Outrage over Swedish 'negro' neighbourhood
Published: 5 Jun 09 15:43 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19898/20090605/
An association working for Africans' rights has reacted with fury to a decision by a state agency to preserve the name of a neighbourhood called Negern ('the negro') in the western Swedish town of Karlstad.
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The neighbourhood's name came under scrutiny when the National Land Survey of Sweden (Lantmäteriet) was asked by the Karlstad town council to reevaluate the designation. A private citizen had complained that "many people regard the name as objectionable, insulting, or just plain rude".
But the agency's 'Place Name Division' countered that the name was part of Sweden's cultural heritage and should instead be seen as "exotic and evocative".
"Accepted place name practices dictate that place names should not be changed without strong reasons, and the Place Name Division cannot see that there are such reasons in the case of the neighbourhood name Negern," Lantmäteriet writes.
Only in recent times has the word developed offensive connotations, says Lantmäteriet, which fears that changing the name Negern would open the floodgates for anybody to lobby for changes to names that they consider unsuitable.
The name Negern was chosen in 1866 as part of a project to rebrand central parts of the town. According to Lantmäteriet, the word was common in 19th century Swedish literature and can thus in that context can be viewed as "harmless".
But Kitimbwa Sabuni was quick to reject this logic.
"How can the date be relevant? This is 2009, not 1866. And besides, Swedes' attitude towards Africans was overwhelmingly racist at that time," he said.
"This is extremely serious and has to go right to the top. I will be lodging an official complaint," Sabuni added.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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So now the word "Negro" is racist too? I knew that "Nigger" was...what's next? Why stop there? Maybe the Green Party is offended that the name Stockholm" refers to the stocks of wood that were floated down the river, those poor, defensless trees, I'm so offended. Let's change that name too.
You know what offends me Kitimbwa Sabuni? I'm offended when someone like you who obviously was let into Sweden, most likely given a job, money, healthcare, and education, now wants to turn around and say Sweden is racist, just by your "Association" I see that you WANT to create a seperation, therefore it is YOU, and the National Afro-Swedish Association, NOT the city of Karlstad or Sweden that is racist!
Your name offends me, you're in Sweden now, change it.
In English its only became racist through assosiation with the CSA and the slave trade and all that. Sweden never had that.
Just admit it, people like you will take the more you are given and will never be satisfied.
Making a racist problem out of nowhere. I understand that "nigger" is an insult, but a "negro"?
But this is a big problem with black minorities in any white countries.....they see racism even if there is none. I think the name itself should stay.
Suck it up or get out.
Oh wait, never mind, those aren't countries with white people!
And, FYI the word negro is a Spanish word for black. The Spanish must be racist too... oh dear!
" . . .said my nigga dont dance they just pull up the pents now lean back lean back ..... half the niggas in the club have a scar on their faces . . . "
isnt he proud of it, I am not black but i feel quite prevliged to be called that when i am with them.
Huh? There plenty of white people in Spain.
You're right, I was oversimplifying, I mean to say that it is not considered a "White" country and as such only "White Countries" are labeled as "Rasicst", when Afrikans went around killing white landowners and taking their property, this was not called rascism, in America blacks call each other "Niggers" but scream racism when a white person even dares utter a line from a popular black movie (ie: ...nappy headed hoes...), in Haiti when locals went around killing "the White Devils", no one cried racism, but when a small country like Sweden who'se been so active in human rights a leader in gender rights and equality, a country that takes in thousands of immigrants that noone else will take gets called "Racist" for a town's name that has existed for 143 years! I can't believe anyone would take this guy seriously. Its absurd to even give this Kitimbwa his 5 minutes of fame.
"La camisa negra" is that a racist song too ?? oh my !! I didnt know that :-(
And, FYI the word negro is a Spanish word for black. The Spanish must be racist too... oh dear"
Don't you know? That doesn't matter, it's how it makes someone "feel" that matters, in the "New Sweden" as long as an immigrant is "offended" he has the right to burn down his town, throw stones at fire trucks, and he's not wrong it's teh Swedes that are wrong, they must pay to rebuild everything and apologize to him for offending him.
I mean really didn't the Swedes who existed 143 years ago know that this neighborhood's name would offend Kitimbwa Sabuni of the National Afro-Swedish Association in 2009? Stupid Svenssons!
*even Idi Amin changed/reverted Lake Victoria to Lake Amin*
Nigger on the other hand is a nasty word when used by racist types. However, both words can be used on friendly terms: Hey Negro, how,s it going brother? etc etc
Get real, and dont look for problems where they dont exist!!!
