Warning; hot topic: Is the word negro racist?

[Billy Underdog]

This is NOT about that word with an I and two G's, with it's connotations it's without a doubt racist.

I'm talking about a word in the latin languages (southern Europe, not South America) which simply means black. So if it's ok to say "a black person", where's the difference in using negro?
There's a brand of red wine called Cato Negro (Black Cat). Is that racist? There's also certain colour schemes for car varnishes that contain the word negro.

I'm asking 'cause there's a debate on the subject going on in Norway at the moment, with anti-racists on both sides. I'm an anti-racist, but i just don't see the harm in using that word. I think "svarting" (roughly translated to "blackie") is alot worse, 'cause then it become a word with negative connotations again.

Edit: it would be great if we'd had a black member who could chime in with his/her point of view.

[Zzzptm]

In Spanish, it's no better or worse than "black" in English. But if you're speaking English in the USA, it can have some emotional charge to it if not used in the proper context. It can have the same emotional potential as "colored", as it was used in segregation.

[Billy Underdog]

I get that, but there's other countries in the world than USA...

I don't see "a person of colour" as bad either, in fact i think it's better than black. It can also be used to describe dark-skinned persons who's not black.

[Tyr66]

In France, despite our Latin roots, the word négro is racist and punishable by imprisonment. This is the literal translation of the word with an i and two g. The word noir, commonly used a decade ago has  now a racist connotation. The dark-colored people call themselves Blacks, the cool American side no doubt, but they close themselves up by their communitarian languages.
From a scientific point of view, the term negroïd was used to refer to this ethnic group. Not sure this is the case today for the same reasons.

[Billy Underdog]

I find that pretty surprising as it's part of your language. I take it that it only apply to when being used about people and not describing things with the colour black? What do you call a black dog, f.ex?

In general there's alot of French politics that's confusing, but you do have a strange history regarding race, esp. due to having colonized Algeria, and the immigration connected to it. That's not meant as criticism, it's simply an observation with a wish to understand.

From a scientific point of view, the term negroïd was used to refer to this ethnic group. Not sure this is the case today for the same reasons.

Now, THAT's certainly an outdated term, it was used in the 18th century. Just like caucasian (as if white people stems from Caucasus) and mongoloid, which was actually a term for Asians before it came to mean a person with Downs (because apparently all Asians stems from Mongolia).
The so-called "three great races"...

[Thelemech]

I have had a few Black friends throughout my 42 years, and I can assure that to all the ones that responded to this as query were adamant that Negro was a racist term. Now I did not talk about race with most of these Black friends, but those that I did felt that and of course Ni***** were something that whites in particular used in a racist way.

[Tyr66]

I find that pretty surprising as it's part of your language. I take it that it only apply to when being used about people and not describing things with the colour black? What do you call a black dog, f.ex?

In general there's alot of French politics that's confusing, but you do have a strange history regarding race, esp. due to having colonized Algeria, and the immigration connected to it. That's not meant as criticism, it's simply an observation with a wish to understand.

From a scientific point of view, the term negroïd was used to refer to this ethnic group. Not sure this is the case today for the same reasons.

Now, THAT's certainly an outdated term, it was used in the 18th century. Just like caucasian (as if white people stems from Caucasus) and mongoloid, which was actually a term for Asians before it came to mean a person with Downs (because apparently all Asians stems from Mongolia).
The so-called "three great races"...

Exactly. the "noir" word is problematic only in the case of person description. No problem with a dog (chien noir ou chienne noire for a female), shoes or hair.
If you describe to someone on the street by saying about another one  "Tu as vu le noir?" (D'you see this black man?) It is badly perceived today for some years.If you say "tu as vu le black ?" No problem at all.

Our story isn't so strange  but it's true that our relationship with Algeria for example or more generally Maghreb is complicated by the immigration that has resulted. But it's a very divisive and sensitive debate here. Toulouse, Charlie, Le Bataclan, Nice and the priest who was slaughtered in his church the same year did not arrange anything ...
Don't forget the strong French presence in Black Africa as well . Many reactions have emerged for some time to denounce slavery and the mistreatment of local populations. Request for official apology, compensations,  same for the Harkis people of Algeria etc ... all those things.

Some of french movies of the '70s and' 80s are beginning to be censored by the tv programs because of the way to underestimate and belittle the colonized people at the time.
Although I rubbed them in the stores when I was young, some old well-known commercials are now banned.
one the most famous here :
http://www1.rfi.fr/actufr/images/074/banania200.jpg
Very good chocolate drink by the way ! but the reaction is obvious and justified.

[Typhon]

In the states it seems like "negro" was replaced by the word "black" over time.  I personally never knew anyone who objected to it.  I thought they were interchangeable.

[Vyn]

I get that, but there's other countries in the world than USA...

There's also more than one mindset in the USA itself. The place is geographically and culturally diverse.

In some areas, the word negro is acceptable across the board. In other areas it is wholly negative.

Do I think it is racist? More specifically, do I think the term "negro" by itself, without context, conjures up images of oppression, divisiveness, and dehumanization? No.

I think there are people who USE it that way, and there are people who TAKE it that way.   

[Typhon]

I get that, but there's other countries in the world than USA...

There's also more than one mindset in the USA itself. The place is geographically and culturally diverse.

In some areas, the word negro is acceptable across the board. In other areas it is wholly negative.

Do I think it is racist? More specifically, do I think the term "negro" by itself, without context, conjures up images of oppression, divisiveness, and dehumanization? No.

I think there are people who USE it that way, and there are people who TAKE it that way.

Agree across the board, here.  Vyn and I live 1500 miles apart, by the way.

[Billy Underdog]

I get that, but there's other countries in the world than USA...

There's also more than one mindset in the USA itself. The place is geographically and culturally diverse.

Ofcourse, i know that. Was just replying to this remark by Dozy:

But if you're speaking English in the USA, it can have some emotional charge to it if not used in the proper context.

I got a thing about demanding giving words their original meaning back. Like idiot, which doesn't mean a stupid person, but someone who's so preoccupied by himself he doesn't pay attention to society and politics.