negro
/'ni:grou/
Definition
Noun:
- A person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa): This term historically refers to a member of a major racial group originating in Africa, characterized by dark skin pigmentation.
Adjective:
- Relating to or characteristic of or being a member of the traditional racial division of mankind having brown to black pigmentation and tightly curled hair: This describes something pertaining to the group of people defined above.
Usage
- Important Note on Usage: The word "Negro" is now considered dated and often offensive in contemporary English. It was used historically in a neutral or formal context (e.g., in names of organizations like the United Negro College Fund) but has been largely superseded by terms like "Black," "African American," or specific nationalities (e.g., Nigerian, Kenyan). Its use today outside of historical or specific institutional contexts is generally discouraged and can be perceived as disrespectful.
Examples
Noun (Historical/Contextual):
- Early 20th-century census forms in the United States used the category "Negro."
- The book discussed the migration of Negro populations from the rural South to northern cities.
Adjective (Historical/Contextual):
- He studied Negro spirituals, a genre of music created by enslaved Africans in America.
- The museum had an exhibit on Negro league baseball.
Advanced Usage
- Capitalization: In historical American English, the term was often capitalized as "Negro" when referring to the racial group, similar to "Caucasian."
- Historical Context: The term appears in the names of historical organizations and movements, such as the "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)" where "colored" was a related term of the era.
Variants and Related Words
- Negress (noun): A dated and now offensive term for a Black woman. Its use is strongly discouraged.
- Negroid (adjective): An outdated anthropological term referring to a racial grouping. It is considered obsolete and potentially offensive in modern contexts.
- Negrillo (noun): An outdated term for certain peoples of central and southern Africa.
Synonyms
- Black: The most common contemporary term in many contexts (often capitalized: Black).
- African American: Specifically used for Black Americans of African descent.
- Person of Color: A broader modern term that includes people of non-white racial backgrounds.
Related Phrases and Compounds
- Negro spiritual: A historical term for a type of religious folk song created by enslaved African people in the US. This term remains in use for the specific musical genre.
- Negro league: Refers to the historically segregated professional baseball leagues for Black players in the United States.
Adjective
-
relating to or characteristic of or being a member of the traditional racial division of mankind having brown to black pigmentation and tightly curled hair
Noun
-
a person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa)
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