Why is the word Negro considered abusive, while black is not? They both mean the same thing, don't they?

Question

Is it simply because of past slave-history? Or is there something more fundamental which has brought this about in the last 30-odd years?
This is a serious question, without racial overtones.
No offence intended to any individual or community.

britldy, I agree with you. But wouldn't "No blacks allowed" be just as offensive?

Answer 1

Black people are not black, White people are not white neither are Native Americans red and I am not sure who "Coloured" people are supposed to be.
There is only one race on this planet and it is the Human Race. Unfortunately, much of human nature revolves around allowing difference to create boundaries and conflict and therefore colour has historically been used to divide us.
We need more love & harmony between races and religions and less use of any terms which cause offence to other people.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, most words which are considered racially offensive are derived from fairly old terms used during the British and Spanish Empires and carry connotations of slavery, subjugation and inferiority. Zambos (Spanish meaning mixed raced) is used in the offensive term Sambo, much used in the British comedy 'Love Thy Neighbour' in the early 70s. Negro or ****** simply meant black but has much worse overtones of slavery. So the meaning has ceased to be the same.

There are huge numbers of these words that have become derogatory terms. I think people now are far more sensitive about stereotyping and connotation than they were, and indeed less tolerant of bigotry. I actually think anybody using a label that is offensive towards any group, including people who see themselves as members of that group themselves, perpetuates mis-labelling and stereotypes.

Answer 3

It's usually the origin of the word that makes it offensive. Negro is spanish for black so I guess acceptable words depend on both your culture & your language. Altho I am white some family members are mixed race so I am well aware of how abusive some words & people can be. Not everyone tho thank goodness

Answer 4

I don't know many African Americans that consider Negro "abusive." I really think it boils down to an individual preference, when you were born, and where you were raised. I prefer to use black or African American (growing up on the east coast); some prefer Afro-American (70s term); some older African Americans still use the term "colored," or "negro."

Answer 5

IT IS THE NEGATIVE WAY IT IS USED...I wish people would start understanding that. It is such a stupid argument. Take things in context. And guess what, I am a white girl. Do you think you yell the n word at someone versus yelling "black!" it means the same thing. And while i'm ranting, "cracker" is not a good comparison when white people try to say that its the same thing. Have you ever been called a cracker? And did you ever take offense to it? Its such bullshit. I am just sick of people using the same tired arguments to try and sway people to their side. And no, i do not date black guys, I know you will think that. I don't date one color actually. I was raised in a way that, i sure do see a person's color, but i don't care until i know them. If they're assholes, i don't like 'em, if they're not i do...Get over which way is racist or not. You're racist.

Answer 6

Depends who you are calling a Black, Negro, ****** etc, call a Pakki or a Blond Krautischer any of these and be prepared to wave goodbye to your teeth and say hello Mr Casualty doctor, it is not the name or label that is offensive, it is the arrogant, lazy, obnoxious reality that offends, see Julia .

Answer 7

No, negro does not mean the same thing as black and goes beyond slavery.....Jim Crow laws called us negros and as you know those laws were not exactly a nice thing. Imagine seeing signs that stated "no negros allowed," would you like the word still to be used in association with you? No.

Answer 8

It's complicated.

As black people have sought to win civil rights, they have had to redefine themselves several times over. "Colored" used to be the normal way to call a black person, but with the advent of the civil rights movement, black folks had to re-establish themselves as a group, and they had to sever connections with the names that the group in power (white folks) had applied to them. Thus, "black" was a reaction to "colored" and all the old-fashioned connotations that came with that term, just as "colored" was a polite reaction to "negro" and so on.
Black and negro don't necessarily mean the same thing - different words in different historical milieus have different connotations.

Answer 9

I don't know ive been wondering the same thing! Because in Espanol the spanish word for black is negro.

Answer 10

Personally if you call me a negro I will either give you a dirty look or completely ignore you. I've been taught negro is a word that white people would call black people when they said that n***** was a bad word.