CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK STORYTELLERS

Black, African American or Negro

Nov 14, 2003

While researching an article for the newsletter, I came across an article by Harold Courlander that was both exciting and provocative. It certainly brought back a lot of memories.

During Kwanzaa when we celebrate the second principle called Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), we remember that the concept teaches us that as African Americans we have the right to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and to speak for ourselves.
Over the years, defining ourselves and naming ourselves seems to have given us a little problem.

Once upon a time I was colored. In 1947 when I entered the primer grade, we were all colored and proud of it. I was also a Negro. In my community we were proud Negros. Negro was a fine word. Then in the 60's, right in the middle of the Civil Rights movement, there was talk about re-defining ourselves. Negro was worn out and oppressive. There was a lot talk, talk about using Black or Afro-American.

However, many Blacks had problems with the word 'black'. "Do I look black to you?" Besides, we had learned to hate the word. "Don't call me black!!" the shouts rang out just before the first blow was thrown.

I am informed that when we use the word black, we are referring to genetics, and Afro-American encompasses our African ancestry and our adopted American culture and heritage. Suddenly, the word Negro was left in the dust. Afro Americans were very adaptable. Of course, writers, journalists, commentators, and the press have been just as adaptable.

Afro-American was used extensively until someone (I don't know who) started a downward spiral of the word based on the fact that Afro was a hairdo. "I'm not a hairdo." All that was left at that time was Black, and we all fell into being Black.

James Brown began singing "say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud." We were now validated. Black was in and light was out. Chants centered around being black rang out. "Black is honest and yellow is low-down." "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice." "Yellow gal, yellow gal, you don't shine. You got a Black man on your mind."

To tell the truth I don't know what sparked the name change to African American. (I must have been unconscious at that time. I will find out and let every one know.) First it appeared with a hypen. People complained that they were not hyphens, so many dropped the hyphen. We are officially African Americans.

Some of you may have a difficult time following all of this, but what the hell, so do I. Someone once said that "you cannot change the name of a thing at will." Ha, try telling that to Black people.

Katye E. Ridgeway