The capitalization of “Black” has been a topic of much debate recently. But why is this? And should you write “Black” with a capital “B” in racial or ethnic contexts? Or is it better to stick to “black” in your writing? Let’s take a look.
For many years now, campaigners and experts have argued that we should capitalize “Black” when referring to people or cultures from Africa or the wider African diaspora. But the issue has only recently become mainstream, with various style guides and publishers changing policy.
This trend to capitalize “Black” is related to the wider push towards social justice for Black people and the Black Lives Matter movement, especially in the USA. In this context, capitalizing “Black” helps us to:
In the first case, we capitalize “Black” to recognize its use to refer to a large social group, just as we have long done for “Asian” or “Hispanic.” And while other, narrower terms exist (e.g., African American in the USA), “Black” is inclusive of a wide range of related ethnicities and cultures across the globe.
The issue of ambiguity, meanwhile, is a practical one. For instance, if we write “black hair,” it isn’t necessarily clear whether we mean “hair that is the color black” or “hair of a type associated with people from the African diaspora.” But by capitalizing “Black” when referring to race, ethnicity or culture, we can immediately remove this ambiguity.
Thus, there are clear benefits to writing “Black” with a capital “B” like this when you’re referring to Black people, cultures, or communities.
This leads to another question: If we capitalize “Black” when referring to race, should we do the same for “White”? Or should we stick to “white”?
This is a tricky question, with different people and style guides recommending different approaches. Some publishers are cautious about capitalizing “White” as this has long been associated with white supremacists. For instance, the Columbia Journalism Review has said:
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
[W]e capitalize “Black,” and not “white,” when referring to groups in racial, ethnic, or cultural terms. For many people, “Black” reflects a shared sense of identity and community. “White” carries a different set of meanings; capitalizing the word in this context risks following the lead of white supremacists.
Others, like the New York Times, claim that “white” does not capture a shared cultural identity like “Black,” so it does not warrant capitalization.
The APA, though, suggests capitalizing both “Black” and “White” when referring to racial and ethnic groups. And this clarity and consistency has definite merits, especially in academic writing.
Thus, the best approach may depend on what you are writing. If capitalizing “White” will help ensure clarity, or if your style guide suggests doing so, this is fine. But keep in mind that “White” with a capital “W” has negative associations for some, so you may want to think about your readers as well.
In line with current conventions, we suggest:
This will help ensure your writing is inclusive, acknowledging “Black” as an identity that is importantly distinct from our other uses of “black” in English.
However you capitalize “Black” and “White,” though, make sure to be consistent! And if you’d like any help, we have proofreaders available 24/7.
Δ
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
3-minute read
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...
No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...