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When a Rose is Not a Rose: Black Day for an Old Brand

Alan Chalkley writes from Hong Kong
CHINA has banned the sale of a toothpaste called "Darkle," which carries a picture of a black man in top hat and bow tic, and (lashing a dazzling white smile.
Other governments have also forced the brand off their markets where the makers, an old Hong Kong firm, have been selling for ages.
Most people will agree that names which arc seen to insult people should be discouraged, if necessary by law. But times change, and much of what today Is insulung began as a mild Joke or even as a plan description.
Some terms remain to be carried proudly by their wearers. In Britain, a "Geordie" from northeastern England, a "Mick" from Ireland or a Taffy" from Wales laughs at the words; they arc all based on commonly-used names — George. Michael and David. But a Spaniard or a Portuguese doesn't like being called a "dago." which is from the common name Diego
The term "Yank" for a United States citizen Is okay in international talk, but It is not okay domestically. The origin is "Jan Kees" (John Cheese), a typical early Dutchman settler, and it came to be used by Southerners to describe the northern enemy during the American Civil War; in return the Yankees called their enemy "rebs” (rebels).
To call a Mexican a "greaser" or a Chinese person a "chink" is not acceptable, although these began harmless enough (there Is an old children's song. "Chinky Chinky Chnaman." which Is only gendy mocking). To call a Japanese a "nip" (from Nippon, their own name for their country) is insulting. and to "call him a "jap"
is nearly as bnd, for reasons hard to fathom.
"Brits don t mind being called that, but Germans bridle at being called the "boche" (old French for "hard-head”). Some Americans call the British "limeys," from the use of lime-Juice aboard British ships In the 18th century The Mexicans call Anglo-Saxons "gringos' (perhaps from an old sailors song "Green Grow the Rushes. Oh").
There seems to be no law against "limey" or "gringo " You Just have to know what are the current sentiments. For instance, it Is okay to call a European to his face by the Chinese phrase "gwei 10," which is variously translated as "white ghost" or "foreign devil," and to call a Chinese matron by the words "tai-tai." when you are in Hong Kong.
But in all countries one must be careful with the many words for mixed-race people, like half-breed, half-chat, mulatto, etc., although the word "mestiso" (Spanish for "mixed") ts okay in the Philippines. and proudly borne.
In South Asia, there is a wealth of local slang names for castes and activities and races, some joking and some which can start a full-scale war. Call an Indian high-level government clerk a "babu." apd he has to smile thinly and take It, but If you are not a member of the local citizenship, it Is better to avoid all slang. Some words arc fun in local mouths,
but arc not acceptable in foreign mouths.
Of all the communities In the world, the ones which have had the most linguistic trouble are the people from Africa, and especially those from the north-west, the source of the massive sale of slaves for the early Caribbean and American plantations. Ironically, those who still live there bear a name proudly which Is anathema elsewhere
The word is "niger," Latin for black. The Romans named the River Niger, and British and French colonial powers named the states of Nigeria and Niger, which remain to this day. The actual Latin pronunciation is "nigger." shortened to "nig" or varied with "nigra." the Latin feminine ad jcctfve, or "negro." the Spanish version. The Anglo-Saxon Americans also used "darkle," from the old English for "blackness."
Last century, and right up to the 196Os. there was a form of staged entertainment called the "nigger minstrel show” in America and Britain. It was an odd creation. It was supposed to show a choir of black slaves, singing to their masters, although nearly all the singers
were actually whites liberally coloured with black greasepaint. and the choir-master, called "Mr Interlocutor had a
white face,
In addition to singing a wide range of real and faked "negro spirituals." the performers had cross talk Joke routines. They were delivered in the sonorous high and low tones which the Africans have Introduced to Western music and speech.
Even as recently as 1965, it was still possible to mount one of these strange "nigger min-
strel shows" on British stage •nd television Songs like "All through the night, you can hear them darkles singing* were performable.
Today, all the old Lattnlc and Teutonic words for "black" are unacceptable — except "black".
Words change their meanings over time (look at "democratic"). They change their acceptability, too.
So we are not to be surprised that the Chinese authorities have Just dropped the word planned" from their description of their economy. It had become a nasty word.
They have substituted the word "market." But 'capitalist* is still forbidden, of course.
— Depthnews Asia