Census Take Heat For Use Of The Word "Negro"

@Spinkiegirl Said

https://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6814629.html So this is just one example of this issue of the term "Negro" being used to describe, classify, and refer to Blacks here in America!!!! It's BIG deal folks.....

@jmo Said

Isn't Negro just French for black? Wouldn't that be like describing white people as Blanc?

@treebee Said

ahh yeah it is, so where the hell does the word negroid come from? which basically sounds like some kind of robot.

@jmo Said

I just looked it up.

Apparently 'Negro' was the term used when blacks found the term 'coloured' offensive. Negro was deemed a more suitable and less-offensive term. The reason it went out of disuse and 'Black' became more popular was due to 'Negro' being a term that had previously been used by slave owners. Although not racist in itself because some people related it to slavery it was decided that the term 'Black' would be more suitable so as to avoid any relation to slavery.

Essentially it can be racist if used in the wrong way, but isn't necessarily a racist word in itself as far as I can tell.

@jmo Said

Negroid, never heard that term, but yeah it does sound robotic. Maybe thats what white nationalist robots will call their black painted counterparts in 100 years time.

@treebee Said

People would go apes*** here if they put Negro on a census.

What is the history of this term "Negro"? I am under the impression it is an enirely offensive term.

@retep Said

The link says the following

?Negro? has remained on the form because the population counters kept getting forms back with the word written in ? more than 55,000 in the 2000 Census ? even though it was included as one of the selections. That suggested that some blacks still preferred the term and had not noticed it as a third choice.

The point was to be as inclusive as possible, to make sure the racial demographics were as accurate as could be, the bureau says.


Seems a reasonable explenation I dont think that in this day and age they were trying to hurt anyones feelings... but someone somewhere is going to get their knickers in a twist no matter what, and no doubt see if they can sue some poor sod for the trauma caused them.

Enter lawyer and weeping traumatised client who's life has been made so unbearable by this that only a couple of million will ever get them back on track to a normal life... and we hope put a stop the nighmares.

@jmo Said

I just looked it up.

Apparently 'Negro' was the term used when blacks found the term 'coloured' offensive. Negro was deemed a more suitable and less-offensive term. The reason it went out of disuse and 'Black' became more popular was due to 'Negro' being a term that had previously been used by slave owners. Although not racist in itself because some people related it to slavery it was decided that the term 'Black' would be more suitable so as to avoid any relation to slavery.

Essentially it can be racist if used in the wrong way, but isn't necessarily a racist word in itself as far as I can tell.

@treebee Said

Cheers for that, I cant look up much at work.

I can understand why people would get upset over it.