This paper is to demonstrate the diachronic development of the frequency the racial labels “Colored”, “Negro”, “Black” and “African American” were used in the United States. I will point out that the changes in preference of racial notions are by no means an instance of coincidence.
Thus, my aim is to retrace the varying connotations of the above-mentioned labels and their causes which are well-grounded in the historical, social and political living environment Blacks were faced with since they first arrived in the United States about 400 years ago. In consideration of the historical context, this paper aims to prove that the changing racial labeling is an effort of African Americans to redefine themselves in a society which consistently held them subordinate.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Dictionary Entries
2.1 Colored
2.2 Negro
2.3 Black
2.4 African American
3 Diachronic Development of the Terms
3.1 Corpus Based Research (COHA)
3.1.1 Colored
3.1.2 Negro
3.1.3 Black
3.1.4 African American
4 Historical Contextualization
5 Conclusion
6 References
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper investigates the diachronic frequency and evolution of racial labels used for Black people in the United States, arguing that shifts in terminology are deliberate efforts by the African American community to redefine their identity within a subordinate social structure.
- Analysis of lexicographical definitions in major English dictionaries.
- Quantitative examination of term usage frequency using the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA).
- Exploration of the socio-political factors influencing racial self-identification.
- Evaluation of how language acts as a tool for resistance and social empowerment.
- Comparison of the nuances between labels like "Colored," "Negro," "Black," and "African American."
Excerpt from the Book
Historical Contextualization
Over the past 200 years, the standard term for Black people has altered from “Colored” to “Negro” to “Black” and has now turned into “African American”. White people have always been referred to as “Whites”. Why did they not “invent” new names to denominate their race? Is the development of racial labels for Blacks an instance of coincidental incidents?
Certainly not! The diachronic changes of the terms have been of special importance to Black Americans. The reasons are deeply anchored in the unique history of African Americans:
Wrenched from their native lands, Blacks lost their core personal identities. Tribal affiliation, kinship ties, language, and many other cultural attributes were destroyed when Blacks were enslaved by an alien culture in a foreign land (Smith 1992: 496).
But Blacks were not only deprived of their country and culture. Ever since the first slave ship reached the United States, African Americans have suffered from discrimination because of their skin color. Thus, the changes in racial labelling are an exceedingly intentional process of the Black community to redefine themselves in a society that held them subordinate and inferior (cf. Smith 1992: 496).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the research goal of analyzing the diachronic development of racial labels for Black people in the U.S. and establishes the hypothesis that these naming shifts are intentional social processes.
2 Dictionary Entries: This section compares definitions from the LDOCE and OED to reveal the varying connotations and perceived offensiveness of terms such as "Colored," "Negro," "Black," and "African American."
3 Diachronic Development of the Terms: This chapter utilizes data from the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA) to trace the historical frequency of specific racial terms from 1810 to 2009.
4 Historical Contextualization: This part provides an interpretative analysis of why these terms changed over time, linking them to social movements, civil rights advancements, and the quest for racial self-definition.
5 Conclusion: The summary reflects on the power of naming and suggests that as long as racial discrimination persists, the search for appropriate terminology and self-definition will continue to evolve.
6 References: This section provides a list of all academic sources, dictionaries, and corpus databases cited within the paper.
Keywords
Racial labels, African American, Black, Negro, Colored, COHA, Diachronic development, Identity, Social construction, Language change, Discrimination, Civil rights, Self-perception, Connotation, Racial unity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this study?
The study examines the historical evolution and frequency of racial labels used for Black people in the United States over the past two centuries.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The work explores linguistics, historical sociology, lexicography, and the intersection of racial identity and social power dynamics.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to prove that shifts in racial terminology are not coincidental but are deliberate, intentional efforts by the African American community to redefine themselves in a society that historically marginalized them.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The research uses a mixed methodology, combining qualitative lexicographical analysis (comparing dictionary entries) with quantitative corpus linguistics (analyzing historical usage frequency via COHA).
What is discussed in the main body of the text?
The body analyzes dictionary definitions, presents empirical data from the COHA corpus on the usage of specific terms, and provides a socio-historical context for why these terms rose and fell in popularity.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include racial labels, identity, social construction, language change, diachronic development, and systemic discrimination.
How does the author explain the decline of the term "Colored"?
The term became increasingly criticized for its over-inclusivity, as it eventually covered not only Blacks but also Asian immigrants, failing to provide a specific group identity for African Americans.
Why was "Negro" initially favored by Black leaders?
Influential leaders like Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois saw it as a "stronger" and more logical term that epitomized Black strength and racial progress during the early 20th century.
What prompted the shift to "African American"?
The shift was driven by a desire to connect the community's heritage to their African roots, moving away from labels centered solely on skin color toward a more unifying and positive identity.
- Citar trabajo
- Katharina Unkelbach (Autor), 2012, The Historical Development of the Terms "Colored", "Negro", "Black" and "African-American", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/231524
