wash a blackamoor white: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Historical Englishoffensivearchaic
  • To attempt to make a black person white, used as a racist metaphor reflecting beliefs about race and assimilation.
  • To try to erase or deny the racial identity or perceived defects of a black person by presenting them as acceptable to white society.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The outdated notion of trying to wash a blackamoor white has been rightly criticized for its racism.

    The outdated notion of trying to wash a blackamoor white has been rightly criticized for its racism.

  • He argued that attempting to wash a blackamoor white ignores the richness of cultural identity.

    He argued that attempting to wash a blackamoor white ignores the richness of cultural identity.

  • Historically, efforts to wash a blackamoor white reflected discriminatory social pressures.

    Historically, efforts to wash a blackamoor white reflected discriminatory social pressures.

• 2.

  Historical Englishoffensivearchaicfigurative
  • Figuratively, to whitewash or attempt to cleanse a person or thing of blame or stigma, often by concealing inconvenient facts.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The company tried to wash a blackamoor white by hiding the scandal from the public eye.

    The company tried to wash a blackamoor white by hiding the scandal from the public eye.

  • Politicians often wash a blackamoor white to avoid blame for controversial decisions.

    Politicians often wash a blackamoor white to avoid blame for controversial decisions.

  • Attempting to wash a blackamoor white rarely convinces anyone once the facts are revealed.

    Attempting to wash a blackamoor white rarely convinces anyone once the facts are revealed.