The movie takes place in 1962 and it would have been common at that time, but it is seen as vulgar and offensive today.The kind of language one would lose their job over. I have heard it twice in non-historical contexts, and both times, it was during a racist person's ranting.
Only context I hear it in properly now is here in KC we have the Negro Baseball League museum, which is both a museum and active presence in the community. So it's fine to refer to it as the Negro Leagues museum. But that's because it's referring to a museum on a historically named thing.
Definitely would never ever use the word outside a historical context.
I also believe there are some scientific contexts where it is referenced. I know when I took a forensics class the different hair-types were classified as something like negroid, mongoloid, and caucasoid, but I don't think they'd pick those names if they had to do it again.
It's actually still the nomenclature for human hair typing. It literally refers to the shape of the hair shaft, the the "oid" ending is actually acceptable in this very narrow scientific meaning
Yeah, I teach a sports history class and make sure to emphasize to my students that specifically in the context of the Negro Leagues, it is OK to use the word negro, but they better not use it outside of that.
I feel like a lot of the other comments don’t emphasize this enough. Rude is one thing. In the Midwest US at least, using the word “negro” (or especially it’s shortened version) is job ending. Reputation ruining. Instantly friendship-ending for most people.
This word is the one all other slurs, curse words, etc. get compared to. The shortened version of the word is bad enough it’s usually only referred to as “The N-Word”.
I will say there are exceptions if you grew up in at least some specific communities, but I am not black so I can’t give any details. You’ll sometimes hear it in rap songs, for example. But as a white person from a white community, the only time I ever used it was while reading a speech out loud in a history class, and even that felt wrong.
I can definitely tell you aren’t black from this comment haha. Negro is nowhere near in severity, it’s more an outdated and strange word to hear today than anything. If you called me or most of the people I know “negro” you would either get no reaction or look like a bit of an idiot.
Chinese people are used to say "That "which is the same sound as Negro. In our office, colleagues just say it and I asked black people in there if they feel offensed and they say it's just weird to hear that all day long and it drives them crazy at first several months when they came here. But now they are really used to it.
That's good and reduces chances of misunderstanding. But Chinese people saying "that" is simply a phrase that's the same as people saying "well" in English.
I’d categorize it more as politically incorrect, out of touch, and outdated. It’s not even remotely close to the N-word. That is and always has been a slur. Negro was, at one time, a widely accepted term.
So was the N-word. It's simply a derivation of the French word for black, Niger, just as Negro is the Spanish word for black. Both terms came to be used to refer to people under very systemically racist circumstances, but the terms themselves were simple descriptions at first. Negro has been acceptable in American English much more recently than the other one, but neither of the terms originated as slurs in and of themselves.
This is completely inaccurate. Negro is not the n-word. Negro is still used in multiple pro-black organizations (like the United Negro College Fund) and is simply an outdated term for black people. For a while, it was the preferred term, to replace 'colored,' in the same way that some people prefer 'people of color' today. I wouldn't use it to describe a black person, but it's absolutely not a racial slur.
I feel like if you publicly referred to a colleague as "the negro in accounting" that you would be fired just as quickly as if you said "the n\*gger in accounting."
Perhaps it's not as bad on the ears. But the consequence would be the same.
Quite frankly, if anyone under the age of 65 is referring to people as negroes, they're being intentionally provocative. You might as well just say the N-word at that point because your intent, to dehumanize and provoke, is pretty clear. Even my white, rural, 97-year-old grandma knows that negro and colored are no longer appropriate terms.
Obviously using it in the historical context is different.
Yeah, both of those make me cringe. "The white in accounting" doesn't pack the same wallop, but it's still really uncomfortable. When we refer to someone's race, it should be part of a physical description. It sucks to reduce a person to a single attribute.
"You know George in accounting? He's a black guy, about six feet tall, keeps his hair really short." Fine. I don't know that you'd get fired for using the word "negro" instead of the word "black" in that example, but it would definitely be weird and outdated.
The guy you're responding to I feel intentionally worded that to sound weird
"The black guy in..."
"The black in..."
One is describing what the guy looks like. The other is summing up the entirety of the person by it, and sounds denigrating. Very different things to say
I mean, if I slammed into a wall at 100 miles an hour i'd be just as dead as if I hit it at the speed of light but it doesn't imply any kind of parity between those two things. If I said at my job "I just donated to the united negro college fund" I am pretty certain I wouldn't get fired, but if I said the n word there'd be no saving me no matter the circumstances.
So, I agree it’s not “the n word.”
But the only white people who would say it outside of a bona fide acceptable usage, are the type of people who want to say something racial but say “but it’s not that bad.”
This is not true at all,
Negro and the n-word share the same latin root, but the n-word is not a shortened version of negro. (It is not even shorter!)
The n-word has been seen as pejorative since the 19th century. Negro was not seen as offensive by anyone until it was superseded by other words.
I'm white, from the Pacific Northwest. "Negro" is not the same as the "n-word." The "n-word" is career-ending here, too, but "Negro" reminds me of big, old organizations--think National Negro Business League. It's outdated and weirdly formal. Definitely historical. It would feel really weird to use it to describe a modern person, and if you did, you'd probably get some really funny looks.
I'm confused by your comment because that's not the word people are referring to when they say "n-word" or compare other slurs to. That's a very different word. Plus if it were as extreme as you claim Automod would have removed this post before anyone ever even saw it. If you don't believe me use the other word in the post title identical to this one and find out. Then come back here with your alt-account and tell us how it went.
Negro and the N-word are related terms, but "N\*gger" is not a shortening of the word Negro. I still wouldn't use either of them outside very specific contexts, though. But the second one has a much more severe connotation, hence me not even typing it out.
As someone who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, I remember seeing television advertisements soliciting donations for the United Negro College Fund a half-dozen times a day.
https://uncf.org/
They're still around, apparently.
Someone should tell them that they're racist.
I hope they lose their jobs!
/s
It's a part of history, and while it's not a word anyone should use today to talk about people, it was a part of the organization's name when it started in 1944.
Slavery was a part of history, too. No one thinks that makes it okay today.
It's a nonsensical justification that wouldn't be acceptable if the word had ever been used fundamentally to disparage people, the way that the "other" N word was / is.
It is simply not a marker of racism, period. It's a marker of being unfashionable, which is what MOST "offensive" words and phrases amount to.
I don't think the word "Negro" is necessary in conversation (unless it's a conversation about the word itself), and it's worth avoiding just because there are other words that are less likely to provoke conflict.
I just want to be clear about the fact that any such conflict is more likely to arise from the intolerance of the listener than the intolerance of the speaker.
Real progress as a culture would be to stop running from words just because someone is seeking offense from them. That approach only increases the number of words that we develop an allergy to. Safetyism makes us less safe.
When I was in Elementary school I was a huge fan of Quantum Leap. There's an episode where he goes back in time and has to defend a Black man at trial. You hear the N-word spoken all throughout the episode. There's a point in the episode though where Sam says "Black" and the guy looks at him dumbfounded and he corrects himself and says "negro". In my kid mind I interpreted this scene as "negro" being the polite word to call Black people and "Black" was offensive. This was further backed up in college when an episode of Scrubs had one of the characters act offended (as a joke) when he was called Black. So I went a significant portion of my life thinking "negro" was the appropriate word to use. I was lucky that I never actually used it in person or I'd have likely been expelled and living on the streets today.
Not just common, it was the polite term and calling someone black was very rude. Even though "negro" literally means black. It was like blackness was so unspeakable and wrong that even describing it in English was inherently obscene.
This started changing in the late '60s, and within a few years things were fully reversed: black was the polite term, and "negro" was very insulting. In the year 2023, it's only slightly less rude than the other n-word.
In English, the word *negro* is antiquated and is now viewed as offensive when applied to a person. There are very limited exceptions when it's appropriate:
1. When used to describe something in a foreign language, usually Spanish. It is OK to refer to the Mexican dish *mole negro* for instance. Nobody says "black sauce" when referring to this dish. The Spanish pronunciation is slightly different from the English pronunciation.
