Black is authoritative and powerful; because black can evoke strong emotions, too much can be overwhelming. Black represents a lack of color, the primordial void, emptiness. It is a classic color for clothing, possibly because it makes the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated. HOW THE COLOR BLACK AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY makes one feel inconspicuous provides a restful emptiness is mysterious by evoking a sense of potential and possibility THE MEANING OF BLACK AROUND THE GLOBE In Chinese culture, colors corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions, and the four seasons. Black was associated with water, north, and winter. In Aztec culture, black represented war because black obsidian glass was used as the cutting edge of battle swords. It was also the symbol of religion; priests wore no other color but black. In the west, black is the color of mourning but the custom of wearing unadorned black clothing for mourning dates back at least to the Roman Empire, when the Toga pulla made of dark-colored wool was worn during periods of mourning. In rural areas of Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece widows will wear black for the rest of their lives. The immediate family members of the deceased will wear black for an extended period of time. In England, taxi cabs are traditionally black. In China, black is a traditional clothing color for boys. POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS OF BLACK Mussolini’s Fascist militia was known as “the Blackshirts.” Black is the color of the Portuguese political party Leftwing Bloc. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BLACK A black cat crossing one’s path is considered bad luck in many cultures, except in England, where spotting a black cat is considered good luck. Black implies weight — people will think a black box weighs more than a white one. The color black is associated with sophistication and power…tuxedos, limousines, judge’s robes, and priests’ attire are all typically black. Musicians in an orchestra pit often wear all black during live concerts, so as not to draw attention away from the stage performers. The color black is so widely regarded as sophisticated in fashion that the term “the new black” is often used to describe and give merit to a color trend. One old wives’ tale claims that if a woman is buried wearing the color black, she’ll come back to haunt the family. Do. Black symbolizes the combination of all colors of the universe. From black, all colors originate and spring up to create the lively rainbow. The Black Belt is the beginning of true achievement, understanding and wisdom, and blending the mind and the body into one, into a unity within oneself and with the universe. BLACK IN ATHLETICS AND SPORTS Football teams include the Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers. Baseball teams include the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Dr. Jigor Kano, founder of Judo, created divisions among students using Belt colors, in order to give students recognition for certain achievements. The Black Belt is the highest color belt in most martial arts, including ITF and WTF of Tae Kwon BLACK AS A SIGNATURE COLOR Johnny Cash — This country music icon was referred to as “the man in black.” Roy Orbison — His trademark black sunglasses caused a lot of speculation. Kiss — American rock band Kiss was known for their black wigs, black clothes, and painted faces. COMPANIES OR BRANDS IDENTIFIED WITH BLACK Chanel {See more brand, trademark, & signature colors} POPULAR PHRASES THAT INCLUDE THE COLOR BLACK Black comedy: creating comedy out of a tragic event or situation Black coffee: coffee without milk Black belt: the highest awarded belt in the martial arts Blackball: voting against someone in a secret manner to prevent them from becoming a member of a club Blackmail: to demand payment or action by means of a threat Black sheep: a bad character in an otherwise respectable group Black day: a bad day; often used before the name of a paticular day to symbolize a tragic event, such as black Tuesday or black Friday. Please note that while the terms above illustrate how black has historically been used in language, equating black to negativity is outmoded and using these terms could be hurtful. Like color, language is a powerful tool, so please always choose your colors and words wisely. {See our list of popular phrases that include color} QUOTES ABOUT BLACK “I’ve been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colors was black.” — Pierre-Auguste Renoir “Black is real sensation, even if it is produced by entire absence of light. The sensation of black is distinctly different from the lack of all sensations.” — Hermann von Helmholtz “I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down, / Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town, / I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, / But is there because he’s a victim of the times.” — Johnny Cash “Without black, no color has any depth. But if you mix black with everything, suddenly there’