The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #173907   Message #4217741
Posted By: MoorleyMan
21-Feb-25 - 07:15 PM
Thread Name: Is 'black as any moor' acceptable?
Subject: RE: Is 'black as any moor' acceptable?
C'mon, surely this is over-reacting even in our days of taboo-focused culture.. Next we won't be able to sing "Black Is The Colour"...

Seriously, tho', it's likely the word referenced in the Copper Family song is Blackamoor, abbreviated to Moor and cited thus: "It's important to understand that Blackamoors emerged as a response to the Moorish occupation of Europe. They were Arabic, hence the turbans and tunics you see in many of them. They were a curiosity—there were not many Africans in Italy at the time. So that's where the tradition came from." And per the OED: "noun, archaic - a black African or a very dark-skinned person." Origin: early 16th century: from black + Moor. Factual, not an insult, nor offensive, thus not unacceptable. As is the obvious picture painted of a sweep having a face black with soot. I rest my case.