Negro
The word "Negro" is a word used to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance, whether they are of African descent or not. The word negro means 'black' in Spanish and Portuguese. "Negro" superseded "colored" as the most polite terminology, at a time when "black" was more offensive.This usage was accepted as normal, even by people classified as Negroes, until the later Civil Rights movement in the late 1960s. One well-known example is the identification by Martin Luther King, Jr. of his own race as 'Negro' in his famous 1963 speech I Have a Dream.
During the American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, some African-American leaders in the United States, objected to the word, and preferred the term 'black' because they associated the word Negro with the long history of slavery, segregation, and discrimination that treated African Americans as second class citizens, or worse.
Since the late 1960s, various other terms have been more widespread in popular usage. These include "black", "Black African", "Afro-American" and "African American".
The term "Negro" is still used in some historical contexts, such as in the name of the United Negro College Fund and the Negro league in sports.
The United States Census Bureau announced that "Negro" would be included on the 2010 United States Census, alongside "Black" and "African-American" because some older Black Americans still self-identify with the term.
During the American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, some African-American leaders in the United States, objected to the word, and preferred the term 'black' because they associated the word Negro with the long history of slavery, segregation, and discrimination that treated African Americans as second class citizens, or worse.
Since the late 1960s, various other terms have been more widespread in popular usage. These include "black", "Black African", "Afro-American" and "African American".
The term "Negro" is still used in some historical contexts, such as in the name of the United Negro College Fund and the Negro league in sports.
The United States Census Bureau announced that "Negro" would be included on the 2010 United States Census, alongside "Black" and "African-American" because some older Black Americans still self-identify with the term.