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Old 04-12-2007, 08:17 PM   #7
DanaC
We have to go back, Kate!
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
Negro was a term used by whites to describe africans. It denigrated them because it reduced them to the colour of their skin. It defined them in terms of their difference to all other races.

African Americans have every right to define themselves as they see fit. The vast majority of them are of African descent and are Americans. Why would you care how they define themselves? Why defend your right to use a term they find upsetting,abusive and derogatory? Does it harm you to respect their wishes in this? Why is our (white european and american) appointed term for them more appropriate than their own appointed term? They didn't call themselves negros until we told them thats what they were.
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