(no subject)

[gwynhefar]

Just read an interesting article in the November 1919 issue of The Half-Century Magazine, an African American magazine issued primarily in the late teens and early 20s. The article is entitled "By What Name Shall the Race be Known?" a deals with the still-relevant topic of what term should be used to designate those Americans descended from African slaves. The author rejects "Negro," "African," "Afro-American," and "Colored" in turn for various reasons, and puts forth the opinion that that area of Africa from which the first slaves were taken (so he claims, I honestly don't know if this is true) should be re-named "Librania" from the Latin "Liber" meaning "free" and their descendants in America be known as "Libranians." Obviously, this idea never took off, but I can't help but notice the similarity of the name to my own profession. My relatively non-politically correct brain then went into paroxysms of glee at the thought of "Libranian Librarians" (of which there are many).

Anyway, it's a really fascinating article. The whole magazine is pretty interesting too.

Comments

[gateandgarden.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I'd thought "Afro-American" was a newer term. Malcolm tried to persuade people to use it rather than "Negro," or "Colored" as though it had just been thought up. Actually, I guess he might have gotten the idea from Marcus Garvey, who was probably saying something along those lines about the same time your article was written.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he basically says to use "Afro-American" would be qualifying the term "American," as if those so designated weren't really full Americans. He rejects "Negro" for it's clear association with another N word, "African" because there are Africans in Africa, and "Colored" because hey, we're all colored some way. Peach or cream or tan or caramel or mahogany there is no such thing as a truly white or truly black human being on this planet, so to call some colored and others not-colored is ridiculous.

Honestly, I pretty much agreed with everything he said, although I admit to quite a bit of amusement at the Libranians suggestion. But only because I had Libranian Librarian running through my head :)

[gateandgarden.livejournal.com]

Damn, I should've gotten that African American studies degree I wanted to get back when I actually liked going to school. I could be arguing for "Libranian" in African American review or something, and mention that it goes well with another one I've seen a few places--lesbrarian.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm on the Lezbrian mailing list :)

[gateandgarden.livejournal.com]

Ha! Now I remember you mentioning that one at some point.