Why is "Black" a "Bad Word"?

And maybe they are just simply "American." The "political correctness" of our times is tiresome. Our language has evolved but more than that... Our sensitivies have evolved. White has always been "white". Why can't "black" just stay "black." I agree with you Selene.... We contine to try and not "offend" when it really is the constant lable changing (attempting to find a "PC" description) that is offensive. Once upon a time it was ok to be a "Negro" too.

I'm not sure where the idea came from that "black" is a bad word. Probably some politically correct bunch of do-gooders. My friends (including my soon to be brother in law) that are black have no problem with it. My girlfriend, who is Korean, is just that: Korean, or occasionally Asian.

My question would be, who coined the phrases? For example, African American. Are you actually from Africa and are now a citizen of America? Or were your ancestors from Africa? If you answer your ancestors, then you are American. I am part Cherokee, Seminole, Apache, Lithuanian, Welsh, Irish, and God only knows what else. All of our ancestors came from somewhere else, but if we are born in America, then we are Americans, no matter what color our skin is. Perhaps this is not "Politically Correct" thinking, but people can get over it.

I am 51 today. White. When I was in grade school we called African Americans colored. I always thought that was correct. WRONG! I made friends with a black girl that politely told me not to ever refer to them as colored.
I never understood why aren't we all just people? I would never want to intentionally offend anyone.

Michelle, you are SO correct. This is an actual topic of controversy. "African-American" is a silly lable when the "black/Negro/colored" person is not FROM Africa. I read a book once about a white American woman who traveled to Africa. What she discovered were true Africans that felt offended by American blacks calling themself Africans. Ok, so their ancestors are from Africa. My ancestors are from Europe but I can't claim to be "Europian American". I'm an American with European roots. I'd say this is about as literal as it can get.

Selene, I got to thinking further about your comments. And, it's natural that we are comfortable with our own skin and see what we see in the mirror. Sure. But, in our society, we have been educated that seeing "color" and then referring to that person as a "color" is an offense UNLESS one is "white!". As a non-Asian, I'd probably offend many Asians by calling them "yellow." It's rather silly isn't it? I'm white (but you can call me that--it's PC). She is black (oops, don't call her that! It's not pc). For whatever reason the description of an Asian as "yellow" has always been the most derogatory of all the color references.

Last night I burned one of those single serving sized pizzas and my husband not knowing I had burned it asked me if he could have the last one.
"I said not unless you like yours blackened."
And then he jumped all over me telling me I can;t say that, that is it not PC.
So, if you are in New Orleans and you want to order Blackened Catfish without offending anyone, what do you do, say "Psssstt" to the waiter and point exaggeratedly at the offending item on the menu???

Leslie....

Have your husband read these posts. He's fallen into the "overly sensitive PC sayers" and is further exacerbating the topic at hand. Ask hiim if he'd prefer you refer to the burnt food as "African American." Maybe he'd see how "silly" he was behaving.

No, Leslie.. you order "Urban formerly African-American formerly Afro-American formerly Black formerly Negro, formerly colored catfish." And your dark-skinned waiter will bow politely and say "Yes, Miss", as all waiters are taught to do in New Orleans.

We went through this before I graduated.We had to do current events during shop week.We all had to chose a current daily event each day.An article in the newspaper said a black male and gave a description of height, build and so on.The students in our class who were african american became offended and started calling us white kids racists.In no means were we.The girl was doing a current event.I don't get offended when someone calls me white yet it became a big deal and a arquement in class.Apparently they said about there ancestors being disrespected but it is not them being disrespected now and they are taking it out on people who werent involved with slaverySometimes being to politically correct is more rediculous than anything.What bothers me is when they use the "n word" to refer to each other and can't see that is more disrespectful that someone saying black.I also don't think it is right when they feel it's ok to call us crackers and other names or for anyone in any race and yet chose to call each other by names they don't want us to call them.A young child will often learn colors of skin and instead of saying black may say its a brown person.Why is that so wrong.We all have different skin tones and a white baby could be reffered to as a pink baby when they are first born.As long as its not a major issue and derrogatory term it shouldn't be a big deal.

just call me....Lori.

Wow, Leslie, I am shocked by your husband's reaction. My husband doesn't want me to say "Black" when I refer to people, but he is ok with chickens...

Oops. I was thinking about blackened chicken for some reason... but I mean the same... pizzas, catfish, food, what-not...

Selene - Very interesting topic and discussion. I have an honest question that may be a bit naive. I use the term Asian - is this offensive or does it make you uncomfortable? Also, just out of curiousity, how do you feel about the term Oriental?

Tonia - I am not offended by Asian or Oriental. I have never heard of "Oriental" as a way of describing us until just a few years ago. I am not really offended by any term I have heard so far. I am just not comfortable to be called "Asian American" because I am not an American.

Okay, black is what you use to describe the color of a person's skin as you, Selene described yourself as yellow. I am what is considered white, but let's be honest, if you really described my skin color properly I'd be better described as pink, not white. And most black people aren't black. They are brown, chocolate (dark and milk), some are even tan... as are some white people. I think it is wonderful that we are a rainbow of colors no matter our race. We all have varying tones of skin color whatever our race.

The changing terms from Colored and Negro to Black to African-American have more to do with the scars of the slavery of Africans in America many years ago than anything else.

Robin T. is right. Don't live in fear of opening your mouth because somebody might get offended. Most people don't. In spite of what you hear on the news we are a tolerant people and not that easily offended.