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Schvartze (from שוואַרץ, shvarts, 'black'; cf. German: schwarz; OED) is a racial slur for black people in the Yiddish language.[1][2]
Etymology
editSchvartze is derived from the Yiddish word schvarts, which means "black".[3] The term was rare prior to the 20th century. An article for the Washington Jewish Week refers to it as "the S-word".[4]
About
editThe term schvartze has been described as "the Jewish N-word" or "the Yiddish N-word".[5][6][7][failed verification]
Among white South African Jews, the term has a history of being used to describe Black South Africans, as well as Indian South Africans and Coloured South Africans.[8][better source needed]
Black Jewish writer Michael W. Twitty noted in 2017 a handful of public instances in which the term was used. He notes that he had never heard the term used in earlier stages of his life and spoke against a return of the word's use, comparing it to the term "kushi".[9] Black Orthodox Jewish rabbi Shais Rishon rejected the notion that the term is not meant to be offensive and racist, writing that
It is not merely a 'color' word...American Jews do not say 'Pass me my schvartzer jacket' or 'Today I'm wearing my schvartzer hat', adding that term "was thrown around quite often in my youth, even more so toward my fellow African-American Jews who went to yeshiva, and always in lieu of an actual name. In short, in the exact same context that 'nigger' was used in the 1960s.[10][better source needed][undue weight? – discuss]
Controversies
editIn 1991, the stand-up comedian Jackie Mason was criticized by African-American organizations including the NAACP, when he called New York City mayor David Dinkins "a fancy shvartze with a moustache";[11][failed verification] Mason later apologized.[12][failed verification] In 2009, Mason referred to Barack Obama as a shvartze during one of his stand-up routines, which prompted members of the audience to walk out.[13]
In 2021, the Republican Jewish Coalition and other Jewish groups in North Carolina urged Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson to apologize for antisemitic comments, including a Facebook post that said the film Black Panther was created by an "agnostic Jew" and a "satanic Marxist" in order to extract "shekels out of your Schvartze pockets." Robinson refused to apologize.[14][15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "schvartze". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "schvartze". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "schvartze (n.)". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ "The Real "S" Word". Washington Jewish Week. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Davis, Erika (July 25, 2012). "No More Jewish N-Word". The Forward. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Abramowitz, Jack (December 18, 2014). "The Jewish N Word". Orthodox Union. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ "South Florida Author Examines Miami Race Relations And The "Yiddish N-Word"". WLRN-FM. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Arnold, Peter Chester. "Jackie's racism". The Times of Israel blogs. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Twitty, Michael W. (January 31, 2017). "Opinion:Kippahed While Black: The Troubling Resurgence of 'Shvartze' and 'Kushi'". The Forward. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ "Schvartzer: it's not black and white". Moment Magazine. 2011. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Chadwick, Alan (June 13, 2006). "Metrolife: Jackie Mason". Metro. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ Thomas S. Hischak (2003), Enter the Players: New York Stage Actors in the Twentieth Century
- ^ Bill Hutchiinson. "Comments about President Obama by Jackie Mason draw racism charges". New York Daily News, March 16, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ "NC leader: 'Agnostic Jew' made Black Panther to reach 'Schvartze pockets'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
- ^ "North Carolina's lieutenant governor has Jewish community on high alert". JewishInsider.com. Retrieved 2023-04-29.