ninja: dark skin tone
Unicode: 1F977 1F3FF
Description
An emoji depicting a person performing the act of kneeling, specifically with one knee on the ground, wearing a dark skin tone. It commonly signifies humility, respect, prayer, protest, or submission.
Group:
People & Body > person-role
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Can convey a range of emotions including reverence, sorrow, respect, determination (in protest), humility, or solidarity.
Backstory
The 'person kneeling' emoji (kneeling and the skin tone modifier) was introduced with Unicode 12.0 (2019). It gained significant prominence in 2020 through its use in social justice movements, particularly to express solidarity with Black Lives Matter, popularized by athletes kneeling during national anthems.
Usage Examples
- Showing respect or prayer: 'On my knees thanking God for this blessing. 🙏🏽'
- Expressing solidarity in protest: 'Kneeling for justice. No peace until there's justice. ✊🏿'
- Making a proposal: 'She said yes! 💍 (though the emoji itself isn't a proposal, it implies the act)'
- Showing deep humility or apology: 'I truly messed up, on my knees begging for forgiveness. 😔'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Often associated with acts of protest (e.g., kneeling during anthems for social justice), prayer in religious contexts, proposals, or showing respect/submission. Can also signify a moment of reflection or sorrow.
East Asian culture:
May be seen in contexts of deep respect, apology, or traditional rituals. The act of kneeling can have different nuances depending on the specific cultural context and the gesture accompanying it.