racist overtones in Hermas
pender at wfu.edu
Mon Sep 4 12:29:29 EDT 2000
"Frank W. Hughes" wrote about the "black and lawless race" of Hermas:
> Wow -- the racism in that text is strong. I wouldn't call it an
> overtone. How about just translating it as it is and then just saying
> it is racist?
I think it's the case that MELAS can mean dark-complectioned, but
doesn't necessarily mean African, as does AIQIOY, "burnt-faced," and so
"Ethiopian." While this passage may suggest a prejudice against folks
with dark skin, it's a leap to label it racist in modern terms.
Associate Professor of Classical Languages
Wake Forest University
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