Negrescence
Encyclopedia
Negrescence is a word with a Latin
origin and describes "a process of becoming black". It can also refer to having a dark complexion.
In 1885, John Beddoe
compiled an index of negrescence to analyze the population of the British Isles
. Beddoe used the physical descriptions of a population of 13,000 males to compile his index. He gave one point to a male with red or blonde hair. He gave one point to men with dark hair as well. A black haired male was given two points. If the male had brown or chestnut colored, hair, they were considered neutral. He created a "Map Showing Distribution of Negrescence in Britain". This map was recreated and published by R. H. Hodgkin in 1935. It shows that the hair color of men in western Scotland, Wales and Ireland was darker than the hair color of males in eastern England and eastern Scotland.
This analysis was used to support Beddoe's theory that the Irish had the physical characteristics of the indigenous, aboriginal people of the British Isles.
Professor William E. Cross, Jr. of the City University of New York's Graduate Center included a "theory of negrescence" in his groundbreaking book Shades of Black: Diversity in African American Identity published in 1991.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
origin and describes "a process of becoming black". It can also refer to having a dark complexion.
In 1885, John Beddoe
John Beddoe
John Beddoe was one of the most prominent English ethnologists in Victorian Britain.-Life:Beddoe was born in Bewdley, Worcestershire and educated at University College, London and Edinburgh University . He served in the Crimean War and was Physician at Bristol Royal Infirmary from 1862 to 1873...
compiled an index of negrescence to analyze the population of the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. Beddoe used the physical descriptions of a population of 13,000 males to compile his index. He gave one point to a male with red or blonde hair. He gave one point to men with dark hair as well. A black haired male was given two points. If the male had brown or chestnut colored, hair, they were considered neutral. He created a "Map Showing Distribution of Negrescence in Britain". This map was recreated and published by R. H. Hodgkin in 1935. It shows that the hair color of men in western Scotland, Wales and Ireland was darker than the hair color of males in eastern England and eastern Scotland.
This analysis was used to support Beddoe's theory that the Irish had the physical characteristics of the indigenous, aboriginal people of the British Isles.
Professor William E. Cross, Jr. of the City University of New York's Graduate Center included a "theory of negrescence" in his groundbreaking book Shades of Black: Diversity in African American Identity published in 1991.