#Blackness ~ As an editor... oh oh, activisting again

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I thought you might like to look at this phrase as an indication of why Black should be capitalised. That Black is not ‘just an adjective’, that the adjectiveness and lowercaseness diminishes Blackness. The activists believe that along with ‘European’ (not really accepted in South Africa) the word White and Black are indicative of heritage and culture. Black is an indication of allegiance and statehood that is self-chosen and aligns so broadly with the Black diaspora. Inclusive, diverse, and welcoming.

Some Black people born in America strategically avoid ‘African American’ as they feel they are neither, as neither identity is readily accepted by white Americans (see how I decentered white Americans here by lowercasing white). In South Africa, the idea that Whites are South African has also been destabilised, so they become Whites separated from country, and decentered when white. Whites don’t need to indicate allegiance and statehood and have already been White for so long. But yes, I get why it is disturbing to uncapitalise overtly too.

It is an interesting line of thought to follow and I think very well illustrated by this phrase: “for an exhibition of black art at the iconic galleries of...”

I always take the lead from the author though. If they use lowercase, it is not my place to change it.

#ILoveMyJob. I love words and their reflections.

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