- Feb 28, 2009
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The term NEGROE comes from the root word NECRO which means DEAD!
Necro-phobia is a fear of the dead.
Necro-mancy is the communication with the dead.
Necro-philia is the attraction to dead things, or corpses.
So my question is do black people around you still call each other NEGRO?
As far as i know only a white person would constantly use this word online in thread titles while in the presence of black people who can't physically see him or her.
Your thoughts if you will.......................
Hildegard is correct on the etymology of the word "negro."
When the Spanish and Portuguese traders and slavers got to Africa, they used the Spanish word "negro" (black) to describe the people there. --Then, over time, English-speaking slavers made "Negro" into "n!gg3r."
And over the years, we have evolved from "Colored" to "Negro" to "Black" to "African American."
At one time, the word "Negro" was NOT a derogatory term to people-of-color. It was even used BY Black people to describe us and to SEPARATE us from the derogatory stereotypes with the term "n!gg3r" used by whites by showcasing the accomplishments of BLACK/NEGRO PEOPLE.
"The NEGRO WORLD" was a Black newspaper published in NY from 1918 to 1933.
In 1914, Marcus Garvey started the "Universal NEGRO Improvement Association and African Communities League" organization.
Carter G. Woodson started "NEGRO History Week" in 1926. --He also published the "NEGRO History Bulletin," the "Journal of NEGRO History," and wrote the book, "The Mis-Education of the NEGRO."
....So, at one tiime, the word "NEGRO" was used BY Black people to describe ourselves as well.
OVER TIME, when Blacks wanted to move AWAY from its association with the word "n!gg3r," then we started calling ourselves "BLACK." ---And the birth of "BLACK AND PROUD" became our rallying cry.
In the 60s, Malcolm X and the NOI were some of the fore-runners in spear-heading the moving away from the word "NEGRO" by teaching that it was a term that was derogatory and insulting to Black people.
And, TODAY, the word "NEGRO" is used by many Blacks TOWARDS OTHER BLACKS as an INSULT, meaning that they are some kind of "House Negro" (Malcolm X) or an "Uncle Tom."
But, at one time, we were PROUD to be "NEGROES."
I have talked with many of our older Elders who still sometimes used the terms "Colored" or "Negro," themselves because those were the words used in their lifetimes.
But, over time, Black people have changed the usage/meaning of these terms.
Often Black parents and Black teachers would teasingly tell a child, "If you don't sit your little 'colored-self down somewhere!"....or ...."Come here, little 'colored-girl/boy!." (lol)
Black people 'around me' ONLY use the term NEGRO as a reference to a 'BLACK UNCLE TOM' or a 'Black' person with a similar disposition or 'attitude of mind'.
In essence, it is used as a negative connotation, such as, for example, 'Negro, PLEASE!".