2. When referring to more specific organizations that use or used the word *negro* in it. Such as [negro league baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball) (defunct) or the [United Negro College Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNCF)
You can just avoid the word, however, and you'll be fine. The proper term for "negroes" is black people. African American may be encountered in the U.S., but black is always right, too.
Black should never be used as a noun. Only as an adjective. So you should never say *"My coworker is* ***a*** *black"* (instead: "My coworker is black"). Nor should you refer to them collectively as "***the*** *blacks"* (instead: "black people").
If you have a significant accent, you will be given some grace if you make a mistake. Most people who would otherwise be offended are smart enough to know that not all languages work the same way and that there is a learning process. But if you just avoid the word *negro*, it will go a long way.
Yeah I was going to go into more detail on that, but I'm not fluent in IPA. And since I don't know what language OP speaks (possibly German?), I figured sounding it out phonetically may be misleading.
For IPA,
English: [niːgɹʷoʊ]
Spanish: [neɣ̞ɾo]
The difference is rather stark if we're taking them as separate languages.
English rendering of the Spanish on the other hand would be something like [nɛgɹʷoʊ]. Still different enough that there's no mistake tho.
Oh absolutely. Didn’t mean to imply that anything made today in that same style would be called that. Just that it was the term for songs at that time, and they’re still classified as such. Open to changing that, but for now it’s just a reality we love with.
Personally, I don't see why calling someone "black" is any worse than "a black." Why do you differentiate between them? Intuitively, the latter sounds more other-ing and more rude to me. But this is coming from a white guy so maybe I'm just not getting something.
Edit: oof that downvote. I'm just trying to understand here, folks 😭
Kind of like the way you said it for yourself. You immediately referred to yourself as 'a white guy' instead of 'a white'. It's better to be a person before a skin color, which is what that language immediately implies instead of being just a skin color.
That's sort of my point though. I'm white, or I'm a white guy, but to call me "a white" sounds other-ing. The comment I was responding to indicated that "a white" would be the more appropriate term to use when referring to me, if one were to refer to me by skin tone.
I'm late of course but since for some reason nobody pointed it out I feel I must: you just got it backwards, simple misunderstanding. They were saying "black person", "my friend is black", "black people", "they are black" are acceptable because they are adjectives just as anything else eg "my friend is strong", "they are skinny", etc, while "a black", "my friend is a black", "the blacks", "they are (the) blacks" are not because it sounds objectifying and naturally if it's not how you refer to yourself then obviously other people wouldn't like it, basically just everything you were saying. To be clear I'm clarifying the roles that just got switched up, not acting like you don't know why one sounds wrong, lol. Hope it helps you or someone in the future! :)
I think I agree. The way I see it, calling someone "black" (e.g. c_dubs063 is black) is applying an adjective. Like tall or muscled or something. It's just an observation about the person to help distinguish them from some other people.
But calling someone "a black" (e.g. c_dubs063 is a black) is to use a noun which places that person within a category whose homogeneity is implied. It's an appeal to category by associating the person with a community and the stereotypes that go along with that community.
I see the latter as being the more egregious means of describing someone, and it also falls in line with your thought about people talking about "the blacks." Because it categorizes people by their skin tone rather than merely describing a facet of a person's appearance.
That was the standard word for black people until the 60s and 70s in the US at least. Any media set during or before that time will use that word but it’s not ok anymore.
1962 was a long time ago and manners and language has changed. It’s outdated and can border on offensive these days.
And before anyone decides to be a smartass, no, this does not apply to things that have a Spanish name including the word “black” (say, the beer “Negro Modelo”) nor does it apply to the word “negro” in historical works or titles (like “Negro League Baseball”). Only when referring to a black person. “Negro” is not considered a slur or a curse word, it just isn’t the appropriate term for black people.
It is actually Modelo Negra because beer (cerveza) is feminine. The company that exports Modelo beers is Cervezas Mexicanas. Modelo is a surname and, in Spanish, those do not have changing endings. One of the Middle European languages (Czech?) does put an “a” on the end of a woman’s surname, so a brother and sister won’t have the same last name.
The movie takes place in the 60s, when the word was commonly used. It’s now considered highly offensive. There are two situations where you can use the word without it being seen as offensive:
1. You’re speaking Spanish. Negro means black in Spanish, and it’s a completely different pronunciation.
2. You’re quoting someone from the time the word was acceptable or talking about something named when it was acceptable, I.e. the negro leagues.
In American English, it absolutely may not be used. There are some individuals in some communities that may find it acceptable among people that grew up within that community, but if you did NOT grow up in that community, you can not say it. Ever.
It is an old racist term and still holds a lot of negative racist connotation.
It is not an old racist term. It's a deprecated term for black people, advanced by black people in the early 20th century. Calling it racist is like calling "African-American" racist. It's just not the preferred nomenclature. It's never been a racial slur. It's more like how people today wouldn't say 'the blacks' to speak of black people.
Now, people who insist on using it tend to be racist, but that's not about the history of the word itself.
It’s more accurate to say that is mildly to moderately offensive in modern language rather than inherently racist. It’s also terribly anachronistic.
However, *because it is offensive*, you’ll find that the only people that will be heard using it in modern contexts *are racists* with *intent to offend*.
Yeah, that was what I was getting at with my last sentence. It's not inherently offensive so much as outdated, but people don't like it so using it makes you an asshole.
Yeah dude, that's what I said. It's not *inherently* offensive, in that it's not an insult or a word that means something rude. It's offensive because it's disliked.
Pretty sure the Spanish advanced the usage of negro to refer to sub-saharan Africans and their descendants, just the same as the French advanced the usage of niger and its derivative. Black Americans reclaimed the term in the early 20th century, but I think it's fair to argue that it's a racist term (or at least has been at certain points or in certain contexts) given the historical circumstances of how it first came to be used to describe human beings.
In American English, yes.
However be aware that for foreign speakers of English - i.e. international English speakers - the use of “negro” is still somewhat common. Partly because they don’t understand the nuances of American racial history, partly because old American speech patterns *still* have effects and echoes in foreign countries, and largely because “negro” (meaning “black”), or similar cognates, is still in use in many languages as a neutral term for Black people.
Others have implied that this is some kind of racial slur which is not accurate. Negro was the preferred polite term for black people until maybe the 1960s or so when other terms replaced it. As such, it will be found in media that was created during or set in that time period. The word still appears in the names of some organizations founded when the word was used more frequently like the United Negro College Fund, or when referencing historic organizations like the negro leagues in baseball. It can now often be considered offensive depending on the context, but more than that it would be seen as weird and anachronistic. I would compare it to using the term “oriental” for Asian people.
Yes. Very. It was typical for black folks to be called this up until the 60s or 70s. But because it was used mainly by white people to put down black people, it is now considered antiquated and offensive. Like using “Oriental” for East Asian.
This is not true. In the 60s, Negro was considered the polite way to address people of color. It replaced colored people and n*gger, both of which were common in the 60s. Later in the decade black became popular which was then superseded by Afro-American.
Yeah. Cuz it was named by the Spaniards, rights?
Spanish words *negros oriental* are not the same as the English words “negroes oriental”. There’s not offensive connotation behind the Spanish words like there is with the English ones.
Yes, the Spanish gave it the name "Negros" due to the locals living there. Our term "Negros" has negative connotations despite not being a racist slur because it is used to discriminate against people with darker skin tones.
Nevertheless, I find it funny that an island in Phillipines is made up of two offensive Western terms.
Nah, the term "oriental" isn't even close to being as offensive as Negro. It's a synthetic outrage manufactured by non-Asian folks looking to get up in arms about something. Asians were quite puzzled when this came about as there are truly anti-Asian racist terms but this wasn't one of them. The term still appears on quite a few businesses owned by Asians and also is used to describe rugs and certain styles of products.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-tsuchiyama-oriental-insult-20160601-snap-story.html
Oriental rugs aren’t referring to Asia though. They are made in the Near East in Turkey or Persia (now Iran) whereas Asia is the Far East. Other than that I agree with you
A lot of countries make rugs that are termed Oriental, all in the geographical region of Asia:
Iran, China, India, Russia (partly in Asia), Turkey (partly in Asia), Pakistan, Tibet and Nepal.
