Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-04-19
THAT SPECIFIC DESIGNATION.

THAT SPECIFIC DESIGNATION. |
The Liberian News, Of Monrovia,
Africa for February 1924 has this to
say:
We have continuously for long
time noticed in very many of our con-
temporaries published in the United
States and elsewhere, trat the tenn
Negro" appears to be reproachful,
and is seldom used; the word "c)lored'
being substituted in its stead ara IS
also very often used by certain Amerl'
can Negroes here in 1ilis country.
The term as applied TO q portion OF
Africans, is regarded by many NICE
and fastidious persons as rnp'oachful'
and therefore, Objectionable: but we
ask why should it be? We are sure that
there is nothing disgraceful N the
etymology of the word in its right use
there is no degrading allusion; Tor IL
is the exact word we understand. which
in the Spanish language is used 70 de-
note black in the abstract or concrete
II is derived from the Latin adjective
niger which signifies black.
In the English language it is dis
tinctive' term used by all scientific
writer's to designate that portion OF
Africa south of the Sahara. In respect
to the term; Negro the term African
is properly generic term. In respect
to Mandingo, Foulah, Grebo, etc, the
term Negro is also generic. Every Ne
gro is an African, but every African Is
not a Negro; because the tawny or
olive colored inhabitants of the Bar
barry States are Africans, but they are
not Negroes They then in our opinion
are in error who would discard the
word Negro from the English language
on the ground that it is employed dis
pitefully by some. 1t is no ground for
misunderstanding the proper use OF the
word because it is deprecated by some
vulgar, clownish, and insulting men.
This is sound reasoning, but there is
much to be said on both sides OF thas
important question. 1t tells why this
term is Objectionable, when it says:
1t is only the present condition OF
the class to whom the word Negro IS
applied that renders it so Objectionable
to some. If the Negro were learned,
wealthy and fluential people, the term
would be regarded as honorable as
Anglo saxon American, or any other
respectable term.
In consequence of the generally ignor
ant and debased character of the Irlsb
people some time ago who immigrated
to some parts of the United States, the
terms Irish in that part of the country
was regarded as contemptuous; ana
even many of THE sons of Hlbernlc
were ashamed of being known as lrlsn
men. And why? Was there anything
disgraceful in the name itself? No, IL
was the association around it that
caused the disgrace. But today their
education, their wealth., and influence
have caused them to be respected
among the nations of the earth. Moth
ing can divest people of power, lnflu-
ence, or responsibility if they have the
necessary qualification and if they are
Intellectually and morally great Let
men call them what they may, it will
be an honorable title; while if they are
ignorant and degraded and miserable
there is no appellation, which If applied
to them will not be considered degrad--
ing. ga rose by any other name would
smell as sweet
If, then, we think that the term Ne
gro has been applied to us contemptu-
ously, and we see that that term is III
general scientifically used to distingu--
ish the type of African to which we be-
long; and if as a people, we have NOT
sufficient influence in the literary and
scientific world to bring the term into
desuetude, or even to check its curren--
cy, let us by elevating ourselves, ele-
vate the term.
This is the logical conclusion and we
took the same position years ago. The
Liberian News concludes as follows:
The term Quaker and Methodist were
also when first used reproachful terms
| but the classes to which they were ap-
piled have out-lived the disgrace, and
. no man in Christendom is now asham-