When did the word "Negro" become taboo?

[bluestateguy]

The most respectful way for people to refer to black Americans used to be the word "negro". Watching "American Dreams", which is set in 1966, we see that the generally progressive Pryor family refers to blacks as "negroes". Other civil rights leaders at this time also used this terminology as well. At some point the word "negro" drifted into English language obscurity and even became offensive. But I could never pinpoint just when or why it was that the word "negro" fell out of favor in the United States.

I have only been alive since 1976, so I do not know.

[The Magistrate]

1. Not Long Before Your Birth, Sir

Black came to supersede it through a variety of slogans such as "Black is beautiful", "Black Power!" and the like....

[Hatalles]

2. I've wondered about this too...

I've read a good chunk of literature from the Harlem Renaissance and the word "negro" seems to be the most commonly used term to refer to African Americans.

My guess is because of its close resemblance to the 'n' word, but that's just a hunch -- and of course, the 'n' word has been around for quite some time as well.

[punpirate]

3. Southern dialect...

... plays a part in this. In the antebellum South, the pronunciation was "nigra" which then gradually evolved in Reconstruction times to "nigger."

I think the word "black" was, as others have said, an expression of the black power movement, and particularly was associated with the Black Panthers, who felt that groups such as the NAACP, which often referred to themselves as Negroes were too complacent and were Uncle Toms.

That's my memory of it, vaguely.

[Old Mouse]

6. Not quite right

Nigger actually comes from niggardly, not negro or negroid.

[The Magistrate]

7. Hard To Say, Sir

That is an older word, of course, with a Scandinavian derivation. But in the early days of the slave trade, the source was often refered to as the Niger coast, and this would seem a very natural corruption of speech applied to its unhappy produce.

[Old Mouse]

13. And Niger is Latin for black

Blacks were also called niggor, niggah, nigguh, niggur before the middle of the 1700's settled on nigger.

The first shipment of blacks to the new world were ledgered as "negars"

Good to see you, Magistrate!

[The Magistrate]

16. And You As Well, Sir

Spelling in those days was an enchantingly hit or miss affair....

[Blue Wally]

26. Negars

Negars was the English equivalent of the Spanish negro. The first Africans brough to England were brought in a Sapnish ship and the Spaniards told the English they were "negro" or black. As with most Spanish words ending in a vowel, they were translated into an English equivalent ending in a consonant. When they were displayed for public curiosity, an observer wrote that he had seen some "negars" which has absolutely nothing to to with niggard, niggle, or niggling which is of old germanic origin and means miserly.

[Old Mouse]

30. Please see #19

[ladjf]

11. Having lived in the South for overt 60 years,

I don't think your explanation about niggardly is correct. The earlier post has it right. The word Negro in the South morphed from
"Negro" to "Nig-rah" , to sometimes "Nig" , but most often "Nigger".
The harshness of the use of "Nigger" varied with how it was said. It was always derisive but could be spoken even more insultingly.

Another pronunciation comes to mind also, "Nigah". This was quite often used.

Not too many white that I knew when growing up even knew the definition of niggardly. The definition " : grudgingly mean about spending or granting " did not apply in any way to anyone's conceptions of the "Black's" personality or character.

[Old Mouse]

19. I checked my sources and found your explanation as well

both are listed as possible origins for the word, but there seems to be greater weight (in my politically charged reference books) to your theory; however, it is discounted in the Random House Historical Dictionary of Slang.

If you research the term niggardly you find that even though today it means stingy, it originally meant of black heart, with black referring to sinful, inferior and evil. The term was well used in Europe were there was trade in blacks long before there was in the colonies. Some evidence suggests we were called niggers before we were ever labeled negroes, so the transformation you suggest would be impossible.

I do hope you all understand not all blacks will appreciate this conversation. The level of tolerance on this subject for each individual is personal, subjective, and probably not open to compromise.

[ladjf]

22. Old Mouse: My comments were based solely upon

my own recollections. Despite the obvious racial bias that was and is prevalent in the South, I never had the slightest impression that
whites were thinking of blacks in terms of "black hearts" or "evil".
It was a simpler assumption that they were inferior in a general way to whites.

You might be interested to read my earlier post that pointed out how my father, a strong civil rights advocate in his earlier years, was later criticized by young black when he continued to use the word "Negro" when referring the "Blacks". He was old and aware that the usage had changed.

[Old Mouse]

25. I most assuredly do not challenge your recollections

That version of niggardly was in use five hounded years ago! I only spoke of the word's origins.

