Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Oct 1, 2009 13:57
14 yrs ago
English term
the schwarzes
English
Art/Literary
Slang
same text:
"We’ll start this again: I’ll run both of you in to the 76th, make you sweat in the holding cell next to the schwarzes and the Mexicans,” spits David, still not moving his hands. “How you like that?"
urbandictionary didn't help me out with this one
do you suppose this may be a reference to African Americans?
(should I have marked the question as potentially offensive, too?)
any ideas?
"We’ll start this again: I’ll run both of you in to the 76th, make you sweat in the holding cell next to the schwarzes and the Mexicans,” spits David, still not moving his hands. “How you like that?"
urbandictionary didn't help me out with this one
do you suppose this may be a reference to African Americans?
(should I have marked the question as potentially offensive, too?)
any ideas?
Responses
4 +12 | African Americans | Kim Metzger |
Responses
+12
1 min
Selected
African Americans
Schwarze
1. Literally, the German word for the color black.
2. Derogatory Yiddish slang for black person, equivalent to the N-word. A Jewish person using the term "Schwarze" while speaking English is being racist.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Schwarze
1. Literally, the German word for the color black.
2. Derogatory Yiddish slang for black person, equivalent to the N-word. A Jewish person using the term "Schwarze" while speaking English is being racist.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Schwarze
Note from asker:
silly me, i was looking for the plural form, that's why i couldn't find it on urbandictionary. this fits perfectly, because David is Jewish and sometimes uses Yiddish words or expressions throughout the text. thanks! |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
George C.
6 mins
|
agree |
David Hollywood
7 mins
|
agree |
sirgay (X)
11 mins
|
agree |
jccantrell
: With #2 in this context
12 mins
|
agree |
Jenni Lukac (X)
: Kim is correct with his second entry.
17 mins
|
agree |
Marie Scarano
22 mins
|
agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: yes, Yiddish (cognate with English "swart")
37 mins
|
agree |
Suzan Hamer
: Re: your second explanation, see my comments in the Discussion area.
1 hr
|
agree |
Vicky Nash
1 hr
|
agree |
Rolf Keiser
2 hrs
|
agree |
Judith Hehir
: with Jim T
5 hrs
|
agree |
humbird
: I adopted a black puppy and thinking giving him this as his name, as I was looking for "black" in foreign language, then came across this German word. I changed my mind.
1 day 2 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks for all your helpful comments! i feel enlightened! %) "
Discussion
1. (As adjective, masculine) Black.
2. (As noun) Negro.
shvartzeh
1. (As adjective, feminine) Black.
2. (As noun) Negress.
Shvartzer and shvartzeh, to mean Negro man and woman, became "inside" words among Jews -– cryptonyms for Negro servants or employees. Since the growth of the civil rights movement, these uses have declined. Many Jews would not, for instance, approve of the retelling now of the following true, well-known, and (to me, at least) disarming story:
A Jewish matron dialed a number and asked, "Hello. Mrs. Weiss?"
"No, ma'am," came a melodious voice. "This is the shvartzeh."