Why do people call people who have dark skin "black"?

Question

I know the word's origin I'm just curious why we use the way we do. If you look at an African American, Dominican or anyone else who has dark skin their skin usually isn't black. I'm not black technically, I'm brown. I understand people want to be politically correct. I personally don't have a problem with it. I'm just curious why we use it so much without trying to be more conscious of the actual skin color. Same thing with white; Why not say Cream, Tan or Peach people? lol Peach people.

curlycute: I'm happy with who I am. For your information I'm doing a project and I was just curious. I said like twice. I don't have a problem with being called black. I know I'm a black woman and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks Rob B, thats the type of answer I was looking for.

KIM T: You're Wack... Do us all a favor and stop breathing.

You know what Kim T, I'm actually glad there’s people out there like you. It makes me realize how good of a person I am. Call me what you want. Mock me I don't care. What was meant as an innocent question has turned into an opportunity question your dignity? I'm above you. You're so ignorant you probably don't know how I can mock you without calling you outside your name. Please save yourself from your mindset. The way you think doesn’t affect me either way so save yourself the misery.

You know what Kim T, I'm actually glad there’s people out there like you. It makes me realize how good of a person I am. Call me what you want. Mock me I don't care. What was meant as an innocent question has turned into an opportunity question your dignity? I'm above you. You're so ignorant you probably don't know how I can mock you without calling you outside your name. Please save yourself from your mindset. The way you think doesn’t affect me either way so save yourself the misery.

I posted twice just in case you couldn't understand it the first time, or just too simple to scroll up because I noticed you didn't read the details to the question. But thank you for your time and opinion.

Answer 1

It's not meant to describe our actual color. And we started calling ourselves black because we were tired of labels such as "colored" and "*****" (let alone octoroon and quadroon and such) that seemed to indicate some sort of shame in who we are. Frankly, if we hadn't been subject to a society that called itself "white," we probably wouldn't have called ourselves black. But that's the history.

Answer 2

I've always asked myself this question and no one can ever come up with a good answer. It is a good question because we aren't black but brown. And white's aren't white but like cream, vanilla color. Maybe we should just call each other either carmel, vanilla, or chocolate. LOL...but still. It's just one of the many words used to generalize people. I'm quite sure if people started calling each other peaches and chocolate everyone else would do the same. Sounds so much better than white and black anyway. It sounds a bit segregated to me. Like it's two different ends of the world that never meet or talk. But that's just me.

Answer 3

LOL, I asked this when I was a little girl because of exactly what you said about the real color of your skin. Sometimes I find these questions fascinating and makes me wonder if I was the only one that grew up without being taught to differeniate people by race or skin color. Coming from a military family, the only labeling I have done is calling someone American.

Answer 4

Ms. Thing please get over it! Black, Brown, Yellow, Red, White! You're either Black or you're White. This is my opinion: It doesn't matter if you're Dominican, Hispanic, Asian, Black American. If you are not 100% White........your @ss is Black! Trust me girlfriend when or if the line is ever drawn, anyone who is not 100% White will all be standing along the same line. Get over it! I'm personally very happy, elated, excited and all the good stuff that I am a Black Woman! And I say all the time that if I died and had the choice of coming back, I would still want to be a Black Woman! I Love the sh!t out of me! OK?

Answer 5

The same reason we call white people white or (in the past) Native Americans red-- everyone is technically a shade of brown. Even naturally black hair looks dark brown in the sunlight. It's just easier to know what category of brown by defining "brown" in terms of other colors. That plus it's a long-standing habit, and most sane people are content to let it ride.

Answer 6

When my daughter was little this was something that puzzled her to no end. She could understand why we were called black people when our skin technically not black and why were white people called white when they technically wasn't white. She had come up with her on terms, little black, black or black black. We laughed at her often because of this. Now to answer your question, I guess it was less offensive than what we were orginally were called so we took that label. I would imagine the Native Americans stated the term "White Man" or "Pale Face".

Answer 7

Not sure, probably the same reason that they call Caucasions white, out of ignorance. Just a way to classify the entire race. Because there are so many shades of African Americans as there are Caucasions. Who really knows the answer to this...

Answer 8

this is merely your stereotypical opinion approximately darkish skinned females. Why might everybody think of that? except you're a racist or fool. darkish skinned females are the main envied of all others. assume somebody ask a query like, "Why do not human beings like white skinned ladies"? Why do not white females like white men? Why do white females desire darkish Skinned men? Any physique with uncomplicated sense would comprehend this is a stupid fact positioned right into a query.

Answer 9

That is a GrEaT QuEsTiOn. I am not sure where this came from or who started the idea of people being "black" or "white". I know that there is Indian and German in our background and a number of people call us "white". I still think of myself as being caucasian because of the majority of our coloration being about that tone. I hope that some time in the future our children are able to think of one another as being ONLY PEOPLE!! That would be great, wouldn't it? Have a GrEaT WeEk!!
Eds

Answer 10

i get where u are coming from, but there are hispanics who look white, and there are asians who have skin the same color as 'white' people. black and white people arent the only ones with colors as there race

yellow is asian
brown is hispanic
red is indian

and us african-americans arent the same as african. african-americans come in a lot of shades because we have other things in us. remember the one drop rule. a mixed person can come in all kinds of colors and they are seen as black no matter what. thats is how we get our many shades. if u look at africa the people there are damn near a 100% african so they are all very dark!!!!