The preferred word to describe people of African descent has changed several times since I was born. How we, as a culture, perceive and treat people of African descent has changed several times since I was born. I was blessed to live in interesting times.
Currently, I mostly use the term African to describe people of the African Diaspora. For one thing, it's the most accurate. My genes are from Scotland. I am Scottish. Their genes are from Africa. They are African. To be entirely honest, I'd much rather break it down to what part of Africa they come from, but for people living in the US, what goes on inside the great continent of Africa is a complete mystery. Were they asked to name countries or cities in Africa, they'd be at a loss. I'll be completely honest with you, most of what I know about Africa started with my interest in Tarzan, a character created by a man who had never been to Africa himself. I've informed myself since then, but that's how it started.
Using the word "African" also describes the elephant in the room itself, the place called Africa, ironically also where elephants come from. The idea of colonization and colonizing that created these bad ideas and bad feelings about race that we live with began with colonization, and no place on earth was more poorly treated and received less in return than Africa. The cradle of mankind has not been treated too kindly by the people who migrated out of there.
What might currently be the preferred term for people who are African is "Black." While historically often used, it came into preference in the seventies and probably became a favorite from the use of the phrase "Black Power," which spoke to the ideas of upward social movement, self-determination, and solidarity that were popular then. A short and square word, Black ends with an aggressive K sound. I get why it's liked.
My problem with Black is that it was originally used to exaggerate the otherness of African people and suggest that they are somehow the opposite of Europeans, who were described as "White." We are good; they are bad. We are enlightened; they are in the dark. We are civilized; they are slaves. We are men; you are animals. All of these ideas were real and common for a very long time. I genuinely dislike the use of "White" as well. Leave white to the White Walkers. It also squashes all the cultural and ethnic, and genetic diversity of Europe into one big pot. I don't like being lumped together with the English, much less the Finns, the French, or the Flemish.
Both of my preferred words to describe Africans are no longer in favor. They're no longer in favor because they were used so long to condescend, and there came a time when African people began to demand we stop condescending to them. Besides all the crap we were already doing to them, that became an insult. I get that.
For me, "Negro" is a beautiful word. For one thing, its origin is probably French or Spanish or both. It has a musical shape and sound to it, like a viola. "Which wine would you like, Madam?" "What is your best bottle of Negro, Garcon?" Besides being condescending, Negro fell out of favor because it degrades into something horrible. First "Negro", then "Neegra," then, you-know-what is next.
Some writers type it easily. I do not. Even when my fingers are making words spoken by a character or relaying what someone I actually saw actually said, it's uncomfortable. If I'm honest, it's not because I'm enlightened or nice or anything admirable. My grandmother taught me to never use that word because it made me sound ignorant, and she said it with a face that made it seem so much worse than just ignorant. Evelyn Flowers was most of the time as gentile as a flower, but she could be as harsh and aggressive and unmoving as a lion on some things, and me being "ignorant" was one of the things.
Colored is my favorite. Who wouldn't want to be colored? If your choice was to have color or to have none, you'd choose color. "Colored lady" or "Colored gentleman," or even "Colored baby" are some of my favorite phrases. They express a friendliness, both on the parts of the speaker and of the person they are describing. If you're white and from the South, and I use the phrase "colored lady" it's most likely going to invoke memories of someone who loved you and was kind to you.
The system of having African "aunties" or maids in white families was itself problematic, as described by Kathryn Stockett was very real, but she also did a great job of describing the sometimes cruel problems that came from it. "Colored" is archaic, and it's problematic, so even though it's my favorite term, I really only use it when I'm making a point, or speaking for a character.
Ultimately, white men like me do not make this decision, and that's the way it should be. I may be made of words, but these are real people with real lives, and I respect that. The preferred word will probably change again in time, but "African" will always be accurate.
Don't call me white, though; I am a Highlander.
