# Is "Negro" an offensive word, or simply archaic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342 "2002-05-16T06:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/1 "2002-05-16T06:40:29Z")
My question is pressing because of our caption contest. The picture is a late-60’s, early 70’s photo of a black man and two white women, and some of the funny captions include the word “negro”, which was in use at the time of the picture. So…whaddya think? ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/2 "2002-05-16T07:15:44Z")
It depends how it’s used, ie the context and the intent of the speaker. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/3 "2002-05-16T13:22:37Z")
For the most part, I’d go with archaic rather than offensive, but I can guarantee you that someone is going to find the term offensive no matter how it’s used. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/4 "2002-05-16T15:13:17Z")
United Negro College Fund. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/5 "2002-05-16T15:58:39Z")
Stanley Crouch, the noted African-American pundit, columnist, author, and Svengali to boneheaded jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, really hates being called “African-American.” His argument is “We’re REAL AMERICANS, dadgummit! We’ve been here for hundreds of years! Culturally, we haven’t got ANYTHING to do with African nationals!” And he prefers using “Negro” to refer to African-Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/6 "2002-05-16T16:38:42Z")
I suspect that _Negro_ may be regaining some favor. Not long ago I heard a Black commentator say, in reference to all the flag-waving that was going on after 9/1/1, that she would feel more inclined to join in if her people got a fairer shake. She used the word _Negro_ several times, and _only_ that word, in referring to the race. Unless the intent was to be so subtly ironic that I didn’t pick up on it, the usage seemed to be completely neutral. I wonder if it will be an example of a word, formerly abjured, becoming a symbol of pride. In a sort of parallel situation, I understand that some San Franciscans have taken up the usage of the name “Frisco”, which they are supposed to detest, in a similar way. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/7 "2002-05-16T16:44:00Z")
Well, just remind people that when all is said and done, _negro_ is simply the Spanish word for _black_. Meaning the color. What about Montenegro? (And it’s pronounced nehgro, not neegro.) ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/8 "2002-05-16T16:53:14Z")
Depending, of course, on intent (I mean, even the term “Tote Bag” can be insulting with the right tone), I would say it’s merely outdated. The use of some such “outdated” words can reflect poorly on the user (regardless of his/her intent) in terms of making him/or her seem ignorant of PC terms and practices (or like someone who doesn’t care enough to try not to offend people). But **beagledave** is right; these “dated” terms are still used in the titles of organizations, etc., founded decades ago (when the commonly used term for Black people was different): The Nat’l Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) THe National Assoc. of Negro Musicians People still talk about the “Negro Leagues” in baseball, because, well… that’s what they were called. And let’s not forget the Negro National Anthem… You get the picture. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/9 "2002-05-16T21:58:05Z")
MOST of the time, the term is merely archaic. But I reserve the right to call it offensive, depending on who’s saying it and under what circumstances. Let’s put it this way… if there’s an elderly, Southern white liberal who’s always supported civil rights for black Americans, and every so often he slips and uses the antiquated term “Negro,” there’s no point in vilifying him. Just accept that he’s old and set in his ways, and ignore the faux pas, knowing he meant no offense. On the other hand, a younger white person who uses the term probably knows better… and if he chooses to slur the pronunciation, making it sound like “NIGG-ruh,” or the other “N” word, we shouldn’t make ANY excuses for him. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/10 "2002-05-16T22:16:36Z")
My grandparents still say “colored”, because that was the proper term when they were younger. I once saw a book titled “Negrophilia.” I did a double take-I thought it said “NECROphilia!” LOL ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/11 "2002-05-17T01:47:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*MOST of the time, the term is merely archaic. But I reserve the right to call it offensive, depending on who’s saying it and under what circumstances. > > Let’s put it this way… if there’s an elderly, Southern white liberal who’s always supported civil rights for black Americans, and every so often he slips and uses the antiquated term “Negro,” there’s no point in vilifying him. Just accept that he’s old and set in his ways, and ignore the faux pas, knowing he meant no offense. > > On the other hand, a younger white person who uses the term probably knows better… and if he chooses to slur the pronunciation, making it sound like “NIGG-ruh,” or the other “N” word, we shouldn’t make ANY excuses for him. \*\* I’m confused. On the one hand, it’s okay for an elderly white person to use Negro because he just “slipped up,” but if a young white person uses it it’s racist. What?!?! As far as I have been able to research, Negro was never meant as a derogatory term for black people. That was reserved for Nigger. And I have heard more black people slur Negro so that it sounds like “NIGG-ruh” then white people. Why exactly should the young white person know better? Negro is not an offensive term. