Why I’m a negro – and proud of it

I understand that some people may be offended by the term ‘Negro’, the ironic thing is, most of them are probably white. There are reasons why I use the term Negro rather than others.

Initially I had intended to write this blog from a 18th Century perspective as Ignatius Sancho, even writing as such e.g. thou shallst readeth mine blog with reverence etc, however that grew very tiresome before even the first post. I did however like the archaic word Negro.

The problem today is one of labels and pigeon holing. The other N-word has been hijacked by racists and rappers, both of whom are detestable groups who serve only their own self interests. Black man seems to hold many connotations and unfortunately most of them are negative. The word black itself is virtually useless as it doesn’t hold anything special or unique, anything or anyone can be ‘black’. A black day, black cloud, black humour, black mark etc. I’d rather use a more powerful and unique word to describe what I am, one that sums up the several hundred years it has taken me to reach this point, whilst also celebrating what I am. Afro-Caribbean just doesn’t cut it either.

Negro was the word that was first used by black people to describe themselves, they didn’t say they were black nor Afro-Caribbean, they were Negroes. The subtitle of this blog sums it up perfectly, Ignatius Sancho wasn’t just a black man, he was an extraordinary Negro. Many groups and societies set up in the early days of emancipation also bore the word Negro. Since then however we have been taught that it is a bad word, and we should distance ourselves from it. But who told us that? The name changes constantly through decades as the white man seeks to ease his conscience, whilst still labelling us as different; Negro, Coloured, Black, Afro-Carribean. I am not from Africa, nor the Caribbean.

I know that Negro is just the Spanish word for black, in the same way that Niger (or its corruption, Nigger) is the latin for black. But it is so much more than that. A car can be black, but only man can be Negro (at least in English).

Of course I could have used Africanus, but like African it doesn’t really mean anything. An Egyptian or an Afrikaner can be African, but they are not the same as me. Negro is not a nationality, it transcends that. Negroid is a race. The only real comparison is Chinese. Someone who is Chinese can be from China, but equally they can be from anywhere in the world. From Malaysia to America, the Chinese are everywhere, the most populous race on earth and that one word, Chinese instantly defines them whilst also conveying the vast heritage and culture that makes them who they are.

Equally Negro does the same for blacks, the Negroid race is the oldest on earth. It is unique and everyone else is descended from it. I am proud to be a part of it.