Schvartze. Cushi. We've  heard these words directed at us personally, at our friends and loved ones, and even at people we don’t even know but who look like us. These words and others like them are derogatory terms used to describe people; these two terms are used to specifically describe at black people in derogatory ways.

 

What do they mean ? And what is the history behind them?

 

Schvartze is a term used to denote black people; can be used derogatorily?

  Cushi/kushi’s definition according to Wikipedia:   “Cush is the name of an ancient ethnic group who come from the land of Cush (Today's Sudan, and practically the entire southern Egypt, though some scholars point to the Beta Israel Ethiopian Jewry as remnants of the 'Cushite' tribe). In the Tanakh, Cush was the eldest son of Ham, the son of Noah. Canaan, the other son of Ham, was cursed by Noah: "Cursed be Canaan; he shall be a slave among slaves to his brethren." (Book of Genesis 9:25). “  

Though there's  not any biblical evidence that Ham was the "father" of African peoples, various Jewish, Christian and Islamic writers came to believe that he was, and their association helped to justify centuries of African enslavement. A book entitled The curse of Ham: race and slavery in early Judaism, Christianity, and Islam By David M. Goldenberg goes into detail about this.

  Now let’s look at the word Cushi used as a pejorative term of race also from Wikipedia:   “Initially in Modern Israeli Hebrew, the term "Cushi" wasn't used as a pejorative term. At times, it was even used to refer fondly to a person of dark skin or a red hair, as King David was red headed. Other words were used to describe dark skin as a pejorative term, for example, the word "Schwartz" (Yiddish: ????????), taken from its similar meaning in the Yiddish language –- black. In the last decades of the 20th century, the word "Cushi" became a racist slur, some claim as a result of the identification of its terms in English, "Nigger" and "Negro". However, this scenario has never been proven.”     Whether or not ‘Cushi’ became a racist slur as a result of the identification of the English terms doesn’t matter. It’s a derogatory term and it should not be used to describe a group of people. Another common slang used in Israel is ‘cushi mamzer’ which means black bastard.   In reading the verdict that dealt with a bus driver calling a security guard in a university ‘Cushi’, Judge Yitzhak Milnov wrote the following:     “The term ‘Cushi’ is considered, by the Israeli society as a whole, to be a Pejorative term and an insult usually meant to defame a person for his dark-skinned color and to mark him as an “exceptional,” and as an inferior person to a lighter-skinned individual. It is a racist slur, meant to humiliate and degrade the receiver, solely because he belongs either to the Falasha ethnic group. This accordingly falls into the fourth alternative category of the definition of “Defamation” in provision 1 of the law (an expression meant to ‘defame a person for his race, descent, religion, residence or sexual orientation”).   A lot of white Jews who use schvartze say that it only means black and it’s not a derogatory term. If that’s true then why do you use it in a such a negative, mean, and racist way? Remember two years ago when Comedian Jackie Mason called President Obama a "schvartze" during a performance in New York, angering some audience members? His defense for using the word was: “I'm an old Jew. I was raised in a Jewish family where 'schvartze' was used," Mason told TMZ. "It's not a demeaning word and I'm not going to defend myself.”      Well Mr. Mason, let me ask you if a person says the same thing that you said but for their use of the word ‘Kike’ would you think that’s okay? I didn’t think so. To say “oh that’s the way I grew up” is a poor excuse and a copout.  I want to ask you another question: When you describe your black coat or pants or even your car or pet who happen to be the color black, do you say “Where’s my schvartze coat? Who’s seen my schvartze pants? Or I have a schvartze car and that’s my schvartze cat?” As Mike Kyle from My Wife and Kids would say, “Ah...no.”     These words are derogatory and hurtful to Jews of Color and people of color in general.  These words schvartze, cushi, shechorim, and other words like them do not and will not define me or people who look like me. We will not accept you using these terms. Stop using them.

 World famous Christian Dior designer, John Galliano was arrested last week after allegedly spewing anti semitic  slurs at a couple dining in Paris. John Galliano is one of the fashion industries golden boys. Christian was quick to act on this hideous incident and immediately suspended him on Friday. The latest report however is that Mr. Galliano has been  fired."I condemn with the greatest firmness the comments made by John Galliano," Sidney Toledano, Dior's chief executive said "(the comments are) in total contradiction with the essential values which have always been defended by Christian Dior."  And according to CNN Galliano's attorney's have filed a counter suit against the couple for insult, defamation, injury and menace. It looks like his attorney's will not stand a fighting chance thanks to a video that Britian's Sun newspaper released on Monday. The video was allegedly back in the very same Paris restaurant back in October. In this video John Galliano is saying "...I love Hitler. People like you would be dead today...Your mothers, your fathers would be gased..." The face of Christian Dior's perfume, Israeli born Natalie Portman was asked last night about John Galliano after winning her Oscar for Best Actress, however her people wouldn't let her address the issue. However Natalie refused to wear Christian Dior on the red carpet despite the fact that's she's the company spokesperson.  (YOU GO GIRL!)   Truth be told, my first reaction was outrage, however he's entered the ranks other greats that shattered their career in seconds and now sits in company of Mel Gibson and Michael Richards. John Galliano's anti semetic tirade is not an isolated incident. I have spoken to numerous French Jews as of late and Jew hating in France is relatively common. Due to the fact that there is such a strong Muslim population in France, politicians tow the line because they don't want to hurt their chances of reelection. The only reason anyone is paying attention to  modern day anti semitism in France is because John Galliano such a high profile star. Well, he was a star, now he's just a meteor.  AOL reports that after the Academy Awards, Natalie  Portman said she was 'shocked and disgusted.  According to Stylebistro.com  Natalie  basically told Dior, in not so many words that "it's either him or me." Gee, that's a tough decision? Academy Award winning best actress or drunken soon to be washed up Jew hater? WE LOVE YOU NATALIE!  AND MAZEL-TOV NATALIE!  MAZEL-TOV!