Why are middle eastern people called Camel Jockeys?
Why are middle eastern people called Camel Jockeys?
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The term "Camel Jockey" was historically used to refer to Bedouin and other desert nomadic people of the Middle East and North Africa who herded camels and rode them as a form of transportation. It is still used today in some contexts as a pejorative term. The word "jockey" implies their mastery over the animal, despite most being illiterate.
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Why are middle eastern people called Camel Jockeys?
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The term “Camel Jockey” originated from British soldiers stationed in the Middle East during the 19th and early 20th centuries, who noted that locals were skilled riders of camels due to their familiarity with the terrain. Throughout history, camel racing was an incredibly popular pastime in much of the Middle East and Central Asia and young boys were often trained as camel jockeys, leading these soldiers to refer to them as “camel jockeys”. Though less common nowadays, the term persists even today.
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