black peril, noun phrase

Forms:
Also with initial capitals.
Origin:
Probably translation of Afrikaans swart gevaar.
1. Obsolete except in historical contexts a. Usually attributive, a euphemism for (sexual) assault on a White woman by a Black man. b. One who is guilty of such an assault.
[1902 Volkstem 10 May 13Zwarte gevaar, Vrouw te Bloemfontein aangerand.]
1908 D. Blackburn Leaven (1991) 106The more the kafir was enlightened — the nearer he was brought to moral and intellectual equality with the white — the less likely was he to be a ‘Black Peril’.
1911 Farmer’s Weekly 4 Oct. 115This system of employing men in our households is pernicious and has led to a considerable number of the ‘black peril’ cases.
1913 V.R. Markham S. Afr. Scene 279Another difficult and unpalatable subject, which raises the most acute and violent of all racial antipathies, namely what are known as ‘black peril’ cases. That attacks of this character on white women should rouse Europeans to the highest pitch of fury is most comprehensible.
1923 G.H. Nicholls Bayete! 244The news of the Black Peril outrage, occurring as it did to the person and in the house of such a well-known and important lady as Mrs Stultz, caused a hysteria of leading articles in the Press.
1923 G.H. Nicholls Bayete! 245The recommendation of the Black Peril Commission regarding the employment of black male domestics should be at once made law.
[1924 E.T. Jollie Real Rhodesia (1971) 276Rhodesia has a good record as to Black Peril cases, but there is no doubt that as the native becomes more sophisticated the danger increases.]
1980 D.B. Coplan Urbanization of African Performing Arts. 143By 1908, their (sc. the Amalaita’s) membership and activities were changing in response to the commanding social issue of the day, the ‘Black Peril.’ The Black Peril controversy ostensibly centered on the rising crime rate among Blacks...In particular, Whites expressed fear of sexual assaults on White women, so many of whom spent their days in close contact with male African domestic servants.
2. swart gevaar sense 1.
1960 C. Hooper Brief Authority 21We whites..imprison ourselves in the stale airs of our spiritual laager; we man the defences..against a long dead Black Peril.
1972 Daily Dispatch 1 Mar. 1These rights were scrapped by white South Africa in the light of what they call ‘the black peril’ or ‘swart gevaar’ or simply their fear of being swamped by hordes of blacks.
1973 Y. Burgess Life to Live 137The talk at the time was of the ‘Swart Gevaar’, the Black Peril, which some thought referred to some new kind of disease, and that, in a way, was how the coiners of the ugly phrase meant it.
1985 Time 5 Aug. 12The Botha reforms have helped convince the right wing that the President is not sufficiently aware of die swart gevaar (the black peril).
1990 G. Slovo Ties of Blood 106The Nationalist Party which had gone to the polls on the twin slogans of ‘Segregate the Black’ and ‘Save the Poor White’, formed a coalition with the Labour Party. Together they came into office dedicated to fighting the black peril.
1990 G. Slovo Ties of Blood [see Nat noun sense a].
1991 [see swart gevaar sense 1].
Usually attributive,a euphemism for (sexual) assault on a White woman by a Black man.
One who is guilty of such an assault.
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19021990

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obsolete or obsolescent
historical
Black Napoleon, noun phrasen. phr.Black Pimpernel, noun phrasen. phr.
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