Lion resides in Africa. Black women fight for their children. We have the case of childbirth. Unlike the advanced world where there is a controlled birth rate. We have families with the least number of three or a large amount of four children. A black woman can give birth to nine upwards and still feed all.
In the street you see black women doing multiple jobs to meet ends. Most of the feminists we have today are black women. This characterizes their strength and will power to help others. Tyler Perry movies expose the strength of the black woman e.g. Diary of a mad black woman, Acrimony, etc.
The strength of a black woman displays how she lifts and assists her husband. Her ability to make his life better. She can clean, sweep, wash the clothes and still make a meal for the family. The culture of blacks suggests that a good woman is one who can do a lot of chores.
We can make reference to the era of colonization. Where the black woman works in the sugar cane farm or does all the chores. The black woman is strong. Due to their high birth rate, they produce a high amount of manpower. You can read ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett to see the strength of the color black. The color black is strong.
- BEAUTY
Black is beautiful. It is consistent and without blemish. Although some perceive it as dirty, it is dignifying. Imagine washing your colored clothes together. The only cloth that will not get stains from others is your black clothes. The same is for the black skin. The different shades of black are unique and beautiful to the sight.
The richness of their beauty shows in the glory of their hair. This can be further justified by the fact that black skin can endure any kind of weather. We can tone or oil the skin and it only gets better.
Black women are beautiful. Their culture mixed with their skin color is the perfect combination. Many men have fallen for the charm of black women as we see many inter-marriages. Their beauty is enchanting and they come in all shapes and sizes.
We hear stories of men traveling to African countries and having wives and children. We see this beauty by looking at the cartoon characters Pocahontas, Mulan, Moana, and Jasmine. Observe how they stand out and the attention they command with their beauty. The color black is beautiful.
- WEALTH
The black woman is rich in culture, knowledge, roots, family, love and of course money. There is a common belief among some Nigerians. This is the notion that the female child is the one who remembers and takes care of her family. This is because when the male child gets married, he has his own nuclear family.
By now, we know that wealth doesn’t only signify money. This is why we have tried to itemize a few things that make the black woman wealthy. She is rich in culture; She preserves her cultural heritage even when married. This is why we have the notion of Mother tongue, where the child tends to learn its mother’s language first. This is because she would use her language to communicate with her child. Hence, her act is culture preserving.
In knowledge, our mothers know a lot. They have information on some issues which pass down from generation to generation. Things like; cooking recipes, child care, health and beauty tips, etc. What goes on in the head of a black woman? Roots and family talk about lineage. We may say, that in marriage, the woman leaves her home and creates a home with a different family.
She is the link between families and her child, the preservation of a lineage. When it comes to money, we have black women who are earning a lot and making waves in their fields. Take the likes of the Queen of Sheba of old and now, Mo Abudu, Serena Williams, Beyoncé, Taraji. P. Henson etc. to mention but a few. The black woman is wealthy.
- SLAVERY
The color black exposes years of slavery. Even those of us who did not go through it are products of slavery by our skin color. A black woman remains a slave in the minds of some even with the advent of democracy.
The color of our skins, the scars are a reminder of who we were. The torment, suffering, struggle, fight, etc. Our history connects to our skin color. Excerpt from Bob Marley’s song- No woman no cry; “In this great future, we can’t forget the past”. A reminder is the looks we get because of our skin color.
- INTELLIGENCE
Color black states intelligence. In some African countries like Nigeria, the female child does not go to school (in time passed). Yet any black woman who has privileges of going to school has done us proud. Their ability to assimilate is amazing. They are lucrative, creative and productive. Watch Sabrina, and watch out for their school days.
- POWER
The color black screams power. The black woman has been able to gain power by infiltrating different spheres of life. (e.g. education, politics, health, etc.) The black woman has resulted in them. We have black female presidents, professors, pilots, etc. Black is powerful.
- ARTS AND CULTURE
The blacks are vast in arts and culture. The women involve themselves in creating and preserving these cultures. We have African countries where there are certain cultures for women to follow. This may mark their maturity, marriage, giving birth, etc.
Some of these activities may include; elongating the ear lobes, adorning themselves with beads, open their breasts, etc.
Also for music and dance, they can have a dance or singing groups. Games or other activities, women are a part of. Some may take up tattoos and new names. A naming ceremony is always wonderful. The black woman is artistic and cultural.
- A VOICE
Color black serves as a voice. Based on history and experience, the blacks have a lot to say, express, correct and expose. The color black is our voice. I am black and I have the right to air my opinions. Due to racism and colorism, we tend to want to speak up for ourselves when others downsize us. Black is a voice.
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is the wife of the former president of the United States of America, Barack Obama. She brings out the meaning behind the color black in all ramifications. She is a voice, artistic, beautiful, intelligent, wealthy and strong. We see her strength in how she supports her husband and children. She wrote a book called Becoming. She exposes how her roommate maltreats her because she was black, yet she’s turned out well.
Lupita Nyongo
Lupita is a Kenyan actress of Luo descent. We see strength in her as she fares in Hollywood with other mixed co-actors. Her skin color is charming as is her smile. In the Marvel movie, Black panther, she brings out the culture of Wakanda. She is the voice of the girls captured in the Sambisa forest. Her rich knowledge is on display when she gives wise counsel to the prince. You can also watch ‘SEVEN YEARS A SLAVE’ and see her major role as a black woman in slavery. She is bold and strong.
Serena Williams
Serena is the epitome of strength and skill. She is a sports person, and how she is able to deliver in her games is breathtaking. She plays tennis and she became a mother in the year 2017, September 1st. Asides being black, she is an American tennis player. The greatest women’s tennis player of all time.
The above are a few black women who wear the color well.
“The meaning behind the color- is whatever we term it to be. If we can get rid of the color of the mind then the color of the eyes will be no problem at all (be it black or white). The skin color is only a label”
All images are sponsored by pixabay
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