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  • black

    Black is considered an authoritative and powerful color.

  • black

    Use black to evoke a sense of potential and possibility


black
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Use black to evoke a sense of potential and possibility

 

"The color black is associated with power and sophistication." ~ Kate Smith

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  • Color Psychology: Black

    Understanding how color affects our world.

    by Kate Smith

    Black is considered an authoritative and powerful color. It can evoke strong emotions, and too much can be overwhelming. Black represents a lack of color or emptiness. It’s a classic color for clothing and may make the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated.

     

    Feeling Black

    The color black affects us physically by:

    • Making one feel inconspicuous
    • Promoting relaxation
    • Evoking a sense of potential and possibility

     

    Black in the Garden

    Black flowers provide a versatile addition to any garden or landscape design. They provide a good conversation piece and help cool down red or orange flowers. Black is not necessarily gloomy; it is modern, vibrant and sexy. It mixes easily with other colors of the spectrum, particularly green, chartreuse, gold and silver.

     

    Unique Facts About Black

    • A black cat crossing one’s path is considered bad luck in many cultures, except in England, where it’s considered good luck.
    • Black seems to imply weight. Many people believe a black box weighs more than a white box.
    • The color black is associated with power and sophistication, particularly in the fashion world where the term, “the new black,” is often used to give merit to a color trend.
    • There is an old wives’ tale that claims if a woman is buried wearing the color black, she will come back to haunt the family.
    • Musicians in an orchestra pit typically wear all black during live concerts so as not to draw attention away from the stage performers.
    • Black tea accounts for over 90 percent of the tea consumption in the western world.

     

    Seeing Black

    Black is the signature color of a number of products, companies and organizations:

    • Chanel
    • Country music legend Johnny Cash
    • American rock band KISS
    • Baseball teams including the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates
    • Football teams including the Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers

     

    Speaking Black

    Popular phrases that include black are:

    • Black comedy: creating comedy out of a tragic event or situation
    • Black coffee: coffee without milk
    • Black belt: the highest awarded belt in 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 proper name of a particular day to symbolize a tragic event, such as black Friday

     

    Singing Black

    Songs with black in the title:

    • “Baby’s in Black” by The Beatles
    • “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones
    • “Back in Black” by AC/DC
    • “Back to Black” by Lucinda Williams
    • “Black and Blue” by Van Halen
    • “Black and White” by Three Dog Night
    • “Black Betty” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
    • “Black Country Woman” by Led Zeppelin
    • “Black Crow Blues” by Bob Dylan
    • “Black Magic Woman” by Carlos Santana
    • “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles

     

    Black Around the World

    Throughout history, cultures around the world have associated black with mourning, sophistication, and power.

    • In the west, it is customary to wear unadorned black clothing as a symbol of mourning.
    • In rural areas of Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece, widows often wear black for the rest of their lives.
    • In China, black is the traditional clothing color for boys.
    • In England, taxi cabs are traditionally black.