The origin of the word is just plain not known. There are many opinions, but none that can be proven decisively. But it does seem the word for blacks was (possibly) already nigger before the slave trade began in America, not only before the Southern accent could distort the word negro, but before there was a Southern accent.

And about your poor father, bless his heart, I suspect no answer he gave would considered the right one. It must have been very confusing. But THAT is a complex situation to discuss at 4:00 in the morning.

[ladjf]

36. Poppa's feelings were hurt by the incidents.

Even after I explained to him what the problem was, he remained
puzzled that his use of a term that was totally accepted in earlier times had somehow come to mean something else.

How about the word "gay". Fifty years ago, "gay" meant happy, light hearted. Now it is only used to describe a homosexual person, usually a male.

[punpirate]

12. Don't think so...

... because niggardly actually means penny-pinching, stingy or financially mean-spirited.

Cheers.

[theHandpuppet]

14. How so?

I truly don't see how the term "nigger" could have evolved from "niggardly" (Scan. in origin, for "miserly person") as opposed to Negro (Spanish & Portugese for "black"). Perhaps you could explain?

[Kahuna]

5. I think that's a big part of it if my memory serves me correctly..

Blacks felt that people too easily used interchangeably, Negro, nig*er, and a sly combination of the two words, nigra.

[The Magistrate]

9. Indeed, Sir

"Nigra" was how white people put on airs while saying the other....

[Kahuna]

4. I think what it came down to was blacks wanted to self-identify

themselves. I agree with you. "Negro" is respectable. Plus, it means "black." So, I don't get it but I'm okay with being called black since it IS the same as being called negro. :shrug:

[ladjf]

8. When I was a child in Mississippi, during the 1940's, the

respectful term for African Americans was "negros", pronounced "knee-grows". The word black was used derisively. A majority of the whites
used the infamous "n" word. Somewhere around the 1960's, the word black came into acceptance when the term "black American" began to be used. Then "Negro" fell out of favor to the point that it was considered to be denigrating.

My father, a Caucasian, was a civil rights advocate during the 40's and 50's, speaking at many gatherings of blacks in Mississippi. He did this at at time when it was dangerous for State employees to be connected with the civil rights movement. Years later, at the age of 65, when he was on the faculty at a small college in Tennessee, he was still using the term "Negro", not realizing that popular usage had changed the meaning. He was rudely insulted by young black students who felt that he was being racist by his use of the term Negro. It was ironic that he was working on their behalf before they were born. They would never get a chance to know that.

[Old Mouse]

10. I would suggest looking at the larger race issues

rather than focusing on a symptom of the problem.

I can recommend the following books as good material to start:
"It's the Little Things" by Lena Williams
and
"Nigger - The strange Career of a Troublesome Word" by Randall Kennedy

[Journeyman]

15. Well, the United Negro College Fund might have something to say. . .

about the word's obscurity and possible offensiveness.

And of course, the National Alliance for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) could weigh in on the resilience of other obscure and offensive terms . . . or not, as their name might suggest.

And Dr Dre and Eazy E could rap philosophic on being NWA . . . at least within their cultural milieu.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that language -- especially English in all its Americanized/bastardized versions -- is an ever-evolving, organic instrument, and what's "in" one day may be blase the next, or it could remain in active use but outside the observer's experience.

It's late. I'm very tired. I may not be saying exactly what I want to say. So instead, permit me to share a little Langston Hughes. . .


Theme for English B


The instructor said,

Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you--
Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it's that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went to school there, then Durham, then here
to this college on the hill above Harlem.
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem,
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It's not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me--we two--you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York, too.) Me--who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records--Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?

Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white--
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That's American.
Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that's true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me--
although you're older--and white--
and somewhat more free.

This is my page for English B.

[Disturbed]

20. A bit off topic but this story may be of interest.

As a caucasion child and then a teen I was mostly located on U.S Army bases because my father was in the Army. On the bases there was a variety of races. I was never prejudiced toward any race because I accepted everyone as just being my peers. One day in 1966, when I was about 16 I was invited to an apartment by a black friend of mine where a jam session was going on. I played guitar. All the guys there were black. I was shocked when I heard one of the guys refer to another guy as nigger in a friendly way. I had never heard anyone call anyone else this until then. I asked my friend why this was and he said that it was an in thing with all of his friends but he advised me not to join in that way of addresing his budies.

[H2O Man]

17. When Malcolm X Spoke

The change in terms came not as a result of any one person, but it can be understood best by reading Malcolm X's speeches. Better yet, there are recordings of his speeches: if you listen to them, you will know the answer to your question.