It could even be a bit like "your mom" getting pissed off with this genuine road name.
Ignorance is abundant here, that's why nothing will ever get better for anyone. Damn, there's alot of hate flying off your keyboards. Heaven forbid anyone express an opinion contrary to all of your rants.
Wrong or right, everyone is entitled to their opinions, just know your intelligence and/or ignorance are revealed in how you express them.
Okay so there are many names on signs I find weird here. I guess I better make a compliant to get these offensive names changed.
Here are some names off the top of my head:
Assberg
Getå (ghetto)
Ass
Utfart
Fartkontrol
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the word "Negro", it is like describing someone as "caucasian", in my opinion. Besides, this area was named more than a hundred years ago, there were no negroes in Sweden at the time.
However, ..the racist and xenophobic commentators on this site are cowards, you only express yourself when you hide behind your computers, on the street, you are quick to smile at foreigners.
On one side of the equation we have someone who is deeply offended by the usage of the word, "negro" or any of its derivatives. On the other side, we have people saying, "Get over it."
Granted, there are cities all over the world with sections colloquially referred to as:
Germantown
China Town
Little Italy
Jew Town
...but - none of them actually use what could be construed as a racial epithet.
I'm not sure where/when someone lets a, "tradition" die out due to cultural changes over time but I do think that any derivative of, "negro" is offensive. Then again - that's probably my American perspective doing the talking.
What strikes me as truly sad is the amount of people who are telling Sabuni to pack up and leave. Because - that's really a rational way to handle something, right?
Please stop comparing Sweden to the US on matters of race.
Most African Americans did not migrate to the U.S., they were abducted from Africa. They are not in the U.S. via some peace keeping mission, or refugee campaign.
They were not given "hand-outs" they were forced to work on plantations.
A great deal of the culture that you so eloquently describe as American (Technology, food, infrastructure, entertainment,) are direct impacts of how much Americans of African decent have contributed to American society.
If your only knowledge of blacks in America comes from rap videos, reality television, and African immigrants in Sweden, then your not educated or cultured enough to speak to this groups motives, struggles, and successes, or compare them to others.
You feel that the name is part of Swedish heritage, fine.
But don't try to drag every group of Africans around the world into the immigration politics of Sweden.
That would be Racist!
Quite a beautiful thing to behold.
I think it is important to understand the circumstances and the reasons why it was named Negro in the first place hundred years ago. It could be a derogatory purpose behind that, in this case obviously quite offensive.
I am black and if I were to come across such a place name in Sweden I would find it charming and mysterious. I certainly would not think of it as being racist in any way that I've experienced racism because Sweden is one of the least racist places I've ever been to.
And certainly Swedes were not being racist 143 years ago when they never even could have met anyone of color.
Why not take is as an honor and thank the Swedes for having enough interest in blacks to name a place after them.
Sabuni needs to get a life.
Why should it bother me so much what someone thinks about me? Since when is my confidence in myself not enough? Why should someone else dictate my feelings?
I think Africans have actually helped promote racism by displaying such inferiority complex. I am black and I am proud and if anyone wants to judge me based on other people's actions, I am absolutely capable of doing the same to them.
Given Paulo's comments (re: the rationale behind the name) you would still find it, "charming and mysterious?" 'Cause - ya know - if I stumbled across some town with an anti-Semitic name, I don't think I would find it the least bit amusing. Especially in instances where a particular country relegated my ilk to a designated spot (otherwise known as a ghetto).
Nope. Actually...the more I think about the less, "charming" it is - regardless of calendar year.
Now - back to our scheduled programming.
You just said "Nigern", the town is named "Negern" which I believe transcribes to "Nigger" and "Negro". There is a big difference between the two but not in your ignorant inferiority-ridden world.
It's human nature.
these are issues sweden isn't used too and have had a hard time with it. i think sweden should get some outside help on their intergration problems. sweden wants to be like moderns states with a multicultural sociality. some of the names in sweden has been there for yrs and people here are so used to them, in their mind they are thinking why change them. negro isn't really a bad word,but do we really have to remind them that they are black? should they have used african-town(like china-town)or used a more proper name? if u want people to feel apart of the sociality u must NOT lable them nor the place they live in.
For your information, I am blacker than you are and the countries that I have been in, you can only imagine.
Grow up man.
bolababu is one of the only posters on this thread saying anything of substance and merit.
If you people open your eyes, you can see in the begging of the article there are many references to the other articles in relation with discrimination in Sweden, which are the obvious facts. The word "Neger" is a very small drop in the ocean of social system construction base on discrimination in Sweden.
These lines are for them, who can't see and just watch.
