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Murzyn is a Polish word used to describe black people. It is seen by some Poles as a neutral word, but others consider it to have pejorative connotations.

Etymology

Etymologically, 'murzyn' comes from the same root as the English word 'moor'.

Meaning and connotations

According to Słownik Języka Polskiego (Dictionary of the Polish Language), 'murzyn' means somebody with black skin. Informally, it can also mean: 1. Somebody anonymously doing work for somebody else; 2. Somebody with a dark brown tan; 3. A hard working person forced to do hard labour.

'Murzyn' (diminutive - 'murzynek', feminine form - 'murzynka') can be translated into English as 'black' or 'Negro'. Journalist Jacek Żakowski, in an article defending smokers' rights, referred to John Lennon's phrase "Woman Is the Nigger of the World" by translating 'nigger' as 'murzyn' ("Kobieta jest Murzynem tego świata"). However, in the opinion of Dr Marek Łaziński, it can also be used to describe Shakespeare's 'noble' Othello, usually called a 'moor' in English. According to Patrycja Pirog, the word "'murzyn', which in the opinion of many Poles, including academics, is not offensive, is seen by black people as discriminatory and derogatory."

In phrases

The word 'murzyn' appears in many Polish phrases.

Wiadomosci24 says:

"Although we rarely see Africans and African-Americans on our streets, of course we say: "The murzyn has done his job, he can go now", or: "we need a murzyn" (for dirty work done for little pay)."

The phrase "a hundred years behind the murzyns" ("sto lat za Murzynami") is used, often about Poland itself, to describe a backward, under-developed situation.

Regarding the film The Ghost Writer by Polish director Roman Polanski, journalist Remigiusz Włast-Matuszak writes that the Polish translation of the title, Autor Widmo (literally: Author Ghost), in a "normal country and in normal times" should have been "Murzyn premiera" ("The murzyn of the Prime Minister"), "Pisząc jako murzyn" ("Writing as a murzyn"), or "Robiąc za murzyna" ("Working like a murzyn").

Examples in Polish culture

Patrycja Pirog describes the famous children's poem Murzynek Bambo:

"One of the most popular images of the 'murzyn' is that created by Julian Tuwim in his poem Murzynek Bambo. Briefly speaking, this is a story about how enlightened Europe tries to civilise the savage. Bambo goes to an African school, but has a tendency to fool around, and when his mother tries to tell him off for it, he runs away and up a tree. This black child is afraid of having a bath, because his colour might wash off. The school, bath and milk are symbols of civilisation, of washing away that which is impure and incompatible with high culture, until it is white and pure. Bambo instinctively runs away from this. Complying with the rules of the West means the loss of his identity. Bambo is characterised as good, cheerful, black - the Enlightenment myth of the good savage, creating an opposition to that which is white and rational. Unfortunately Bambo cannot go to school with us - white man's school has no place for him, though, the regret that is expressed in the poem regarding this allows the conscience of the reader to be soothed. The poem has greatly contributed to the preservation of the word 'murzyn' in the lexicon. This image created by Tuwim, strongly rooted in Polish culture, still operates in the media and public life, untroubled by the rules of political correctness."

"Under the murzyns" ("Pod Murzynami") is also a not uncommon name for chemist's shops or tenement buildings in Poland. Often an image of a black person accompanies the name.

Food

'Murzynek' and 'Cycki Murzynki' ('Tits of a murzynka') are also the names of Polish chocolate cakes.

References

1. SJP.pl
2. ^ Najlepszy sposób na Murzyna - list, Wyborcza.pl
3. Czy Obama jest Murzynem?, Juraszek.net
4. "Murzynek Bambo w Afryce mieszka", czyli jak polska kultura stworzyła swojego "Murzyna", '"Murzyn", który zdaniem wielu Polaków, w tym także naukowców, nie jest obraźliwy, uznawany jest przez osoby czarnoskóre za dyskryminujący i uwłaczający.'
5. , Wiadomosci24: "Choć na naszych ulicach rzadko widzimy Afrykanów i Afroamerykanów, to przecież mawiamy: "Murzyn zrobił swoje, Murzyn może odejść", albo: "potrzebujemy Murzyna" (do czarnej roboty za marne wynagrodzenie)."
6. Te straszne słowa: Żydówka, murzyn!, Prawica.net
7. ^ "Murzynek Bambo w Afryce mieszka", czyli jak polska kultura stworzyła swojego "Murzyna", "Jednym z najpopularniejszych wizerunków Murzyna jest ten wykreowany przez Juliana Tuwima w wierszu Murzynek Bambo. Najkrócej rzecz ujmując, jest to historia o tym, jak oświecona Europa próbuje ucywilizować dzikusa. Bambo zatem chodzi do murzyńskiej szkoły, ale ma skłonność do figlowania, gdy mama próbuje go za to karcić, on ucieka na drzewo. Murzynek boi się kąpieli, gdyż może się wybielić. Szkoła, kąpiel i mleko są symbolami cywilizacji, zmycia tego co nieczyste i nieprzystające do wyższej kultury, do jej bieli i czystości. Bambo instynktownie przed tym ucieka. Podporządkowanie się zasadom Zachodu równa się utracie własnej tożsamości. Bambo charakteryzowany jest jako dobry, wesoły, czarny - oświeceniowy mit dobrego dzikusa, tworzy opozycje do białego i rozumnego. Niestety Bambo nie może chodzić z nami do szkoły - w szkole białego człowieka nie ma dla niego miejsca jednak wyrażony w wierszu żal z tego powodu pozwala ukoić sumienie czytelnika. Wiersz ten w dużym stopniu przyczynił się do utrwalenia leksemu "Murzyn". Silnie zakorzeniony w polskiej kulturze wizerunek wykreowany przez Tuwima, do dziś funkcjonuje w mediach i życiu publicznym, w czym nie przeszkadzają mu zasady poprawności politycznej."
8. Ciasto.pl
9. Wielkie Zarcie

See also

• Negro

External links

• PWN discussion of the acceptability and future of the word 'murzyn' (in Polish)
• An African is not a Murzyn. How to speak without offending, a discussion of the alternatives to 'murzyn' (in Polish)

• Polish culture