A Black and White Matter…

White = Good. Black = Bad. 

Does the above statement seem too bold, outlandish, even racist? Over centuries, we have been deliberately conditioned to believe that the word “white” refers to all that is good. Conversely, the term “black” indicates all that is bad. While it may seem like I am making a gross (and potentially racist) overgeneralization, our dictionaries prove otherwise. In fact, Merriam Webster can back me up here. Let’s take a look at a few examples of the definition of white and black:

White

Of the color of milk or fresh snow; Marked by upright fairness; Free from spot or blemish; free from moral impurity: innocent…a symbol of purity; Not intended to cause harm; Favorable; Fortunate…[i]

Black

Very dark in color; Dirty; Soiled; Thoroughly sinister or evil: wicked; Indicative of condemnation or discredit; Connected with or invoking the supernatural and especially the devil; Very sad, gloomy, or calamitous…marked by the occurrence of disaster; Characterized by hostility or angry discontent; Of propaganda: conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale; Characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque…[ii]

 Okay, so what? Just because one dictionary uses these definitions doesn’t mean it affects how we personally feel about these words, right? After all, we (like to) believe that we are unique, thoughtful, and discerning individuals – capable of forming our own opinions. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple – especially when it comes to how we define things.

Dictionaries do not create words, nor do they come up with definitions – we do. Dictionaries simply exist to store our collective vocabulary and shared understanding of the world around us. They also mirror how we feel about each thing that we have labeled, as well as concepts and their corresponding associations. The problem is that once we have agreed upon the meaning of a word and inserted it into our shared terminology – we all become stuck in a myopic feedback loop. 

The loop exists because we have to construct our understanding of the world using only the vocabulary that we already have available. This means that when we define any new terminology, it is very difficult to detach from the associations that already exist for each word that we use to define the next. However, we frequently inject negative meaning into previously benign words. And it only takes a mutual agreement, or even a shared experience, to “hijack” a preexisting word and make it into something harmful. 

Take, for example, the word “f@*got” – originally meant to imply a bundle or bunch (of sticks)[iii].  This word has now become charged with such a level of hatred and animosity, that outside of its use within the gay community – it literally makes people cringe when they hear it. Case in point – I am censoring the word here, to try and not upset my readers. Moreover, we have given this word the power to brand a person in a way that can compromise their status, their livelihood, and even their safety.

That said, there are some words that are so deeply embedded in our collective psyche, that rebranding them would not only be difficult, but likely impossible. Unlike a standalone word such as “f@*got,” these terms are integral to our shared understanding of the world around us – and we can’t simply change their meaning. The words “black” and “white” fall within this category. This unfortunately means that the word “black” has rarely, if ever, used in a positive context until today.

A few basic examples:

• “Blackness descends upon us”
• “A black cloud above my head”
• “Blackness in his heart”
• “The Black Plague”
• “A black mark”
• “Pitch black”
• “Black market”
• “Black skin”
• “Black magic”

Did that second to last one throw you off? For those of you that claim that you were able dismiss the negative connotation solely for the example of skin color – I would challenge you to dig a little deeper. In fact, it’s not necessarily your fault – you were primed for it. In other words, I intentionally built upon negative associations already in place, in order to slip what should be have been a benign example into your unconscious. While this may seem like a trick, an unfair slight of hand, or even downright manipulative – in actuality, this is what happens to us every day.

White culture has been deliberately conditioned (by, and among ourselves) to form biases and prejudices toward the word “black.” This is not something that we can collectively or individually turn on or off at will – for the same reason that we cannot simply redefine the word “black” in the dictionary to make it mean something more positive. As a result, whether we are conscious of it or not – we have an inherently unfavorable view of almost everything that falls within that category – people included.

Sadly, the same is true for our understanding of the word “white.”  Only in this case, we have been conditioned to see it as not only a representation of positive, but also of superiority. In our culture, the term “white” represents all that is favorable and just. It has even been deemed the very symbol of purity. And while it would be easy for us to try and pretend that we don’t fall for such over-generalizations – our art, literature, music, cinema, and even religion show us the truth of our bias. If that weren’t the case – Gandalf could’ve worn black, Darth Vader could have worn white, we wouldn’t be “dreaming of a white Christmas,” and we would have zero qualms with restoring Jesus back to his actual skin color. 

Our very understanding of the terms “white” and “black” have ensured that our shared understanding of the “us versus them” mentality is even encapsulated in our vocabulary. And while the other colors that fall within this spectrum also elicit fear and hatred from many White folks – on a more fundamental level, this still is a black and white matter.

As much as we may be afraid to admit, many of us fear even the notion of “Black Power” – because according to our fundamental understanding of the word “black,” this would mean an uprising of something that we have been told is not only bad, but also “dirty… sinister … evil; wicked; … the devil; … hostil[e]; … originate[s] within an enemy country; … grim, distorted, … [and] grotesque…”[ii]. And this represents literally the opposite of everything that we have been told about not only the word “white,” but also about ourselves… and we clearly have the vocabulary to prove it.

[i] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/White

[ii] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Black

[iii] https://www.oed.com/viewdictionaryentry/Entry/67623