Africans Are Not Black

The case for conceptual liberation

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Discrimination & Race Relations
Cover of the book Africans Are Not Black by Kwesi Tsri, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kwesi Tsri ISBN: 9781317184089
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: April 20, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Kwesi Tsri
ISBN: 9781317184089
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: April 20, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Africans are not literally black, yet they are called black. Why? This book explores the genesis and evolution of the description of Africans as black, the consequences of this practice, and how it contributes to the denigration (blackening) and dehumanisation of Africans. It uses this analysis to advance a case for abandoning the use of the term ‘black’ to describe and categorise Africans. Mainstream discussions of the history of European racism have generally neglected the role of black and white colour symbolisms in sustaining the supposed superiority of those labelled white over those labelled black. This work redresses that neglect, by tracing the genesis of the conception of Africans as black in ancient Greece and its continued employment in early Christian writings, followed by an original, close analysis of how this use is replicated in three key representative texts: Shakespeare's Othello, the translation of the Bible into the African language Ewe, and a book by the influential Ghanaian religious leader, Mensa Otabil. It concludes by directly addressing the argument that ‘black’ can be turned into a positive concept, demonstrating the failure of this approach to deal with the real problems raised by imposing the term ‘black’ on its human referents.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Africans are not literally black, yet they are called black. Why? This book explores the genesis and evolution of the description of Africans as black, the consequences of this practice, and how it contributes to the denigration (blackening) and dehumanisation of Africans. It uses this analysis to advance a case for abandoning the use of the term ‘black’ to describe and categorise Africans. Mainstream discussions of the history of European racism have generally neglected the role of black and white colour symbolisms in sustaining the supposed superiority of those labelled white over those labelled black. This work redresses that neglect, by tracing the genesis of the conception of Africans as black in ancient Greece and its continued employment in early Christian writings, followed by an original, close analysis of how this use is replicated in three key representative texts: Shakespeare's Othello, the translation of the Bible into the African language Ewe, and a book by the influential Ghanaian religious leader, Mensa Otabil. It concludes by directly addressing the argument that ‘black’ can be turned into a positive concept, demonstrating the failure of this approach to deal with the real problems raised by imposing the term ‘black’ on its human referents.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Elementary Logic by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book The Global Climate Regime and Transitional Justice by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Mixed or Single-sex School? Volume 2 by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Course Notes: Tort Law by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Planning with Complexity by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book The Counselor's Guide for Facilitating the Interpretation of Dreams by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Holistic Therapy for People with Dissociative Identity Disorder by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book The Challenge of Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book A Critical Companion to Lynn Nottage by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Jumpstart! Spanish and Italian by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Understanding Korean Literature by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Knowledge and Politics (RLE Social Theory) by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book Michael Freeman's Photo School Fundamentals by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book The Disparity of European Integration by Kwesi Tsri
Cover of the book The Populist Radical Left in Europe by Kwesi Tsri
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy