Black and White Symbolism

Have you ever thought about the everyday sayings we use and where they come from? One day, I started to pay attention to sayings we use, like “white lie” or “white magic” versus “black magic," etc. How come all of the sayings or names of things that include the colors black or white are considered good or innocent, and the ones that contain the color black usually signify bad, evil, or negative? Like, c’mon! So, I consulted my trusty AI friend, Chat GPT, and I had some questions! Because enlighten me! I want this to stop YESTERDAY!

SO, WHERE DID THESE PHRASES ORIGINATE FROM?

Associating black with negative connotations and white with positive ones is deeply rooted in historical and cultural context, with really nothing to back it up besides conditioning and historical events. When we talk about cultural and historical context, in many cultures, especially Western societies and even many religious texts, blackness or darkness is often correlated to evil, ignorance, negativity, or chaos. Lightness is often associated with goodness, purity, positivity, and divine presence. I've always noticed and wondered about this. I felt this. When I finally paid attention to all the negative that was related to black, I was offended, and I said, “Wait, hold up!” I immediately wanted to know why and take certain phrases out of my vocabulary. I’m constantly asking myself and looking to find the origin and meaning of everything now.

In regard to language and idioms, there are endless ones! I will not discuss them all, but a few examples that jump out to me are white magic, black magic, white lies, black market, dark web, white hat, black sheep, blacklist, blackball, black hole, Black Monday, White Christmas, and White Knight, to name a few. I am only going to discuss a few for the sake of this blog.

WHITE MAGIC VS. BLACK MAGIC

White magic is considered the benevolent or positive use of supernatural powers or magic. If you are a practitioner of white magic, you typically use the powers to bring about positive outcomes, protect, and heal by drawing on natural energies and forces. Some examples of these white magic practices include love spells and casting other spells for health, protection, and rituals to draw in harmony and peace. The key to the definition of white magic is that it should be aligned with ethical practices and principles that contribute to the greater good. The definition of black magic, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. It is simply associated with harmful or malevolent intentions. The practices that are often used to carry out these harmful intentions are spells, curses, and other rituals that are used to control others, manipulate them, and cause harm. These practices can result in pain, misfortune, death, and many other things and may be done due to greed, power, or revenge. All in all, black magic is classified as unethical practices that violate natural laws and involve occult or dark practices. Do y’all see the differences? Why can’t it just be called magic that is either simply good or bad? Negative or positive? The addition of the colors feels intentionally damaging.

WHITE LIE

A white lie is considered to be a trivial or harmless lie that is told. It is said to supposedly prevent minor issues or avoid hurting someone’s feelings. It is considered to be socially acceptable because it is supposed to be benign, in an attempt to be kind or polite, and not to be harmful or deceptive. It sounds like a bunch of bull crap to me because even a white lie is going to piss me off every time. Telling these little lies in an attempt not to make someone feel bad about something is what I consider to be harmful in the long run and still very much considered a lie in my book. Instead of calling it a white lie, let’s call it what it is: a LIE.

BLACK MONDAY

I have heard of Black Monday before but didn’t know exactly what it was until I looked into it today. According to Google, Black Monday is an event that occurred on October 19, 1987.

where there was a stock market crash, and the Dow Jones fell 508 points, or 22.6%, in a single day. It is the largest decline in one day in history. There is a whole bunch of other stuff regarding that, but I won’t get into it. Another quick thing I stumbled upon was about a massacre in Dublin in 1209, a battle in 1360, and an uprising in Ireland in 1689. All these things are tragic and negative, and it seems as though slapping the word black on it sums up the narrative. That is problematic.

EVERYDAY LANGUAGE

Many of these idioms are used in our everyday language without even thinking about their meanings or indications. However, these phrases have certainly evolved over time.

Many people of African descent, especially in the United States, experience prejudice and discrimination because of the color of their skin. This has, unfortunately, opened the doors for social inequality and racism. The symbolism extends to social structures and racial dynamics. Further, this has reinforced the association of blackness with negative stereotypes, inferiority, and negativity!

IMPACT ON PERCEPTION 

The impact on perception is major! The use of certain languages and cultures and their associations is pervasive to the point that it subtly influences how people perceive groups and individuals—black people in this case. Real-world interactions and opportunities are affected by stereotypes and unconscious biases. It is so scary that many people do not even realize how impactful the way we speak is on our mindsets.

WHAT CAN WE AS PEOPLE DO, IF POSSIBLE?

Change perceptions! As time has passed, awareness of these perceptions has slightly begun to shift, and efforts are being made to challenge these stereotypes and promote equality and inclusivity. The only thing about that is that in order to do this, we must also include extensive and ongoing structural changes, education, and awareness in order to dismantle the deeply ingrained cultural associations. Spread awareness, do your part, and let’s dismantle this stuff!

     -J