CHANGING RACIAL LABELS: FROM “COLORED” TO “NEGRO” TO “BLACK” TO “AFRICAN AMERICAN”

T. W. Smith

DOI:10.1086/269339

Corpus ID: 143826058

CHANGING RACIAL LABELS: FROM “COLORED” TO “NEGRO” TO “BLACK” TO “AFRICAN AMERICAN”

@article{Smith1992CHANGINGRL,
  title={CHANGING RACIAL LABELS: FROM “COLORED” TO “NEGRO” TO “BLACK” TO “AFRICAN AMERICAN”},
  author={T. W. Smith},
  journal={Public Opinion Quarterly},
  year={1992},
  volume={56},
  pages={496-514}
}

T. W. Smith

Published 1992

Sociology

Public Opinion Quarterly

Labels play an important role in defining groups and individuals who belong to the groups. This has been especially true for racial and ethnic groups in general and for Blacks in particular. Over the past century the standard term for Blacks has shifted from "Colored" to "Negro" to "Black" and now perhaps to "African American." The changes can be seen as attempts by Blacks to redefine themselves and to gain respect and standing in a society that has held them to be subordinate and inferior… CONTINUE READING

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