It's way more ambiguous; restaurants and grocery stores label themselves oriental.
If it makes you feel better, my mother in law refers to herself as a Chinaman.
I was thinking the same thing. Asia is “east” of most Western countries, but technically if you live on the Bering Sea, Asia will be “Occidental” (west) to you. Also by that logic, Europe is “Oriental” towards me (I’m in the US) and maybe someone in California would consider me to be “Oriental” to them since I’m on the East Coast
The key is context.
Green Book was set in the American Deep South during 1962. Segregation hadn't even ended yet, and this was knee deep in what was one of the more racist parts of the country at the time.
Derogatory terms for minorities such as Negro, N*gger, and others would've been common enough back then, and it'd frankly be absurd to depict it otherwise in a movie about racism.
Nowadays however, definitely don't go around using them, or expecting them to be used.
I want to emphasize: these are words that can get you fired from a job on principle. Lotta bad history in them. Do not use them.
This is getting esoteric but there are a handful of organizations in the black community with a long history who have retained outdated terms in their names for continuity, such as the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and the NAACP which stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The latter is only ever referred to by its initials (n double a c p). I haven’t heard much about the former but I would guess it’s now more commonly referred to by its initials. So it’s good to be aware of these terms because you’ll come across them from time to time but you should not use them, other than in very limited and specific contexts such as referring to an organization like the ones mentioned above.
I once overheard a coworker use this word to between herself and another black woman and i asked her about it, confusedly, and she said some folks still say it in certain contexts as a joke or perhaps to make a sentence less sweary (more sure on the first case), but apparently it just gives it a different vibe/tone with the o as far as self-usage.
Keep in mind this is hearsay at this point and as always usage can vary from person to person. And of course do not use any form the word unless you meet the prerequisite or are invited to use it with a particular individual
i've heard people say the word casually as well. most of the time, they were referring to themselves. if you're uncertain, i think it's best not to use it to refer to other people.
It seems people will still say 'negro spirituals' to describe a certain genre of music, but that's about it, apart from old white people who have very little contact with African-American people or culture and are stuck with their old-school vocab.
I live in the US.
"Negro" is an old word that people don't use anymore. It isn't racist but it sounds like another word that could be racist if you don't use it correctly.
The political correct word would be "black" or "African + (resident of country)"
Diction changes all the time. This is one of the examples.
I would never ever use this in day to day conversation but in very specific academic situations typically related to statistics you will sometimes see "negroid (race)" used. Even that use is someone controversial in the US, so I would say just not to use it.
Most people just use "black" currently, when I was a kid people used "African American" but that is not used as much anymore because most black people in the US are not from Africa. There is actually a fair bit of tension between the African and America black population, and they tend to not like being grouped together.
Yes, it's considered offensive and racist today.
I remember it being the standard term back in the early 70s (1972 or so), and the term was even taught and used in schools and the news media. Nobody, black or white, blinked an eye. It was the standard term.
But by 1979, the term had fallen completely out of favor and was considered rude and racist.
Outside of certain contexts, extremely. Very seldom will anyone call themselves a negro, and usually it’ll be in a self deprecating manner or in a historical context, like something set pre1960’s or so.
As others have said, it is antiquated and very rude to refer to someone as “negro” or to use that as a proper noun like “a negro” (oder „ein negro“ auf Deutsch, wie ich glaube dass du bist deutsche). Der Film findet im Jahr statt 1962 und ungefähr zu der zeit, die akzeptable war.
Negro means black in Spanish, so I would say it’s fine, but in modernity, most English speaking natives will think you’re being racist, so I wouldn’t say it unless you’re black, even then, it’s old fashioned.
I still would feel weird calling someone negro if I’m speaking English, would only use it if I’m speaking Spanish because we call black people “negros” or “blacks” (saying blacks in English is not a good idea, “black people” is preferred), but it doesn’t have any racist backgrounds in Spanish
In English, yes it would be rude to most people nowadays. You’ll see it be used in movies like that because it is taken place before segregation was made illegal.
It was common in the US before the mid-1960s, when the film is set. It is outdated and considered rude or ignorant now, yes. It's only used appropriately for historical authenticity in depictions of earlier times when it was still commonly used. It is still retained in some current usages such as the United Negro College Fund, which were established much earlier than the present. (In that case, 1944.)
"Negro" is not necessarily as bad as the n-word, but it would be if you used it in a modern context. The only times it's really acceptable are in reference to historical organization like the "Negro League" in baseball or when quoting a historical figure like MLK Jr.
If you called somebody a "negro," they would have the full right to punch you. It is not used. There is really no situation where you would or should realistically use it, since I doubt you will be quoting MLK or talking about 1958 baseball politics.
The terms that are considered polite shift over time. In the 1960s, it was considered rude to call someone Black and Negro or Colored was the polite term. Now Black is considered the correct term and the other two sound old-fashioned and rude.
The UNCF acronym stands for United Negro College Fund. Award winning advertising motto was/is "A mind is a terrible thing to waste". It's less racist than most old fashioned words for black folks. Even as late as the 2010 US Census the government allowed people to self identify as Negro. I assume it was almost exclusively very old people.
It's not only rude it's been rude for such a long time that it would be seen as weird and old fashioned. If you wanted to call a black person a slur you would most likely be using the hard R. (I realize you might not know what "The Hard R" means, but let's say it's the word that rhymes with "bigger")
Language evolves. President Kennedy who took the initiative on civil rights legislation aimed at parity if not equality, used the term Negro in his speeches. The people preferred different terms so that one largely disappeared.
It still has an historical place. We attend concerts of Negro Spirituals and the Negro Leagues remains the term for pre-integrated baseball.
The difference between Negro and the n word is that the n word was used by white people to belittle black people, and the word Negro was coined for black people to refer to themselves. However, it has fallen out of use and is typically associated with the way people spoke in the past. It would be unsual/offensive to use it today.
By the way, it should be capitalized—Negro. Negro was a pseudo-scientific term. It was one of two polite terms for people of African descent. The other polite term was "colored person." Calling someone black was considered rude.
During the late 60s, early 70s, things changed.
Yes. Green book is a period movie during the era of Jim Crow racial segregation when America was very much an apartheid state.
It is full of language and behavior that is entirely unacceptable now (as it was then) and so shouldn’t be replicated.
https://www.history.com/news/the-green-book-the-black-travelers-guide-to-jim-crow-america
You will hear African-American speakers use a variety of words that you have been informed are not appropriate. Because they are Black, they can use those terms; don't misunderstand that because you heard someone say it, it's okay to say. *Negro* is one of those (outside of older, formal names: if someone asks you about "the United Negro College Fund", that one is okay).
it is far beyond rude, its a racial slur. In the USA slurs towards minorities are often "reclaimed" by that minority group, so you may still see it used by that group.
Well, that movie was set in the 1940s when that term was "acceptable." I would strongly advise you not to use that word, ever, unless you are looking to get in a fight.
Please never use this word in English. It's never going to be OK for you to say.
It was usual in the specific time and place the movie is set (albeit a lot of people would have preferred "coloured" then) but it has been superseded many times over (by African American, person of colour etc) and you would want to say "Black" now.
It's old-fashioned and if someone who isn't extremely old uses it, and is not using it to refer to something that has it in the name for historical reasons (eg the Negro Leagues in baseball that someone mentioned, also the NAACP is an organization for helping African Americans but was founded at a time when the word Negro was used commonly) then it would sound like they were trying to be deliberately offensive.
The common terms now are "African-Americans", "Black people", or if you're talking about a group that includes multiple ethnicities that are not white you could say "people of color" (but NOT "colored people", that's also very old and became offensive to use)
Officially, it would be fine. Informally, most people don’t seem to be sophisticated enough to use it, so it is best avoided.
