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"abeed al-beit"
November 19, 2008 | Posted by Abu Muqawama - 1:44pm | 22 Comments
Spencer calls Zawahiri a racist. Which he is. But alas, the term "abed" (lit. "slave") to describe black Africans and blacks is all too common in the Arabic-speaking world.* And I actually think Zawahiri was trying to be clever by co-opting a phrase -- "house negro" -- used by Malcolm X & Co. back in the day. So I don't think Zawahiri is going to take too many hits for his diction. I also, though, don't think his latest silly message will be effective. Especially since no one cares what some Arab Egyptian living in a cave thinks about 1960s-era divisions in the African-American community. What, did Zawahiri get around to reading Alex Haley last week and get fired up? And does he honestly think Malcolm X would have broken bread with the likes of him?
*I was lamenting this fact with a German-Palestinian friend in Beirut a few weeks back when the Lebanese guy driving the car interjected into our conversation: "Well, what else are we supposed to call them?" Yeah... What is the Arabic for "oy vey?" Anyone?
*I was lamenting this fact with a German-Palestinian friend in Beirut a few weeks back when the Lebanese guy driving the car interjected into our conversation: "Well, what else are we supposed to call them?" Yeah... What is the Arabic for "oy vey?" Anyone?
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