Black people? Coloured People? What is the correct term?

People. Color doesn't matter, it's who someone is on the outside. Being politcally correct : African American.

During the 50's and I suppose before, certainly for a while into the '60's, "colored" was the politically correct term. "Black" became the term of choice for quite a while after that. Now, I think its "persons of color" - go figure...

If you want to refer to a large group of people having black skin, then using the term 'black people' is appropriate, nothing wrong with that. It is not a racist term whatsoever down here, it is perfectly alright to use that. If you are talking about one black person, you can refer him with his name, like Obama, Micheal Jordan, Magic Johnson, Opral, Whitney Houston or Tiger Wood. No need to use other term.

I wonder, what do they call 'African-Americans' in places other than America? I've never heard 'African-Englishmen'- or 'African-British'-like Freema Agyeman (Companion of the Tenth DOCTOR WHO Doctor) or Sir James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader), or 'African-Frenchman' or 'African-German' or 'African'-anything else but American. (All those other ones make it sound like the person of whatever country moved to Africa.) And I wonder what they call Whites in Africa: 'European'-whatever-country-people? 'Antarctic'-? 'Australian'-?

I just want to know in what context do you ever need to talk about a persons ethnic background..Unless you are giving a description to someone how/wny should it matter.... If am a African American, or a Caucasian, or an Indian does it really matter...but I can tell you were are all coloured.. I think that was your word...weather its a light color or dark color...all different colors,,,

I don't mind being called white - although in fact I am more pinkish, so I don't see why a black person should object to be called black - even if he is brownish. I've been called 'a white woman' by a black woman who I thought was my friend and it was not in a pleasant context. I did not like that. So I guess it depends on the context. Personally I do not call anyone black, it is no more specific than calling someone 'white'. When I speak of someone from another country I call them French or German of Dutch, so when I speak of someone from Africa I would describe them as Ghananian,Nigerian,Somalian - whatever applied. I think most people are happy with that.

Not coloured, that is a term used when they used to have slaves and somewhat after that for awhile. I think the nicest term would be African American but we are always called white so I don't see a problem with black, either. But if you can just use the term person or human and the like it would be even better for everyone, no matter what the race.

I don't think it is necessary to put that adjective before the word. They should be called by their nationality and not for any other name. Why do we have to do that? Well, that is just a very personal opinion.

It is a very delicate topic. I heard from other nationalities, it is better to call them black people and nothing else. That's what they said.