2021-02-27 - Denigrated Wisdom

A few minutes ago my germ of an idea for this post was to praise and magnify the wisdom promoted by Booker T. Washington. I am reading his book titled "Character Building". I came up with the title "Denigrated Wisdom" which reminded me of the taboo around white usage of the word "nigger" that has been the focus of the national attention for quite a while now. People like the writer of this post (i.e., me) have been reliably persecuted for writing posts in the same spirit this one is written in. I looked up the word "denigrated" and was kind of surprised that it actually is related to the word "nigger" in that it means "To blacken or sully; to defame" and derives from the same French root: niger - black. So I think the deconstruct people have a point in that "black" should in the mind be a morally neutral term, not prejudiced by a double meaning conflating it with bad character. By the same token, the word "white"'s conflation of meanings: "the color of lilies" and "divine goodness" and "existential evil" also lends itself to prejudicial usage. But the language is what it is and individuals cannot control it. What we need more of in my view is charity and a good faith effort to reform the language. And a turn to the attitudes and disposition evangelized by Booker T. Washington.

> Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, I will repay". - St. Paul