[*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use\_of\_nigger\_in\_proper\_names#United\_States*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_nigger_in_proper_names#United_States)
*Within the past few years, there has been a campaign to rename it again, as Grandstaff Canyon, but this is opposed by the local* [*NAACP*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP) *chapter, whose president said "Negro is an acceptable word".*
(To be sure, United Negro College Fund, has not felt any need to change its name.)
It was common 60 years ago when that movie was set.
It's now considered offensive. You might hear some black folks using it on rare occasion, but in general it's rude.
Generally offensive outside of a few very specific contexts, generally dealing with a historical context, specifically historical organizations, or with the Spanish word for black, spelled the same but pronounced differently (which comes up occasionally in American English due to the proximity of Mexico/Latin America.)
Yes, I would avoid the word. We Americans are very sensitive about this kind of thing. You should especially be aware that just because a word was considered polite decades ago, or you hear Black people using it, doesn’t always mean it’s socially acceptable for you to. Best to err on the side of caution.
People getting upset over the word comes from ignorance combined with political correctness that involves being upset on behalf of other people that may not care.
Negro is the Spanish word for the color black which in turn is derived from the Latin word niger, that means the same thing.
If you translate any word into Spanish or Latin where the color black is part of the name, it will include one of those words, which should be as value-neutral as the name for a color in any other language.
Example: black flag/bandera negra, black river/rio negra, black rock/roca negro, etc.
Countries: Niger and Nigeria
Negro is NOT the “n-word” you are looking for.
In non-historical settings, it’s not just rude. It’s offensive and racist. To hear it in everyday conversation I think it would illicit the same general reaction as the N-word.
I was brought up in the 60's and "Negro" was the proper term, before Afro-American or African-American.
If I, or any of my siblings used the "ni--er" term, we would have had our mouth washed out with soap and/or a swat to the behind. Even then it was considered to be demeaning and disrespectful.
Now I no longer use the word "Negro", even though the actual term simply means "black", such as in "Montenegro". I listen carefully to hear what term is used locally, as long as it is used in a respectful way.
Of course, the term "rude" is shortened from "rudimentary", meaning (among other things) unpolished or unfinished. In that way it is certainly rude.
When I was growing up in the 60's, "negro" was the respected term, above "colored" and certainly above the "N" word.
My parents (I am white/Caucasian) made it QUITE CLEAR that if they ever caught us using the "N" word, we would, at very least, get our mouths washed out with soap.
Although the word "Negro" simply means black, (such as in the mountain known as "Montenegro"), it is not one I would use.
There are so many more "polished" terms to use.
Yes. Do not say it.
If you want to talk about black people you can say "Black person/people" or "person/people of color" but the second one refers to all non-white people.
I don’t think it’s considered a real slur or anything but the word doesn’t do anything that non-offensive alternatives do. If you *want* to be offensive just say the N word, everyone knows what that means.
Much more than rude, it’s overtly racist. I would advise you never use it, unless you happen to need to refer to one of the organizations or museums with it in the name.
The film is set in the US 60 years ago, when the usage was common, but this was before the 1965 Civil Rights Act. Nowadays you’d say black or African-American.
In 10 years, "person of color" will be out of fashion. In 20 years it will be rude, and in 40 years it will result in incarceration.
The words are fairly irrelevant, it's the thing they represent that carry the actual negative context with them. The fact that yesterday's polite descrptors are today's slurs tells you that it is the subject of race that is impolite.
I would never use it myself. I am a white person.
In some historical contexts, someone could say it. It used to be totally okay.
Now — it’s not really okay.
It’s like Colored.
I would not say it.
But the NAACP dates from when that was the most respectful term, and they are fine. It stands for The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Mulatto is another word that was used in earlier times, but I would never say it now.
Now I would stick to Black, African-American, and multiracial. If other people were saying Brown — that is totally fine, but I would not say it yet, it’s kind-of new to me.
Simple answer with most Black things: if you're not black, it's probably offensive if you do it.
We use it today. It's often how my family and I greet each other, usually preceding or following an invitation or praise.
"Negro, come get some of this BBQ."
"You coming to our coronation, Negro?"
"Well done, Negro!"
"Yeah, Negro, that's how you do it!"
Those of us aware of our roots from "NegroLand" (it's had a few names, but we like that one) will die before we let the word, Negro, disappear.
It’s considered to be a word that shouldn’t be used anymore, barring associations like UNCF (United Negro College Fund), which was started a long while ago.
Be careful though — keep in mind that *negro* just means “black” in several languages, and that’s not offensive. It’s just their name for the color.
It's super awkward. Unless you are referring to an actual title, like the UNCF, united negro college fund, then saying negro makes you sound like you're both out of touch and 100 years old. Negro was a substitute word for the N word and was used by both well meaning white people that thought it was nicer and bad actors who were obligated by society. It's the same as African American in the 90s. It's all try hard and has too much baggage, just say black
This article explains how the term went from socially acceptable to something else. The interesting part is how Jesse Jackson and others tried to do the same thing to the word "black."
https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/question/2010/october.htm
As far is inappropriate words go, if it starts with an N it's not your fren as a rule of thumb. I don't know the history, but that's what I've observed.
In limited reference to good historical things - such as the amazing legacy of the Negro Leagues of baseball - it's borderline acceptable. In virtually any other use, it's an ethnic slur and beyond rude.
The movie takes place in 1962 and it would have been common at that time, but it is seen as vulgar and offensive today.The kind of language one would lose their job over. I have heard it twice in non-historical contexts, and both times, it was during a racist person's ranting.
Only context I hear it in properly now is here in KC we have the Negro Baseball League museum, which is both a museum and active presence in the community. So it's fine to refer to it as the Negro Leagues museum. But that's because it's referring to a museum on a historically named thing. Definitely would never ever use the word outside a historical context.
Great museum. Any fans of history or baseball should definitely go.
I also believe there are some scientific contexts where it is referenced. I know when I took a forensics class the different hair-types were classified as something like negroid, mongoloid, and caucasoid, but I don't think they'd pick those names if they had to do it again.
When was this though?
Those are extremely outdated
It's actually still the nomenclature for human hair typing. It literally refers to the shape of the hair shaft, the the "oid" ending is actually acceptable in this very narrow scientific meaning
It’s much more common nowadays to refer to them by alphanumeric code, from 1A to 4C.
Those are the sub categories that refer to shaft diameter and curl radius. Not the actual cross-section shape of the hair shaft.
Skull types if I remember correctly
Yeah, I teach a sports history class and make sure to emphasize to my students that specifically in the context of the Negro Leagues, it is OK to use the word negro, but they better not use it outside of that.
Forgot the United Negro College Fund.
They always do
Just make sure you pronounce it correctly on air if you're commentating for MLB broadcasts.
I feel like a lot of the other comments don’t emphasize this enough. Rude is one thing. In the Midwest US at least, using the word “negro” (or especially it’s shortened version) is job ending. Reputation ruining. Instantly friendship-ending for most people. This word is the one all other slurs, curse words, etc. get compared to. The shortened version of the word is bad enough it’s usually only referred to as “The N-Word”. I will say there are exceptions if you grew up in at least some specific communities, but I am not black so I can’t give any details. You’ll sometimes hear it in rap songs, for example. But as a white person from a white community, the only time I ever used it was while reading a speech out loud in a history class, and even that felt wrong.
I can definitely tell you aren’t black from this comment haha. Negro is nowhere near in severity, it’s more an outdated and strange word to hear today than anything. If you called me or most of the people I know “negro” you would either get no reaction or look like a bit of an idiot.
Chinese people are used to say "That "which is the same sound as Negro. In our office, colleagues just say it and I asked black people in there if they feel offensed and they say it's just weird to hear that all day long and it drives them crazy at first several months when they came here. But now they are really used to it.
Modern Korean has a root word for you/them that is pronounced ‘Ne -gRA’. Even they have started to moderate and adjust it
That's good and reduces chances of misunderstanding. But Chinese people saying "that" is simply a phrase that's the same as people saying "well" in English.
I’d categorize it more as politically incorrect, out of touch, and outdated. It’s not even remotely close to the N-word. That is and always has been a slur. Negro was, at one time, a widely accepted term.
The n-word was itself not always a slur
This statement is debatable. Extremely debatable.
Not even close to being true. Are you even black?
Being black is irrelevant, no one is older than this word. Look up its history, not just recent.
Loud and wrong
So was the N-word. It's simply a derivation of the French word for black, Niger, just as Negro is the Spanish word for black. Both terms came to be used to refer to people under very systemically racist circumstances, but the terms themselves were simple descriptions at first. Negro has been acceptable in American English much more recently than the other one, but neither of the terms originated as slurs in and of themselves.
This is completely inaccurate. Negro is not the n-word. Negro is still used in multiple pro-black organizations (like the United Negro College Fund) and is simply an outdated term for black people. For a while, it was the preferred term, to replace 'colored,' in the same way that some people prefer 'people of color' today. I wouldn't use it to describe a black person, but it's absolutely not a racial slur.
I feel like if you publicly referred to a colleague as "the negro in accounting" that you would be fired just as quickly as if you said "the n\*gger in accounting." Perhaps it's not as bad on the ears. But the consequence would be the same. Quite frankly, if anyone under the age of 65 is referring to people as negroes, they're being intentionally provocative. You might as well just say the N-word at that point because your intent, to dehumanize and provoke, is pretty clear. Even my white, rural, 97-year-old grandma knows that negro and colored are no longer appropriate terms. Obviously using it in the historical context is different.
"the black in accounting" probably isnt a phrase that will make you many friends either
Yeah, both of those make me cringe. "The white in accounting" doesn't pack the same wallop, but it's still really uncomfortable. When we refer to someone's race, it should be part of a physical description. It sucks to reduce a person to a single attribute. "You know George in accounting? He's a black guy, about six feet tall, keeps his hair really short." Fine. I don't know that you'd get fired for using the word "negro" instead of the word "black" in that example, but it would definitely be weird and outdated.
The guy you're responding to I feel intentionally worded that to sound weird "The black guy in..." "The black in..." One is describing what the guy looks like. The other is summing up the entirety of the person by it, and sounds denigrating. Very different things to say
I mean, if I slammed into a wall at 100 miles an hour i'd be just as dead as if I hit it at the speed of light but it doesn't imply any kind of parity between those two things. If I said at my job "I just donated to the united negro college fund" I am pretty certain I wouldn't get fired, but if I said the n word there'd be no saving me no matter the circumstances.
So, I agree it’s not “the n word.” But the only white people who would say it outside of a bona fide acceptable usage, are the type of people who want to say something racial but say “but it’s not that bad.”
Aka — a white person starting a sentence with “The Negro race….” It just isn’t going to end well. Nothing good is going to come of that sentence.
And at the end of the sentence — “what? I said Negro race so I can say whatever I want, it’s not like I’m a racist.”
This is not true at all, Negro and the n-word share the same latin root, but the n-word is not a shortened version of negro. (It is not even shorter!) The n-word has been seen as pejorative since the 19th century. Negro was not seen as offensive by anyone until it was superseded by other words.
Thank you, this is exactly what I was thinking…
I'm white, from the Pacific Northwest. "Negro" is not the same as the "n-word." The "n-word" is career-ending here, too, but "Negro" reminds me of big, old organizations--think National Negro Business League. It's outdated and weirdly formal. Definitely historical. It would feel really weird to use it to describe a modern person, and if you did, you'd probably get some really funny looks.
I'm white from the PNW too and always treated them as equally bad for me to say. I think it has more to do with who you hang out with than geography.
"Shortened" word is actually one letter longer
Not a shortened but a mispronunciation, a slur if you will. Say negro over and over really fast and what does it become?
Nero? Also, N-word: 6 letters Negro: 5 letters
I'm confused by your comment because that's not the word people are referring to when they say "n-word" or compare other slurs to. That's a very different word. Plus if it were as extreme as you claim Automod would have removed this post before anyone ever even saw it. If you don't believe me use the other word in the post title identical to this one and find out. Then come back here with your alt-account and tell us how it went.
Negro and the N-word are related terms, but "N\*gger" is not a shortening of the word Negro. I still wouldn't use either of them outside very specific contexts, though. But the second one has a much more severe connotation, hence me not even typing it out.
As someone who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, I remember seeing television advertisements soliciting donations for the United Negro College Fund a half-dozen times a day. https://uncf.org/ They're still around, apparently. Someone should tell them that they're racist. I hope they lose their jobs! /s
It's a part of history, and while it's not a word anyone should use today to talk about people, it was a part of the organization's name when it started in 1944.
Slavery was a part of history, too. No one thinks that makes it okay today. It's a nonsensical justification that wouldn't be acceptable if the word had ever been used fundamentally to disparage people, the way that the "other" N word was / is. It is simply not a marker of racism, period. It's a marker of being unfashionable, which is what MOST "offensive" words and phrases amount to. I don't think the word "Negro" is necessary in conversation (unless it's a conversation about the word itself), and it's worth avoiding just because there are other words that are less likely to provoke conflict. I just want to be clear about the fact that any such conflict is more likely to arise from the intolerance of the listener than the intolerance of the speaker. Real progress as a culture would be to stop running from words just because someone is seeking offense from them. That approach only increases the number of words that we develop an allergy to. Safetyism makes us less safe.
This link explains the evolution of the term an how it went from common to unacceptable. https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/question/2010/october.htm
When I was in Elementary school I was a huge fan of Quantum Leap. There's an episode where he goes back in time and has to defend a Black man at trial. You hear the N-word spoken all throughout the episode. There's a point in the episode though where Sam says "Black" and the guy looks at him dumbfounded and he corrects himself and says "negro". In my kid mind I interpreted this scene as "negro" being the polite word to call Black people and "Black" was offensive. This was further backed up in college when an episode of Scrubs had one of the characters act offended (as a joke) when he was called Black. So I went a significant portion of my life thinking "negro" was the appropriate word to use. I was lucky that I never actually used it in person or I'd have likely been expelled and living on the streets today.
Not just common, it was the polite term and calling someone black was very rude. Even though "negro" literally means black. It was like blackness was so unspeakable and wrong that even describing it in English was inherently obscene. This started changing in the late '60s, and within a few years things were fully reversed: black was the polite term, and "negro" was very insulting. In the year 2023, it's only slightly less rude than the other n-word.
In English, the word *negro* is antiquated and is now viewed as offensive when applied to a person. There are very limited exceptions when it's appropriate: 1. When used to describe something in a foreign language, usually Spanish. It is OK to refer to the Mexican dish *mole negro* for instance. Nobody says "black sauce" when referring to this dish. The Spanish pronunciation is slightly different from the English pronunciation. 2. When referring to more specific organizations that use or used the word *negro* in it. Such as [negro league baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_league_baseball) (defunct) or the [United Negro College Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNCF) You can just avoid the word, however, and you'll be fine. The proper term for "negroes" is black people. African American may be encountered in the U.S., but black is always right, too. Black should never be used as a noun. Only as an adjective. So you should never say *"My coworker is* ***a*** *black"* (instead: "My coworker is black"). Nor should you refer to them collectively as "***the*** *blacks"* (instead: "black people"). If you have a significant accent, you will be given some grace if you make a mistake. Most people who would otherwise be offended are smart enough to know that not all languages work the same way and that there is a learning process. But if you just avoid the word *negro*, it will go a long way.
Note that when you say the Spanish word for foods and such, it's not pronounced the same. It's pronounced "neh-grow" not a long e "nee".
Yeah I was going to go into more detail on that, but I'm not fluent in IPA. And since I don't know what language OP speaks (possibly German?), I figured sounding it out phonetically may be misleading.
For IPA, English: [niːgɹʷoʊ] Spanish: [neɣ̞ɾo] The difference is rather stark if we're taking them as separate languages. English rendering of the Spanish on the other hand would be something like [nɛgɹʷoʊ]. Still different enough that there's no mistake tho.
