It's not uncommon for oppressed or marginalized groups to transform perjoratives directed at them into positives. The word nigger is currently bathed in controversy but in the late 70's and early 80's we saw a 'punk' movement that defiantly asserted its nonconformist ideals.
The nerd or geek was a caricature developed in the late 19th and early 20th century. This person was typically an academically talented, Jewish immigrant student in a New York City high school. Cecil Rhodes founded his scholarship society as a counterweight to the increased influence of such students in higher education.
The nerd lost its force as an ethnic slur to become a cultural symbol embraced by many regardless of color. The inextricable link with intellectual pursuit may be considered 'hyperwhite' but its black incarnation was considered 'uppity'or 'putting on airs'.
Submariner, I'm not sure if we are looking at this the same way....and I must confess that I was unaware of any study linking the nerd caricature with those of jewish descent from the latter part of the 19th century...I was always under the impression that the jury was still out regarding the history of nerdom....I was always under the impression that the usage of the term nerd/geek dated back to the 50s as slang.....nevertheless, my supposition albeit anecdotal deals with the metaphysical concept of aligning nerdiness/intelligence with "hyperwhite." It is being structured as the apex of Whiteness or an entirely European construct and as I stated in the entry , nerdiness is being positioned as being "antithetical" to Blackness. If one were to use historical antiquity as an example, Timbuktu was the educational capital of the World at one time.....hence "Black Nerd central"......Whites do not OWN intelligence or nerdiness.....just because THEY say it doesn't "make it so"(shout out Patrick Stewart...lol).... Even though Wikipedia is suspect.....I believe this quote:
"The collection of ancient manuscripts at the University of Sankore and other sites around Timbuktu document the magnificence of the institution, as well as the city itself, while enabling scholars to reconstruct the past in fairly intimate detail. Dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries, these manuscripts cover every aspect of human endeavor and are indicative of the high level of civilization attained by West Africans at the time. In testament to the glory of Timbuktu, for example, a West African Islamic proverb states that "Salt comes from the north, gold from the south, but the word of God and the treasures of wisdom come from Timbuktu."
The nerd, geek, or bookworm was a negative stereotype formed to disparage gifted students usually of Jewish immigrant ancestry who aspired to social mobility via education. These guys contradicted the myth that intelligence was manifested in its highest form in the WASP.
Dburt, Starks, you're both form the NYC area, so let me ask you this: do you think there's a "coming out", so to speak of the Black Geek/Nerd? I've noticed that an increased number of Black young'uns wearing "I'm a Geek" or "I Love Geek" tee shirts. I'm not sure if this is a true testament or a part of a trend.
Jay I will be honest….I would HOPE that such a trend is forthcoming. I encounter my fair share of Black nerds but that’s because of the birds of a feather analogy. I also still see a lot of the residue street thug types as well. When I go to my local comic shops, sometimes the entire store is full of nerds of color and I mentioned previously that the NY comic con earlier this year also had a lot of Afronerds in full effect…..perhaps you’re on to something Jay.
Black Geeks are not new. Here is a place where you will find a plethora of afrogeeks.
http://afropunk.com/community/
I agree with Jay. In fact just yesterday I was comenting to someone on the increasing numbers of black nerds I've been noticing around everywhere. (Those awkward glasses and their laptops always seem to give them away)
But I couldn't help to think what kind of pressure or torment that they're getting from their peers. Or could it be that they're not? is it possible that even knuckleheads themselves realize that there's no point to make fun of them or make their lives hell
I had to amend my earlier entry but I wanted add that you can think of the nerd as hyperwhite in the sense of its embrace of outsider status. Blacks have always been trendsetters and arbiters of style. Even the Beckhams felt compelled to have Will and Jada Smith host their recent coming out party.
Blacks are a small but highly visible group and their cultural productions tend to be adopted by the mainstream. The nerd by definition is marginal.
However, as you rightly noted intellectual pursuit has a long tradition among blacks. James Weldon Johnson and W.E.B. DuBois were such archetypes. Today Neil deGrasse Tyson fits the model.
Anti-intellectualism is a strong undercurrent in America as a whole, not just black. It goes back to the founders when wealthy, well-educated capitalists in New England competed with Southern planters for control over the direction of the nation. These New Englanders attended Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.
President Bush's limited ability to articulate coherent thought is one reason for his acceptance in the south and midwest. Bill Clinton as well kept a folksy demeanor despite having all the possible intellectual credentials.
Clinton and G.W. contrast starkly against Gore and the elder Bush. The latter two were consummate Washington insiders highly regarded for their mastery of policy. But look where it got them. They were smart and everyone knew it and they were resented. Clinton and G.W. on the other hand furtively managed to conceal their intellectual underpinings.
More than being antiblack, intellectualism is inimical to the southerner and midwesterner. The prototypical southerner abjures the secular humanism of the cerebral Northeasterner. As President, LBJ tormented and was tormented by the Harvard set that rallied behind JFK.
To veer further off tangent, I'm quite amused and puzzled by the strength of the Giuliani candidacy. The guy was a Democrat for McGovern in 1972, as mayor of New York supported restrictions on gun ownership, and has openly gay men as intimate friends. I can't believe that the Republican base in the south and midwest will ever countenance such a person. If they do then expect a seismic shift with evangelicals looking for room at the Democratic shelter.
Did Corey draw that comic for this blog? I love his wordless black nerd cartoons - he did a hilarious one back at Howard where a black thug was surrounded by a bunch of black nerds studying him as if he were the oddest thing.
Anyway - where'd you get that particular cartoon?
If you do a google image search under "black nerd".....it should come up....just go through a few pages within the search....
I've been saying it for over two years now: Black is not a way of Being. Its the most simple metaphysical claim you can make, but when you say it to some people, their brain cannot process it.
If I ever decide to stop being lazy I'll link you to my conversation with Lester Spence about that particular claim.
"because THEY say it doesn't "make it so"
And that includes all of the half truths we are fed daily.
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