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'''Béké''' or '''beke''' is |
{{Short description|Antillean Creole term for descendant of European settlers}} |
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'''Béké''' or '''beke''' is an [[Antillean Creole]] term to describe a descendant of the early European, usually French, settlers in the [[French Antilles]]. |
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==Etymology== |
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The origin of the term is |
The origin of the term is unclear, although it is attested to in colonial documents from as early as the first decade of the eighteenth century. It may well derive from [[Igbo language|Igbo]] phrases that describe Europeans. One Caribbean tradition holds that it originated from the question |
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« eh bé qué ? » (« eh bien quoi ? », similar to "What's up"), an expression picked up from the French settlers. Another explanation is that its origin lies in the term « blanc des quais » ("a White from the quay") as the White colonists and merchants controlled the ports. In contrast, the "Blanc |
« eh bé qué ? » (« eh bien quoi ? », similar to "What's up"), an expression picked up from the French settlers. Another explanation is that its origin lies in the term « blanc des quais » ("a White from the quay") as the White colonists and merchants controlled the ports. In contrast, the "Blanc Créole" (or "Blan Kréyol" in creole) is use for White people born in the Antilles and adapted to the creole life who are not descendants of the first White settlers.<ref>[http://www.publifarum.farum.it/ezine_articles.php?art_id=53 ''Du Neg nwe au Beke Goyave, le langage de la couleur de la peau en Martinique'', Isabelle Michelot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006143603/http://www.publifarum.farum.it/ezine_articles.php?art_id=53 |date=2011-10-06 }}« Il est composé du complément du nom ''-péyi'' (signifiant ''local'') en construction directe sans connotation économique, par opposition au ''Béké'' (où le sème de "riche" est dominant) et au ''petit blanc'' (où le sème "pauvre" est dominant), appellation méprisante du blanc qui n’a pas réussi économiquement »</ref> "Blanc Pays" (or "Blan Péyi" in creole) is used to talk about the Béké of Guadeloupe. |
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In [[Guadeloupe]] one theory speaks also of the "Blanc Créole" or " |
In [[Guadeloupe]] one theory speaks also of the "Blanc Créole" or "Blan Kréyol", abbreviated to BK, ''[[wikt:ergo|ergo]]'' Béké.<ref>''La Rue Case-Nègres'' de [[Joseph Zobel]]</ref> |
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== Racial tension == |
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==Class problems== |
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The békés represent a small minority in the French Antilles |
The békés represent a small minority in the French Antilles and control much of the local industry.<ref name=iht>{{cite news |title= Blacks slam white minority in Martinique strike |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/13/news/CB-Caribbean-France-Unrest.php |agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[International Herald Tribune]]|date=2009-02-13 |accessdate=2009-02-16}}</ref> The [[2009 French Caribbean general strikes]] were to some degree aimed against the class difference that exists between the békés and the predominantly mixed Black and White majority population.<ref name=iht/> |
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==See also== |
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==Racist statements in TV documentary== |
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*[[Buckra]] |
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*[[Redleg]] |
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At the beginning of 2009, [[Canal+]] aired a 50-minute documentary called "Les derniers maîtres de Martinique" ("Martinique's Last Masters"),<ref>[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7747111175846675158 Les derniers maîtres de Martinique]</ref> in which a prominent member of the Béké community and one the island's economically most powerful figures, Alain Huyghues Despointes (Chairman of Groupe Alain Huyghues Despointes), is filmed (openly, no hidden camera) making the following arguably [[racist]] statement: "When I see families of mixed couples (black and white), their children have different colors. There's no harmony. Some have the same kind of hair as mine [points to his straight hair], others have tightly coiled hair. All in the same family, with different skin colors. I don't think that's right. We have intended to preserve the race." The voice-over adds that members of the Béké community who marry Black people are excommunicated. |
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*[[Zoreilles]] |
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{{White people terms}} |
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William Balfour Baikie explored most of south east Nigeria and parts of cross rivers and Benue States. Ethnic groups in these areas also refer to a white person as 'ubekee' (Igede people in Benue State and parts of Cross Rivers State). |
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{{reflist|2}} |
{{reflist|2}} |
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{{Portal|Guadeloupe}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Beke}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beke}} |
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Guadeloupe]] |
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Guadeloupe]] |
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Martinique]] |
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Martinique]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Society of Guadeloupe]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Society of Martinique]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Creole peoples]] |
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[[Category:Ethno-cultural designations]] |
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[[Category:European diaspora in the Caribbean]] |
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[[ca:Béké]] |
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[[de:Béké]] |
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[[fr:Béké]] |
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[[it:Béké]] |
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Revision as of 18:53, 15 January 2024
Béké or beke is an Antillean Creole term to describe a descendant of the early European, usually French, settlers in the French Antilles.
Etymology
The origin of the term is unclear, although it is attested to in colonial documents from as early as the first decade of the eighteenth century. It may well derive from Igbo phrases that describe Europeans. One Caribbean tradition holds that it originated from the question « eh bé qué ? » (« eh bien quoi ? », similar to "What's up"), an expression picked up from the French settlers. Another explanation is that its origin lies in the term « blanc des quais » ("a White from the quay") as the White colonists and merchants controlled the ports. In contrast, the "Blanc Créole" (or "Blan Kréyol" in creole) is use for White people born in the Antilles and adapted to the creole life who are not descendants of the first White settlers.[1] "Blanc Pays" (or "Blan Péyi" in creole) is used to talk about the Béké of Guadeloupe.
In Guadeloupe one theory speaks also of the "Blanc Créole" or "Blan Kréyol", abbreviated to BK, ergo Béké.[2]
Racial tension
The békés represent a small minority in the French Antilles and control much of the local industry.[3] The 2009 French Caribbean general strikes were to some degree aimed against the class difference that exists between the békés and the predominantly mixed Black and White majority population.[3]
See also
William Balfour Baikie explored most of south east Nigeria and parts of cross rivers and Benue States. Ethnic groups in these areas also refer to a white person as 'ubekee' (Igede people in Benue State and parts of Cross Rivers State).
References
- ^ Du Neg nwe au Beke Goyave, le langage de la couleur de la peau en Martinique, Isabelle Michelot Archived 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine« Il est composé du complément du nom -péyi (signifiant local) en construction directe sans connotation économique, par opposition au Béké (où le sème de "riche" est dominant) et au petit blanc (où le sème "pauvre" est dominant), appellation méprisante du blanc qui n’a pas réussi économiquement »
- ^ La Rue Case-Nègres de Joseph Zobel
- ^ a b "Blacks slam white minority in Martinique strike". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2009-02-16.