Proud to be Colored: What"s in a Name?

What a dreadful title for an article.  But it did get your attention, so why not keep on reading as we consider, just what is in a name?

Just the other day, some friends and I were debating the proper terminology to describe the Tokobaga, the original inhabitants of Safety Harbor as described in Warren Firschein’s blog.   Were they Indians, Native Americans, or indigenous people? This caused me to reflect on the terminology used over the years for people of my own heritage

While researching my father’s genealogy, I found that, depending on the decade, the census bureau listed him as mulatto, African, or colored.  Over the years, I’ve been described as colored, Negro, Black, African American and yes, even White.

For those of the “majority” culture, the terms White and Caucasian have stood the test of time, with little or no objection from those bearing the name.

So why is the descriptive word such a touchy subject for the minority culture? And why is political correctness such a big deal?  The answer lies in respect.  If the term colored, instead of arising from the culture of slavery and inferiority, had arisen from a revered status of equality, colored would have remained … acceptable and unchanged.

Originally, names were assigned to minorities, identifying them as different, but more to the point, inferior.  Years ago, being called black would have been received as a insult.  Negro was accepted over the more flippant colored. But in the 1960’s, the racial group rejected the assigned terminology and chose to define themselves. Thus, Black became a sign a beauty, and African American acknowledged a proud heritage, once considered savage by the majority culture.

What’s in a name? Everything to me … it’s all about Respect.