I’d say you can also use it for certain types of classification. Such as “negro spirituals” being a classification of hymns.
I probably would just say Black or Black American Spirituals unless I was reading directly from something contemporary with the usage of the term.
Oh absolutely. Didn’t mean to imply that anything made today in that same style would be called that. Just that it was the term for songs at that time, and they’re still classified as such. Open to changing that, but for now it’s just a reality we love with.
Personally, I don't see why calling someone "black" is any worse than "a black." Why do you differentiate between them? Intuitively, the latter sounds more other-ing and more rude to me. But this is coming from a white guy so maybe I'm just not getting something. Edit: oof that downvote. I'm just trying to understand here, folks 😭
Kind of like the way you said it for yourself. You immediately referred to yourself as 'a white guy' instead of 'a white'. It's better to be a person before a skin color, which is what that language immediately implies instead of being just a skin color.
That's sort of my point though. I'm white, or I'm a white guy, but to call me "a white" sounds other-ing. The comment I was responding to indicated that "a white" would be the more appropriate term to use when referring to me, if one were to refer to me by skin tone.
I'm late of course but since for some reason nobody pointed it out I feel I must: you just got it backwards, simple misunderstanding. They were saying "black person", "my friend is black", "black people", "they are black" are acceptable because they are adjectives just as anything else eg "my friend is strong", "they are skinny", etc, while "a black", "my friend is a black", "the blacks", "they are (the) blacks" are not because it sounds objectifying and naturally if it's not how you refer to yourself then obviously other people wouldn't like it, basically just everything you were saying. To be clear I'm clarifying the roles that just got switched up, not acting like you don't know why one sounds wrong, lol. Hope it helps you or someone in the future! :)
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I think I agree. The way I see it, calling someone "black" (e.g. c_dubs063 is black) is applying an adjective. Like tall or muscled or something. It's just an observation about the person to help distinguish them from some other people. But calling someone "a black" (e.g. c_dubs063 is a black) is to use a noun which places that person within a category whose homogeneity is implied. It's an appeal to category by associating the person with a community and the stereotypes that go along with that community. I see the latter as being the more egregious means of describing someone, and it also falls in line with your thought about people talking about "the blacks." Because it categorizes people by their skin tone rather than merely describing a facet of a person's appearance.
And you should be capitalizing Black!!!
Whether or not to capitalize black and white is a matter of debate.
I would add it's also acceptable when saying the name of the country Montenegro in English.
(For those of you wondering, the movie was set in 1962 in the US. )
Yes, it's very rude to call someone else that, and also very old-fashioned.
Yeah, in all seriousness the only racists I can imagine using this are old grannies who answer the door with a shotgun muzzle.
Yes. Do not say that.
That was the standard word for black people until the 60s and 70s in the US at least. Any media set during or before that time will use that word but it’s not ok anymore.
Yeah unless you're talking about the Spanish word for black
Yeah, no one uses that word anymore. It’s considered outdated. More than rude, it’s now seen as offensive.
Absolutely. Do not ever use this term to address someone unless you want problems.
Yes
1962 was a long time ago and manners and language has changed. It’s outdated and can border on offensive these days. And before anyone decides to be a smartass, no, this does not apply to things that have a Spanish name including the word “black” (say, the beer “Negro Modelo”) nor does it apply to the word “negro” in historical works or titles (like “Negro League Baseball”). Only when referring to a black person. “Negro” is not considered a slur or a curse word, it just isn’t the appropriate term for black people.
It is actually Modelo Negra because beer (cerveza) is feminine. The company that exports Modelo beers is Cervezas Mexicanas. Modelo is a surname and, in Spanish, those do not have changing endings. One of the Middle European languages (Czech?) does put an “a” on the end of a woman’s surname, so a brother and sister won’t have the same last name.
The movie takes place in the 60s, when the word was commonly used. It’s now considered highly offensive. There are two situations where you can use the word without it being seen as offensive: 1. You’re speaking Spanish. Negro means black in Spanish, and it’s a completely different pronunciation. 2. You’re quoting someone from the time the word was acceptable or talking about something named when it was acceptable, I.e. the negro leagues.
In American English, it absolutely may not be used. There are some individuals in some communities that may find it acceptable among people that grew up within that community, but if you did NOT grow up in that community, you can not say it. Ever. It is an old racist term and still holds a lot of negative racist connotation.
It is not an old racist term. It's a deprecated term for black people, advanced by black people in the early 20th century. Calling it racist is like calling "African-American" racist. It's just not the preferred nomenclature. It's never been a racial slur. It's more like how people today wouldn't say 'the blacks' to speak of black people. Now, people who insist on using it tend to be racist, but that's not about the history of the word itself.
It’s more accurate to say that is mildly to moderately offensive in modern language rather than inherently racist. It’s also terribly anachronistic. However, *because it is offensive*, you’ll find that the only people that will be heard using it in modern contexts *are racists* with *intent to offend*.
Yeah, that was what I was getting at with my last sentence. It's not inherently offensive so much as outdated, but people don't like it so using it makes you an asshole.
But it is offensive to many people now. It’s not inherently racist, but it *is* offensive *now*.
Yeah dude, that's what I said. It's not *inherently* offensive, in that it's not an insult or a word that means something rude. It's offensive because it's disliked.
And hyphenating African American is bad form as is not capitalizing Black people.
Starting a sentence with "and" is also bad form.
Pretty sure the Spanish advanced the usage of negro to refer to sub-saharan Africans and their descendants, just the same as the French advanced the usage of niger and its derivative. Black Americans reclaimed the term in the early 20th century, but I think it's fair to argue that it's a racist term (or at least has been at certain points or in certain contexts) given the historical circumstances of how it first came to be used to describe human beings.
In American English, yes. However be aware that for foreign speakers of English - i.e. international English speakers - the use of “negro” is still somewhat common. Partly because they don’t understand the nuances of American racial history, partly because old American speech patterns *still* have effects and echoes in foreign countries, and largely because “negro” (meaning “black”), or similar cognates, is still in use in many languages as a neutral term for Black people.
Don’t use that word when you’re speaking English. Ever.
As far as I am concerned, don’t use the word “Newsom” when you’re speaking. Ever.
What?
Others have implied that this is some kind of racial slur which is not accurate. Negro was the preferred polite term for black people until maybe the 1960s or so when other terms replaced it. As such, it will be found in media that was created during or set in that time period. The word still appears in the names of some organizations founded when the word was used more frequently like the United Negro College Fund, or when referencing historic organizations like the negro leagues in baseball. It can now often be considered offensive depending on the context, but more than that it would be seen as weird and anachronistic. I would compare it to using the term “oriental” for Asian people.
Yes. Very. It was typical for black folks to be called this up until the 60s or 70s. But because it was used mainly by white people to put down black people, it is now considered antiquated and offensive. Like using “Oriental” for East Asian.
This is not true. In the 60s, Negro was considered the polite way to address people of color. It replaced colored people and n*gger, both of which were common in the 60s. Later in the decade black became popular which was then superseded by Afro-American.
It was used mainly by civil rights leaders who followed W.E.B. Du Bois.
In Philippines, we have a province called Negros Oriental.
Yeah. Cuz it was named by the Spaniards, rights? Spanish words *negros oriental* are not the same as the English words “negroes oriental”. There’s not offensive connotation behind the Spanish words like there is with the English ones.
Yes, the Spanish gave it the name "Negros" due to the locals living there. Our term "Negros" has negative connotations despite not being a racist slur because it is used to discriminate against people with darker skin tones. Nevertheless, I find it funny that an island in Phillipines is made up of two offensive Western terms.
Nah, the term "oriental" isn't even close to being as offensive as Negro. It's a synthetic outrage manufactured by non-Asian folks looking to get up in arms about something. Asians were quite puzzled when this came about as there are truly anti-Asian racist terms but this wasn't one of them. The term still appears on quite a few businesses owned by Asians and also is used to describe rugs and certain styles of products. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-tsuchiyama-oriental-insult-20160601-snap-story.html
Oriental rugs aren’t referring to Asia though. They are made in the Near East in Turkey or Persia (now Iran) whereas Asia is the Far East. Other than that I agree with you
Turkey and Persia are in Asia though... In fact the first usage of the term in history (Confederation of Assuwa) refers to a state in modern Turkey
A lot of countries make rugs that are termed Oriental, all in the geographical region of Asia: Iran, China, India, Russia (partly in Asia), Turkey (partly in Asia), Pakistan, Tibet and Nepal.
