Black legend facts for kids

A black legend is a way of writing history that makes a person, country, or group look really bad. It uses biased stories, made-up facts, or exaggerated details. The goal is to create a very negative picture of them, while hiding any good things they did.

The idea of a "black legend" was first used by a French writer named Arthur Lévy in 1893. He used it to describe how people talked about Napoleon Bonaparte. It was the opposite of a "Golden Legend", which makes someone sound perfect.

Black legends have been used against many countries and cultures. This often happens because of propaganda (spreading ideas to influence people) or xenophobia (dislike of people from other countries). For example, the "Spanish Black Legend" is a theory that anti-Spanish stories made Spain, its empire, or Hispanic America seem "uniquely evil." These stories often became widely believed stereotypes.

What is a Black Legend?

A black legend is a specific way of telling history. It focuses on making someone or something look very bad. This is done by using unfair information.

How Black Legends Are Made

Black legends are always created and spread on purpose. They often share some common features:

• Always Getting Worse: Black legends often show their subjects as always declining or getting worse.
• A Bad Copy: The subject is shown as a poor or corrupted version of something else. This "something else" is usually seen as the true, pure, or noble form. This "pure" form often matches whoever is creating the legend.
• Accidental Success: Any good things the subject did are played down. They might be called "just luck," or simply good timing. At best, they are seen as rare good qualities.
• Forced Good Deeds: If the subject did something noble that can't be denied, it's presented as being done only for selfish reasons or because they had no other choice.
• No Hope for Change: A black legend often ends with no hope for improvement. It suggests that the problems have always been there and can't be fixed. This is usually blamed on a moral weakness.

Stories in Black Legends

Stories that are part of a black legend often include:

• Strong Emotions: They use strong feelings and are easy to follow. They are designed to make people feel a certain way.
• Gruesome Details: They often have very detailed and shocking descriptions of violence. These descriptions sometimes don't seem to have a clear purpose.
• Lack of Knowledge: The subject is often shown as not being smart or independent in their thinking.
• Greed and Disrespect: They accuse the subject of being greedy or caring only about money. They might also say the subject disrespects important rules or institutions.
• Simple and Consistent Theme: There is usually one main theme, like greed, cruelty, or unfairness. This theme stays the same throughout the legend. Even if the "proofs" change, the main idea about the character remains constant.
• Repetitive Stories: They often repeat the same kinds of stories or situations with small changes. The reasons for actions are usually very simple, often just one or two negative and clear reasons.

See also

In Spanish: Leyenda negra española para niños