Black

In 2015 I was attending a lesson in English Literature at the University of Surrey. The subject under discussion was Othello. For those who are not familiar with Shakespeare, Othello was a Moor - a North African.

At some time during the discussion Othello’s ethnicity came under discussion and I referred to Sub-Saharan Africans as ‘Negroes’. When the class ended I was taken aside by the tutor, a Reader of English Literature who gently warned me that the term Negro was not to be used by students at the University as it might be considered racist or derogatory to black students.

I asked what term she would consider appropriate and she replied that the term ‘black’ was acceptable. I countered by explaining that the term ‘black’ is not specific to those whose ethnic base comes from Sub-Saharan Africa. I also explained that the word Negro is simply the same word as 'black' in Spanish or Portuguese.

A word ‘black’ is simply a sound that communicates a colour. As an adjective that describes people it conveys the colour of skin but incorporates brown as well. Most African-Americans could not claim to have black skin but in truth are brown. I am not white I am better described as light brown. Anthropologists usually refer to humans who historically come from Sub-Saharan Africa as Negroes.

An adjective alone and without context carries no meaning other than to create a description. Green, Blue, Yellow are simply colours. Once a context is created then the word carries some form of meaning. ‘I love the blue sea’. However, even then there is no nuance, no intonation and no body language that conveys the intent of the speaker. ‘I love the blue sea’ might be an ironic statement by a shipwrecked sailor.

My old Parachute Regiment friends will still insult me as a greeting, I take no offence because I know from the complicated mixture of all of their actions that they are welcoming me in a friendly way. I also know that someone might speak to me in generous terms but their tone is sarcastic or their body language does not fit the words.

Words are just sounds until they are incorporated into language with a meaning. The meaning is more than the sum of the words it is the intent of the words. If I intend to offend then my words are without doubt offensive - if on the other hand there is no intent to offend, either from ignorance or misunderstanding then I have done no wrong.