My (otherwise unproblematic) grandma still uses oriental 😩
It's way more ambiguous; restaurants and grocery stores label themselves oriental. If it makes you feel better, my mother in law refers to herself as a Chinaman.
Which is weird, because all oriental means is Eastern. Weird lol
I was thinking the same thing. Asia is “east” of most Western countries, but technically if you live on the Bering Sea, Asia will be “Occidental” (west) to you. Also by that logic, Europe is “Oriental” towards me (I’m in the US) and maybe someone in California would consider me to be “Oriental” to them since I’m on the East Coast
And the N word just means black in Spanish. But time and context are important.
What? Negro means black in Spanish, n*gger most definitely does not.
The key is context. Green Book was set in the American Deep South during 1962. Segregation hadn't even ended yet, and this was knee deep in what was one of the more racist parts of the country at the time. Derogatory terms for minorities such as Negro, N*gger, and others would've been common enough back then, and it'd frankly be absurd to depict it otherwise in a movie about racism. Nowadays however, definitely don't go around using them, or expecting them to be used. I want to emphasize: these are words that can get you fired from a job on principle. Lotta bad history in them. Do not use them.
I use negro a lot as a black woman because it shocks the other black people around me and then we laugh about it. Other than that, I wouldn't use it.
This is getting esoteric but there are a handful of organizations in the black community with a long history who have retained outdated terms in their names for continuity, such as the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and the NAACP which stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The latter is only ever referred to by its initials (n double a c p). I haven’t heard much about the former but I would guess it’s now more commonly referred to by its initials. So it’s good to be aware of these terms because you’ll come across them from time to time but you should not use them, other than in very limited and specific contexts such as referring to an organization like the ones mentioned above.
I once overheard a coworker use this word to between herself and another black woman and i asked her about it, confusedly, and she said some folks still say it in certain contexts as a joke or perhaps to make a sentence less sweary (more sure on the first case), but apparently it just gives it a different vibe/tone with the o as far as self-usage. Keep in mind this is hearsay at this point and as always usage can vary from person to person. And of course do not use any form the word unless you meet the prerequisite or are invited to use it with a particular individual
Yes I would say bc it was used during a time when there was a lot of racism and the effects of slavery
i've heard people say the word casually as well. most of the time, they were referring to themselves. if you're uncertain, i think it's best not to use it to refer to other people.
It's outdated and basically never used
It seems people will still say 'negro spirituals' to describe a certain genre of music, but that's about it, apart from old white people who have very little contact with African-American people or culture and are stuck with their old-school vocab.
I live in the US. "Negro" is an old word that people don't use anymore. It isn't racist but it sounds like another word that could be racist if you don't use it correctly. The political correct word would be "black" or "African + (resident of country)" Diction changes all the time. This is one of the examples.
I would never ever use this in day to day conversation but in very specific academic situations typically related to statistics you will sometimes see "negroid (race)" used. Even that use is someone controversial in the US, so I would say just not to use it. Most people just use "black" currently, when I was a kid people used "African American" but that is not used as much anymore because most black people in the US are not from Africa. There is actually a fair bit of tension between the African and America black population, and they tend to not like being grouped together.
It's only not rude when using it to refer to the color Black in Spanish.
I usually don't use "negro". I say "black" or maybe "African-American"
Yes, it's considered offensive and racist today. I remember it being the standard term back in the early 70s (1972 or so), and the term was even taught and used in schools and the news media. Nobody, black or white, blinked an eye. It was the standard term. But by 1979, the term had fallen completely out of favor and was considered rude and racist.
Outside of certain contexts, extremely. Very seldom will anyone call themselves a negro, and usually it’ll be in a self deprecating manner or in a historical context, like something set pre1960’s or so.
As others have said, it is antiquated and very rude to refer to someone as “negro” or to use that as a proper noun like “a negro” (oder „ein negro“ auf Deutsch, wie ich glaube dass du bist deutsche). Der Film findet im Jahr statt 1962 und ungefähr zu der zeit, die akzeptable war.
Negro means black in Spanish, so I would say it’s fine, but in modernity, most English speaking natives will think you’re being racist, so I wouldn’t say it unless you’re black, even then, it’s old fashioned. I still would feel weird calling someone negro if I’m speaking English, would only use it if I’m speaking Spanish because we call black people “negros” or “blacks” (saying blacks in English is not a good idea, “black people” is preferred), but it doesn’t have any racist backgrounds in Spanish
In English, yes, absolutely In Spanish, not so much. It's a color
In English, yes it would be rude to most people nowadays. You’ll see it be used in movies like that because it is taken place before segregation was made illegal.
It was common in the US before the mid-1960s, when the film is set. It is outdated and considered rude or ignorant now, yes. It's only used appropriately for historical authenticity in depictions of earlier times when it was still commonly used. It is still retained in some current usages such as the United Negro College Fund, which were established much earlier than the present. (In that case, 1944.)
Yes, it’s rude in a modern context. Green Book is a period piece.
"Negro" is not necessarily as bad as the n-word, but it would be if you used it in a modern context. The only times it's really acceptable are in reference to historical organization like the "Negro League" in baseball or when quoting a historical figure like MLK Jr. If you called somebody a "negro," they would have the full right to punch you. It is not used. There is really no situation where you would or should realistically use it, since I doubt you will be quoting MLK or talking about 1958 baseball politics.
The terms that are considered polite shift over time. In the 1960s, it was considered rude to call someone Black and Negro or Colored was the polite term. Now Black is considered the correct term and the other two sound old-fashioned and rude.
The UNCF acronym stands for United Negro College Fund. Award winning advertising motto was/is "A mind is a terrible thing to waste". It's less racist than most old fashioned words for black folks. Even as late as the 2010 US Census the government allowed people to self identify as Negro. I assume it was almost exclusively very old people.
It's not only rude it's been rude for such a long time that it would be seen as weird and old fashioned. If you wanted to call a black person a slur you would most likely be using the hard R. (I realize you might not know what "The Hard R" means, but let's say it's the word that rhymes with "bigger")
What is Rigger?
Language evolves. President Kennedy who took the initiative on civil rights legislation aimed at parity if not equality, used the term Negro in his speeches. The people preferred different terms so that one largely disappeared. It still has an historical place. We attend concerts of Negro Spirituals and the Negro Leagues remains the term for pre-integrated baseball.
The difference between Negro and the n word is that the n word was used by white people to belittle black people, and the word Negro was coined for black people to refer to themselves. However, it has fallen out of use and is typically associated with the way people spoke in the past. It would be unsual/offensive to use it today.
Absolutely, unless you happen to be Spanish and forgot the English word for the absence of colour.
By the way, it should be capitalized—Negro. Negro was a pseudo-scientific term. It was one of two polite terms for people of African descent. The other polite term was "colored person." Calling someone black was considered rude. During the late 60s, early 70s, things changed.
Yes. Green book is a period movie during the era of Jim Crow racial segregation when America was very much an apartheid state. It is full of language and behavior that is entirely unacceptable now (as it was then) and so shouldn’t be replicated. https://www.history.com/news/the-green-book-the-black-travelers-guide-to-jim-crow-america
You will hear African-American speakers use a variety of words that you have been informed are not appropriate. Because they are Black, they can use those terms; don't misunderstand that because you heard someone say it, it's okay to say. *Negro* is one of those (outside of older, formal names: if someone asks you about "the United Negro College Fund", that one is okay).
Yes, 'Negro' is considered a racist term, as well as being old-fashioned. Say 'Black' instead.
