Analysis of the name dispute Must be the way the M-word?

Analysis of a controversial concept – Must way the M-word? Migros does not sell moor’s heads more. A look back: The matter is complex. Martin Ebel133 Kommentare133Der stone of contention: Mohr, head of the company Dubler
.Photo: Dubler

“Negro”, people are allowed to say. The word means nothing other than “Black” (from the Latin niger = black), dragging but a terrible discrimination and exploitation history, the one not in common want to make. But what is a “moor”? This is just as bad, it must be as the “M-word” out of the use of language is banished, because “people of color” violated, her white stakeholders feel provoked?

It is a little more complicated. A moor is not the Same as a, well, N-asterisk. It has its own word – and cultural history. “Mohr”, old high German and middle high German, “mor” comes from the Latin “maurus”, in Greek “Mauro’s”, and means “dark, brown”. It is the inhabitants of North West Africa, to be referred to in the ancient world. The Moors were the Arabs, the Europe is always in search of home, “moros” in Spanish (a in the Reconquista of the most successful field commander was called then “matamoros”, Maurentöter).

In the case of Luther is the “land of Ethiopia” the Land of Cush, South of Egypt. This geographical Iridescence continues in the word understanding. More and more the importance of “black-dominated”, from 16. Century fully, and as in the 18th century. Century, “Negro” is added, the Mohr the significance of the increase: the “noble moor”.

Black saints and Madonnas

The history of culture, especially the Christian, shows a wide spectrum of meaning of the Black. The color is also associated with the devil (literature of the middle ages, there are the “Hells Moor”), but one of the Magi, the Queen of Sheba, the Holy Mauritius and a number of black Madonnas is black.

of Course, the word “Mohr reflected” the colonial history, but other than the American slaves. In the 18th century. Century were many European farms black servants, who have survived in the iconography of today: Often half the children in the (anachronistic) Oriental garments dressed, with a tray in his hands, coffee and pastries submitting on a table. Such a Abraham Petrovich Hannibal, Secretary and godson of Peter the Great, and great-grandfather of Alexander Pushkin was.

Folk survived the moor in Heraldry and corporate logos, as the “Sarotti-Mohr” and in cafe, desserts or beer name. Often it was redeemed already, the Extermination campaign against the last Remnants are in progress. They are directed, however, against a word that has disappeared from the language entirely and, therefore, in everyday life, also no one can offend. For brave anti no worthy opponents racists actually.

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