In The Arab World
Arab culture beautifies the white color. A popular phrase in Northern Sudan is "al-Husnu ahmar" (beauty is red) whiteness is the ultimate standard color in most Arab societies. The second ranking is called "asmar" (light tan), followed by "dhahabi" (golden), "gamhi" (wheatish), "khamri" (the color of wine), "akhdar" (light black/green). "Akhdhar" is used as a polite alternative of the word "black" in describing the color of a dark-skinned Arab. The early Arabs used the word "akhdar" (green) to describe people of known Arab nobility and lineage whose color was black. Last and least is azraq. which literally means "blue", but it is used interchangeably with aswad to mean "black" In the past, however it referred to whiteness or light skin.
Read more about this topic: Discrimination Based On Skin Color
Famous quotes containing the words arab and/or world:
“As the Arab proverb says, “The dog barks and the caravan passes”. After having dropped this quotation, Mr. Norpois stopped to judge the effect it had on us. It was great; the proverb was known to us: it had been replaced that year among men of high worth by this other: “Whoever sows the wind reaps the storm”, which had needed some rest since it was not as indefatigable and hardy as, “Working for the King of Prussia”.”
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)
“Think what a mean and wretched place this world is; that half the time we have to light a lamp that we may see to live in it. This is half our life. Who would undertake the enterprise if it were all?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)