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/12 "2002-05-17T02:00:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*My question is pressing because of our caption contest. The picture is a late-60’s, early 70’s photo of a black man and two white women, and some of the funny captions include the word “negro”, which was in use at the time of the picture. > > So…whaddya think? \*\* I think you should include the word as it was originally used. Negro was not a bad word back in the 60’s. And although times and sensibilities have changed we shouldn’t white wash the past. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Spider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Barking\_Spider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Spider)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/13 "2002-05-17T02:01:47Z")
And a slight hijack… My parents always refered to Blacks as “colored”, as in, “See that colored man over there”… Since then, the term has fallen out of favor. However, “people of color” has replaced it. Why should “colored people” be bad, while “people of color” be good? Thats why I always use the term “Blacks” ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/14 "2002-05-17T03:17:44Z")
**Barking Spider** , “people of color” has replaced “colored people” for the same reason “individuals with disabilities” has replaced “disabled people”. The correct/most recent form is to place the _person_ before the _descriptor_. **WSLer** , People make allowances for older people who grew up in a different time. For example, I don’t mind when an older person calls me sweetheart, sugar, darling, precious, etc. because it’s simply their custom and it’s not meant to offend. When someone my age does it, however, I find it demeaning, condescending, and offensive. I do think the term _negro_ can be offensive if used the wrong way. I’ve only ever heard it pronounced as “Niggrah”, and while it’s certainly better than _Nigger_, it still smacks of pre-civil rights movement jargon to me. I would personally never use _negro_to refer to a black person. I typically stick to _African-American_, _black_ (as an adjective, not noun), or _person of color_. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/15 "2002-05-17T04:00:13Z")
There’s nothing wrong with the word “negro”. I think the bad connotations come from the time it was used. Negro was the polite term at a time when the most egregious forms of racism was commonplace. So the word reminds people of those times. And **throatshot** is right. There’s always a few somebodies who are just looking for a reason to pitch a fit. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/16 "2002-05-17T04:25:18Z")
I dislike “African-American” mainly because I’m Canadian. Actually, I find myself more likely to say “that guy over there” without adjectives, unless I need to distinguish “that guy” from a passel of other guys, in which case I might say “that black guy” if it aided in simple identification. I’m white, by the way. I’ve never had a problem in my racially diverse city of Montreal. At least, I’ve never had anyone tell me I was using an epithet without realizing it. Maybe I’m just insensitive. ---
**Author:** ![HoldenCaulfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/17 "2002-05-17T04:33:21Z")
I’ve always thought “person of color” sounded stupid (sorry if anyone here came up with it.) ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/18 "2002-05-17T07:22:44Z")
Someone once pointed out to me that Negro (with the capital N) was insulting to some black people because it seemed to make a separate species out of what should have been a simple descriptive adjective. If you go back to the 1930’s it was even common for a female black to be called a Negress, which sounds to me on a par with tigress, as if the person were an animal. If I were a black female I’d be insulted by that. My guess is that the United Negro College fund and other organaizations using “Negro” were founded when the term was commonly used, and that they’ve kept the name for the sake of continuity and to avoid confusion. If they were founded today I imagine they’d have different names. I don’t use the term African-American because I don’t think any American should be hyphenated. At some point in the distant past, my forebears came from Germany, but I sure don’t want to be called a German American. I was born here, just as millions of black people were, and as far as I am concerned, we are all un-hyphenated Americans. Guess I got a little off the point. I think “Negro” is archaic, and, depending on the intonation and context may be offensive. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/19 "2002-05-17T07:36:33Z")
Negro is also the Spanish word for black… Hmmm, quite the cunundrum. \< spelling is not my strong suit. \> ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342/20 "2002-05-19T23:43:35Z")
I’m gonna start calling them Noires. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-an-offensive-word-or-simply-archaic/109342.md?page=2)