On this same page we have a person seeking information concerning a visa for a 'Sambo',don't hear any remarks about this,do you?
*mountains can after all be made from mole hills!*
Maybe the town of Karlstad needs to get with it and become more policially correct and change "Negern" to "Afro-Swede". :-)
Some people really need to get a life is this is all they can find to complain about.
As far as i know the word Negro comes from the word meaning black.... Nigger is offensive but it never used to be - Black is offensive.. it never used to be.. Brown? Is that offensive...? Is white offensive? iM NOT "white".. but im very very close. Shall we go around calling people by the exact colour of their skin? No of course NOT (for those who have to think about that). If generally people consider a colour to be "superior" or "inferior" then of course the colour of ones skin becomes a bone of contention... but as any reasonabley intelligent adult knows.. the colour of ones skin says nothing about the person other than where they might come from... PEOPLE are PEOPLE.. let them be that - stop trying to defend something that mght or might not be rascist . For every racist indignation.. consider what you personally do- i doubt anyone is blame free.. black is black
NEGRO IN ENGLISH DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME CONNOTATIONS AS NEGER IN SWEDISH. It's like translating "sommarstuga" into "summer cabin". The latter does not bring up the same cognitive associations as the former (i.e red house, white corners), which is why most people here are missing the point.
Besides - language changes. Unless the "Anti PC" crowd is still in the "thee" and "thou" phase. The Swedish word for the female sex organ was derived from the word for "moist fields". But I doubt that people these days will argue for keeping the name just because "once upon a time, it meant fields. It's haaarmless".
Jeez.
Sabuni.. I find that name quite offensive.. make him change his name imo..
Moist feilds.. that's a good one ;)
How is this sound to you: Negro Symphony in D- Minor
Or Negro Lane
Maybe it is much better if we keep it to educated terms like Moorish or Nubian.
But when determined to insult or kick ass, than negro or blacky will do.
The only word considered to be offensive and thus labeled the N-word is the word 'nigger', due to it's long history and use as a pejorative term. I know black folks who proudly refer to themselves as negroes here in America, so what is this guy on about?
I think the guy making the complaint is fresh out of Africa and does not have an appreciation for which words referring to people of African origin are offensive and which are not. He needs to learn a little history.
How about;
Kvarteret Muffen (Pussy) in Stockholm
Kvarteret Hundturken (Turkish Dog) in Stockholm
Kvarteret Positivhataren (Barrel organ hater) in Stockholm
Firstly, who gives a damn if they change the name of the neighbourhood? Do any Swedes really care?
Secondly, there are a lot of black Swedish people. If this offends them, then change the street name. Just because you don't think it's offensive, doesn't mean that it isn't. I find it offensive when English people call me "paddy", but I'll bet you most of them don't think or mean it to be offensive.
Thirdly, the Swedish immigration policy is theirs to decide. If you don't like it, you have a few options.
1) Get Swedish citizenship and vote for change.
2) Leave
3) Shut the hell up
(I suppose you could also moan about it on a forum for ex-pats, but I don't really see what that will achieve)
Therefore anyone whom comes to the site, for whatever reason, from whatever source or link and whom wishes to make comment on the story or follow up and discuss the matter, is able to do so.
"...The more of these outsiders you allow into your country and the more they breed"
"....why don't they go to Africa"
"....You will find yourself a minority in your own country then you will find yourself with no country because it belongs to another racial group"
Oh how I love the smell of putrid xenophobia in the morning.
They are worse than the comments on the article about charging higher rents to Refugees.
Of course the name should be changed. Lots of things that weren't offensive in the past are now, and as such should be changed. For example, the modern chokladboll instead of the traditional but offensive negerboll.
I find it strange that people are saying Negro is not a racist term. I most definitely feel that it is.
Who cares if it was acceptable at the time it was names, the article is not critical of swedes over a hundred years ago. The fact is that it's not acceptable now and to not change it would be racist.
..the word for 'black' in Latin is 'niger'.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Translate_the_word_black_to_latin
Having different cultures and ideas is what makes the world special and differences in other countries is one of the joys of travel.
Sweden is absoulouty wonderful with taking in refugees and giving them a better life. It's one of the leading countries reguarding many things from human rights to enviroment to equality.
I for one, consider myself lucky to live here.
The one thing I would caution Sweden against is don't lose your identity while trying to help others.
Keep your names, sing your national song at graduations, keep your customs, keep your way of life.
Don't be ashamed to be Swedish. Be proud of all the good you do in this world.
