Politically correct terminology for race?

Question

I am writing a paper that discusses racial relations between Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans in North America during the Enlightenment (in Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia"). What are the best terms to use to refer to the "whites" and the "blacks" in this location and time period? Anglo-Americans for the European settlers? I am hesistant to refer to the African slaves as African Americans, given their lack of rights... Nor were they African, since many were born in America... I am finding a variety of terminology used in my secondary sources, so I'm not sure which terms are the best to use.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Please don't call anyone a *****. Black and white or African American and Anglo American are fine. They are both OK. You could also just say slaves and settlers, since some slaves were of other nationalities as well.

Answer 2

Well, does the BET [BLACK Entertainment Television] channel make them mad too? Africa is a CONTINENT. So if a Pharaoh from Egypt came here, we have to call him "African American"? Or would we call him Egyptian? The answer is Egyptian. From now on I will be called European American after the CONTINENT of Europe. If I am called white, I will raise hell, carry on, and make an @ss out of myself. You are correct: we are all just people. Some feel the need to ride the gravy train and complain about things that need and should be left alone.

Answer 3

People

Answer 4

Africans in America were simply referred to as Negroes. I guess whites were just called whites.

Answer 5

Blacks at that time were called ******, and were referred to as "property" and the whites were called, well, Colonials.

Answer 6

"whites " and "blacks" will do just fine.

politicall correctnes chokes a free society. not saying you shoud be rude, but call it like it is....

but your