[Mist]

18. I'm thinking mid to late '60's

"Black" seemed hipper and "Negro" seemed old-fashioned.

[H2O Man]

21. Black Power

The Black Power Movement came as a result of a younger generation of Americans hearing the powerful message of Malcolm X. Brother Malcolm used to say that Englishmen came from England; Irishmen came from Ireland; Chinese came from China; and then asked what country "Negro" came from? He also loved the study of words, and he traced the word to "necro," and correctly or not, said it applied to the black people in America because they were mentally dead. Malcolm's message brought the dead to life.

After he was killed, many of the younger people in SNCC etc began to think in terms of the international scene -- as Malcolm suggested. They also began to question King's strategy. On the roads from Selma on the great march to Mongomery, Stokley C. began a chant: Black Power! The phrase made King uncomfortable, yet he knew why the younger generation would claim it with pride. I think the day that this chant was added to King's march, there were far fewer Negroes in America. I think that was a tribute to Malcolm.

[Solly Mack]

27. Self determination of identity

you reject the labels of your oppressors

*I* will call myself what I want...and will not allow others to determine who or what *I* am for me.

Especially not a group of people who would enslave me and deny me my rights as a human.

Rip me from my home and enslave me, strip me of my identity and then rewrite the history of who I am to fit into the comfort zone of racist thought...and my struggle to be free will include not just breaking my literal chains but also the chains that bind the mind...

*I* will think of myself in the terms I set...not in the terms others have set for me. If people can't hold you down with chains, they'll use words to hold you down.

"Black Power" scared many white people and had for years...which is precisely why the phrase should (still) be embraced...confront the fear, expose the ignorance...cure it. Hide from the fear, nurture the ignorance...perpetuate it.

You can't allow racists to be comfortable in their thinking.

Malcolm understood that.

[H2O Man]

28. That's right ....

Malcolm knew that he could make people uncomfortable with words. He appreciated the power of words. He empowered people with words.

[murielm99]

32. I was in college during the late sixties.

I remember when students first started identifying with black power. I remember the first time I heard it.

I remember many of the students admiring Stokeley Carmichael more than Malcolm X, who had been assassinated by then, or with MLK, who was still living.

Some of the black students said that as little as a year before, they had preferred being called Negroes. They were offended if anyone called them black. And being called African was fighting words. Taking pride in one's identity was a new way of thinking.

Maybe it was because he was our age that so many people found him exciting. He was outspoken and rebellious. He got a lot of attention from young people for that.

[H2O Man]

34. Oh, sure.

SNCC leaders had an obvious appeal to the younger generation. One of the sad things today is that the younger generation does not have any national leadership. However, when we read "Malcolm X: Make It Plain," we find the young SNCC leaders listening to Malcolm in order to find their way. When we read "Pillar of Fire," it identifies Black Power with Malcolm. In fact, when we look at the Nation of Islam, it was the "Black Muslims," not the "Negro Muslims."

[Old Mouse]

38. You said a mouthful

we have no great statesmen today.

[fasttense]

23. I thought it went from Negro, to Colored People, to Black.

When I was a kid the word Black came in style. It denoted power, and strength, unlike Negro and Colored People.

[Blue Wally]

29. When I was growing up in the 40s

"Negro" was the official term and used most often in correspondence

"Colored" was the polite term to use in conversation because there was no question as to pronunciation when using "colored person"

"Nigger" was not considered polite as were a wide variety of other slang terms.

[Old Mouse]

31. Interesting point

about the pronunciation of colored. I'm filing that one away!

[no_hypocrisy]

24. When I taught in 1984, the preferred reference was "African-American"

denoting origin, heritage, and pride. Negro reminded one of a color alone, the French term negre (black, dark-brown) which was derogatory, and of course, "nigger". With the rise of "black pride" in the late 60s, it was only logical to find a term that reflected a culture naming itself, not the imposition of a name and a caste.

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[sendero]

35. I have a theory...

.. unsubstantiated by nothing more than anecdote :)

When I was a child (let's say 60s) my grandmother (and I think I heard it a few other places) used the term "nig-ra".

Sort of a bastartized concatenation of the N word and "negro". I suspect that the N word killed the word negro, since the pronunciation was too similar.

I'm sure in her mind she was "doing the right thing" by not directly using the N word, as awareness of the issue of racism was beginning. Being raised the way I was, I'm also sure she was a racist, as were most people back then.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

37. 1960's