When you, when ANYONE moves to another country, anywhere in the world, no matter the reasons behind it. It becomes your RESPONSIBILITY to adopt the culture and assimilate in your new home country.
yes, thank you for asking. have a nice life.
and that americas today shy away from older usages of terms like negro because of the negative associations i can sympathize, but not because the words themselves are charged but because of the insecurity of what "might" be perceived by that name.
i use the term "black" and have never found anyone ever up in arms when using it.
If it's derrogatory to a Swede?
Please, define "Swede". Is it being a citizen, length of citizenship, how far back your "roots" go, a certain sunny disposition, a plant...?
Words are only offensive if they are used in the context to offend.
The African American rappers use the word "nigger" and "negro" in friendly context to describe each other, so it can clearly be used in non offensive context.
We should be more concerned with improving ourselves, I would rather be referred to as a Negro or Black person with respect because I earned it. The name should not define the man, the man should define the name.
Ful perhaps didn't' mean the same thing as it means today but I'm sure if you lived on the road you would want another name. Probably, your response would be 'I'd move' but that only helps yourself, which seems all most people on this forum care about.
Many of you should be ashamed of the comments above. Allegedly, many of you are 'proud' Swedes. The 'paradise' one described Sweden as seems to contain racists, poorly educated people and an extreme lack of sympathy or understanding for other races. Is that paradise as it also clearly shows bad parenting. Paradise! LOL!
What I don't understand is why do they like to pretend that they are so tolerant? why do they deny their racist past, especially Swedish connection to the slave trade in Africa?
The first taxonomist to classify humans on a hierarchical scale that placed Africans at the bottom is Carl Linnaeus (1707-78), a swede and was very influential in European racism.
How can you guys compare the above name with names like little china, Italy etc? Gross ignorance or simply Swedish racism at it's worst.
In the most tolerant society like Sweden, if your roots is from Africa and you don't like what is going around you better go back to Africa or shut up...haha. What Southern n Eastern Europeans fail to understand is that they too have never been (and are not) considered 'white' and the hatred against non "swedes" is also directed at them.
And despite not normally describing myself as an objectivist, IMO, just as Feminism is a dead horse being flogged to the bone so are anti-racist efforts and generally Affirmative Action in some regions of the world. Sweden happens to be one of these and insisting on any more PCness will only serve the paradoxically noble purpose of rendering it blatantly ridiculous in the long run so personally I'd like to see more absurd demands as such being made.
The Swedes have a right to name their streets in whatever matter that suits them. However, judging by the birth rate, voting population, population under the age of 18, influx of immigrants and a steady growing influence of immigrants in social and political circles, ethnic Swedes will be a minority in their own country by 2060.
is the only one here who understands the concept of what it's all about when you move to another country.
I'm in my third and wouldn't dream of going around being constantly "offended" by this and that in my new country. If I don't like it, I'll just move back to where I came from, it's as simple as that.
As one guy said “Words are only offensive if they are used in the context to offend.”
All this talk about go back to where you came from if you don’t like is not warranted at all. There are a lot of cowards that are using this thread to really voice their inner feelings about how they feel about foreigners/blacks in Sweden. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and what might offend me may not offend u even from the same race.
While it is true that you may find slight regional differences in people’s hospitality within Sweden itself, the discrimination is always there. That applies even if you have a good job and pay lots of taxes.
I am black and from London, I have a great job here, get paid well and in return pay a lot of taxes.
Sometimes I get awkward looks from Swedes in some parts of the country…like they haven’t even seen a black person before…...until they find out I’m from London and then their attitude changes..
Live and let live ya’ll! Its 2009 for phuk sake!
Rofl. Ok then.
And who are you to say they're pretending? Are you a mind-reader?
I think your mistake is likening the slave trade to racism.
The slave trade was about the $$$.
Since when did he place them on a hierarchical scale? They were on the same level. A sub-group to homo-sapiens. Most descriptions he gave of different races are still stereotypes today. He didn't just invent it out of nowhere. Many would argue racialism has nothing to do with racism. I see nothing wrong with Linnaeus's work. I find it to be an interesting area of study actually. Perhaps outdated now but anyone today could create studies which either prove or disprove his work. Scientific knowledge is ever evolving after all. Today since we know that biological races don't exist we could study "race" and cultures through a social scientific viewpoint.
And how is that discrimination? It's probably not even prejudice. People tend to stare a lot. Why assume they're having racist thoughts?
Which proves the complete opposite. That they're not racist. If they were racist it wouldn't matter where you were from. They would dislike you because you're black.
What this proves is that these Swedes thought you were African and they have prejudices against African peoples and their cultures. That's hardly racism.