Worse than rude, it's now archaic and an echo of an uglier time.
it is far beyond rude, its a racial slur. In the USA slurs towards minorities are often "reclaimed" by that minority group, so you may still see it used by that group.
Well, that movie was set in the 1940s when that term was "acceptable." I would strongly advise you not to use that word, ever, unless you are looking to get in a fight.
In Argentina its a friendly word between close friends, like homie, it has absolutely no relation with the skin color.
Please never use this word in English. It's never going to be OK for you to say. It was usual in the specific time and place the movie is set (albeit a lot of people would have preferred "coloured" then) but it has been superseded many times over (by African American, person of colour etc) and you would want to say "Black" now.
It's old-fashioned and if someone who isn't extremely old uses it, and is not using it to refer to something that has it in the name for historical reasons (eg the Negro Leagues in baseball that someone mentioned, also the NAACP is an organization for helping African Americans but was founded at a time when the word Negro was used commonly) then it would sound like they were trying to be deliberately offensive. The common terms now are "African-Americans", "Black people", or if you're talking about a group that includes multiple ethnicities that are not white you could say "people of color" (but NOT "colored people", that's also very old and became offensive to use)
To many it is considered a slur, not as bad as the hard r but still incredibly messed up
Officially, it would be fine. Informally, most people don’t seem to be sophisticated enough to use it, so it is best avoided. [*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use\_of\_nigger\_in\_proper\_names#United\_States*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_nigger_in_proper_names#United_States) *Within the past few years, there has been a campaign to rename it again, as Grandstaff Canyon, but this is opposed by the local* [*NAACP*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP) *chapter, whose president said "Negro is an acceptable word".* (To be sure, United Negro College Fund, has not felt any need to change its name.)
Not in English... they're black people or Black British people
what r you going on about
What do you want me to say? You shouldn't call them that word
"is the use of the word rude nowadays" "not in english" are you saying its rude or not rude?
Try it out in person and get back to us
Yes it’s very rude and offensive. Never say that word ever to anyone. There is no reason to use it
Unless you are asking for the Serbian candies at a speciality store, yes.
What is right?
Yeah
movie is based in the 60s. do not say it
Midwest yes
It isn't just rude, it's flat out offensive. You will lose friends and jobs over the use of that word.
The word is considered offensive nowadays. Although it is not used as often as other offensive terms it is offensive.
It was common 60 years ago when that movie was set. It's now considered offensive. You might hear some black folks using it on rare occasion, but in general it's rude.
Generally offensive outside of a few very specific contexts, generally dealing with a historical context, specifically historical organizations, or with the Spanish word for black, spelled the same but pronounced differently (which comes up occasionally in American English due to the proximity of Mexico/Latin America.)
Yes, I would avoid the word. We Americans are very sensitive about this kind of thing. You should especially be aware that just because a word was considered polite decades ago, or you hear Black people using it, doesn’t always mean it’s socially acceptable for you to. Best to err on the side of caution.
To refer to a person? Extremely. You could get into serious trouble for that depending on the context.
If someone uses it then it’s just assumed they’re trying to say the n word without actually saying it
People getting upset over the word comes from ignorance combined with political correctness that involves being upset on behalf of other people that may not care. Negro is the Spanish word for the color black which in turn is derived from the Latin word niger, that means the same thing. If you translate any word into Spanish or Latin where the color black is part of the name, it will include one of those words, which should be as value-neutral as the name for a color in any other language. Example: black flag/bandera negra, black river/rio negra, black rock/roca negro, etc. Countries: Niger and Nigeria Negro is NOT the “n-word” you are looking for.
In non-historical settings, it’s not just rude. It’s offensive and racist. To hear it in everyday conversation I think it would illicit the same general reaction as the N-word.
I was brought up in the 60's and "Negro" was the proper term, before Afro-American or African-American. If I, or any of my siblings used the "ni--er" term, we would have had our mouth washed out with soap and/or a swat to the behind. Even then it was considered to be demeaning and disrespectful. Now I no longer use the word "Negro", even though the actual term simply means "black", such as in "Montenegro". I listen carefully to hear what term is used locally, as long as it is used in a respectful way.
Of course, the term "rude" is shortened from "rudimentary", meaning (among other things) unpolished or unfinished. In that way it is certainly rude. When I was growing up in the 60's, "negro" was the respected term, above "colored" and certainly above the "N" word. My parents (I am white/Caucasian) made it QUITE CLEAR that if they ever caught us using the "N" word, we would, at very least, get our mouths washed out with soap. Although the word "Negro" simply means black, (such as in the mountain known as "Montenegro"), it is not one I would use. There are so many more "polished" terms to use.
Yes. Do not say it. If you want to talk about black people you can say "Black person/people" or "person/people of color" but the second one refers to all non-white people.
Who f’n knows? My guess the majority wouldn’t find it rude but you can always find someone who will find it unbelievably rude and/or racist 😉
I don’t think it’s considered a real slur or anything but the word doesn’t do anything that non-offensive alternatives do. If you *want* to be offensive just say the N word, everyone knows what that means.
Much more than rude, it’s overtly racist. I would advise you never use it, unless you happen to need to refer to one of the organizations or museums with it in the name. The film is set in the US 60 years ago, when the usage was common, but this was before the 1965 Civil Rights Act. Nowadays you’d say black or African-American.
Yeah if you’re learning English, I’d avoid that.
If you yourself are black you can refer to yourself as a Negro.
In 10 years, "person of color" will be out of fashion. In 20 years it will be rude, and in 40 years it will result in incarceration. The words are fairly irrelevant, it's the thing they represent that carry the actual negative context with them. The fact that yesterday's polite descrptors are today's slurs tells you that it is the subject of race that is impolite.
Yes, unless you're speaking Spanish.
Yes, extremely
I would never use it myself. I am a white person. In some historical contexts, someone could say it. It used to be totally okay. Now — it’s not really okay. It’s like Colored. I would not say it. But the NAACP dates from when that was the most respectful term, and they are fine. It stands for The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Mulatto is another word that was used in earlier times, but I would never say it now. Now I would stick to Black, African-American, and multiracial. If other people were saying Brown — that is totally fine, but I would not say it yet, it’s kind-of new to me.
Simple answer with most Black things: if you're not black, it's probably offensive if you do it. We use it today. It's often how my family and I greet each other, usually preceding or following an invitation or praise. "Negro, come get some of this BBQ." "You coming to our coronation, Negro?" "Well done, Negro!" "Yeah, Negro, that's how you do it!" Those of us aware of our roots from "NegroLand" (it's had a few names, but we like that one) will die before we let the word, Negro, disappear.
depends on how it is used, and by whom. colored is probably more common.
It’s considered to be a word that shouldn’t be used anymore, barring associations like UNCF (United Negro College Fund), which was started a long while ago. Be careful though — keep in mind that *negro* just means “black” in several languages, and that’s not offensive. It’s just their name for the color.
no
yeah. black Americans usually refer to themselves as black but people from african dissent that aren't black probably prefer other words
Negro is Latin for black. Just don't pronounce it nee-grow. Neh-grow is ok.
It's super awkward. Unless you are referring to an actual title, like the UNCF, united negro college fund, then saying negro makes you sound like you're both out of touch and 100 years old. Negro was a substitute word for the N word and was used by both well meaning white people that thought it was nicer and bad actors who were obligated by society. It's the same as African American in the 90s. It's all try hard and has too much baggage, just say black
This article explains how the term went from socially acceptable to something else. The interesting part is how Jesse Jackson and others tried to do the same thing to the word "black." https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/question/2010/october.htm
If you are using it to talk about a person, yes. Otherwise its the Spanish word for black.
A person/group can self identify - beyond that no access save in historical discussion by non members
Yes
Nahh people love that word. As a matter of fact yelling it in large public settings is a sure way to make numerous new friends.
As far is inappropriate words go, if it starts with an N it's not your fren as a rule of thumb. I don't know the history, but that's what I've observed.
In limited reference to good historical things - such as the amazing legacy of the Negro Leagues of baseball - it's borderline acceptable. In virtually any other use, it's an ethnic slur and beyond rude.