The Naming

Abstract

The cultural and political list for African Americans is long and complicated. Consider following for example: other persons, Africans, slaves, Blacks, people of color, Negro, negro, colored, Afro-American, African American, minority, risk, inner city residents, under represented, the underclass, and infamous nigger (Britt, 1999, pp. 58-59). This list of names also extends to publications and organizations: Journal of Negro History, Journal of Black Political Economy, The Black Scholar, Black Enterprise, Journal of Black Studies, The Western Journal of Black Studies, Ebony, Journal of African American Male Studies, National Council of Negro Women, National Council of African American Men, 100 Black Men, National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Association for Study of AfroAmerican Life and History, National Conference of Black Political Scientists, and Black Panther Party. Although this is not an exhaustive listing, it does exemplify importance of naming in context of struggle for liberation. A close look at U.S. Constitution reveals that it does not mention term slave. Nevertheless, slavery was in full bloom during writing of Constitution. Neither does Constitution mention Black or African. The Constitution refers to enslaved Africans as other persons or such persons. Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3, in part, reads as follows: