The terms “black” and “African American” are both used to refer to Americans with African ancestry, but there is confusion over which term is appropriate. “Black” is preferred by some due to its inclusivity of biracial individuals and recent immigrants from Africa, while “African American” acknowledges the African ancestry of all Americans with African heritage. Outdated terms like “Negro” and “mulatto” are offensive. When in doubt, it’s safer to use “African American” and ask the person their preferred term.
The terms “black” or “black” and “African American” are both frequently used to refer to Americans with African ancestry. There is some confusion about which term is appropriate, which can be distressing for people wishing to avoid offending, and the issue is further complicated by divisions within the African-American community over which term to use. If possible, the best way to answer the question of which term to use is to ask the person you are referring to their preferred term.
It is much easier to delineate terms that are no longer deemed appropriate; Black and Negro, for example, are generally considered offensive by Americans of African descent. Although organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the United Negro College Fund use these outdated terms, the inclusion of these offensive terms reflects the age of the organization, not permission to use outdated racial slang . These organizations fought over their names, eventually deciding to keep the outdated terminology for name recognition purposes. “Mulatto” or “mulatto” in reference to a biracial individual is also offensive.
The use of the term “black” dates back to the 1960s and 1970s and the civil rights movement. The Black Power movement has strongly advocated the use of “black” to replace the obsolete “nigger,” and many Americans of African descent have begun to embrace the term. Others preferred “Afro American,” an early fusion of “African” and “American.” In the 1980s, “African American” began to see common usage and the term quickly became very popular.
The argument for “black” is that it is a term that refers exclusively to skin color, acknowledging the fact that people from Africa come in a variety of shades and tones. Using “black” also allows people to distinguish between Americans with slave ancestry, who may not have a close connection to Africa, and recent immigrants from Africa. This term also includes Americans of slave origin who immigrated from the Caribbean, as these individuals may feel more closely connected to places like Haiti or Jamaica than to Africa.
People may also prefer to use “black” because it encompasses people who are biracial, allowing for people who identify as black to use the term, even if their ancestry is mixed. Others use the term out of pride, celebrating their skin color and cultural identity. The term also allows users to connect with other people of similar heritage around the world, just as “white” connects people with light skin and “brown” connects people with a variety of skin tones.
In favor of “African American” is the established custom in the United States of referring to people with ethnic ancestry as “Ethnic American,” as in “Japanese American,” “German American,” or “Greek American.” The term is meant to acknowledge the African ancestry of all Americans with African heritage, whether they immigrated from Ghana in the past week or are descended from slaves brought to America in the 1500s. Some people prefer this usage because it includes a nod of respect to their ethnic heritage.
If you’re not sure which term is appropriate, it’s probably safer to use “African American,” because most people understand that people are trying to be respectful when they use this term. You may be gently corrected by someone who prefers to be referred to as “Black,” but they will usually understand that your intentions in saying “African American” were good.
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