Cushi

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Cushi

Cushi (Kushi) is a Hebrew term generally used to refer to a dark skinned person usually of African descent and is very similar in its usage to the English word Negro. Initially, the word was used by Hebrew-speaking Jews to simply refer to individuals of African origin, or as a term of endearment for people with dark skin as in the case of Cushi Rimon. Yet since the late 20th century together with the original meaning it also was used as a (wrong) translation for the word "Nigger" and has been widely considered in Israel to be a racist and derogatory term.

Origins of the Term
"Cushi" as a Pejorative term of Race
Cushi and Cushite
See also
References

Origins of the Term

The Hebrew word "Cushi" is mentioned in the first five books of the Bible ? the Torah, refers to a person who came from the land of Cush (Most probably today's Sudan, and practically the entire southern Egypt). The origin of the word "Cush" is from the ancient Egyptian language, and denotes a person of dark-skinned complexion. Cush was the eldest son of Ham, the son of Noah. Canaan, the other son of Ham, was cursed by Noah: "Cursed be Canaan; he shall be a slave among slaves to his brethren." (Book of Genesis 9:25). The Europeans have later misused this verse to explain their subjugation of dark-skinned Africans to slavery.

The book of Numbers (12:1), tells the story of Miriam and Aaron, the brother of Moses, who are gossiping about him, "And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman", something that was not acceptable among the Israelites at the time. The most famous of the Jewish commentators on the Bible, the Talmudic scholar, Rashi, has offered a different commentary from the pshat, saying: "Scripture teaches that everyone acknowledged her beauty just as everyone acknowledges a Cushite?s blackness".^[1] and strengthens his word by saying: "Cushite, Its numerical (Gematria) value is equal to beautiful in appearance".^[1]

The Book of Amos offers a positive reference: "Are you not like the children of the Cushites to Me, O children of Israel? says the Lord" (Book of Amos 9:7).

One famous coined phrase makes use of the "Cushi" word in Modern Israeli Hebrew, quoting from the bible, "Will a Cushi change his skin or a leopard his spots?" (Book of Jeremiah 13:23), in order to describe a reality that can not change.

"Cushi" as a Pejorative term of Race

Initially in Modern Israeli Hebrew, the term "Cushi" was not used as a Pejorative term. At times, it was even used to refer fondly to a person of dark skin or a red hair, as King David was red headed. Other words were used to describe dark skin as a Pejorative term, for example, the word "Schwartz" (taken from its similar meaning in the Yiddish language ? black). In the last decades of the 20th century, the word "Cushi" became a racist slur, some claim as a result of the identification of its terms in English, "Nigger" and "Negro". However, this scenario has never been proven.

The negative change sin the meaning of the term "Cushi" was seen in many companies retagging themselves in the Israeli Market. The well known made-in-Israel cheese "Cushi" was renamed "Ushi" as well as the Israeli "Krembo" (Chocolate-coated marshmallow treats) that in the initial distribution was named "Cushi".

In an Israeli Court verdict that dealt with a bus driver calling a security guard in a university "Cushi", Judge Yitzhak Milnov wrote the following words:

^[2]

Cushi and Cushite

The only distinguishing feature between Cushi and Cushite, (in Hebrew), is of Gender. The former refers to a male, whereas the latter refers to a female, just like the terms commonly used in American English to distinguish between Bachelor and a Bachelorette), like the wife of Moses. The Hebrew language commonly distinguishes almost every word between a male and a female.

Other terms include Cushim (plural), Cushites (biblical plural). In English: "Kush" or "Cush" (in its various declensions) is derived from the same biblical origin.