Black with a capital B.

Black with a capital B 

(Black NOT b̶l̶a̶c̶k̶) 

Black with a capital B.

Black with a capital B.

Black with a capital B.

On This The First Day Of #BlackHistoryMonth❤️🖤💚 — I've Decided That Now Is Finally The Time To Address An Issue That Has Been Bothering Me For YEARS... 

The word "BLACK"should ALWAYS be capitalized when race is being discussed. No other group is disrespected in this way — not being referred to as a genuine entity or proper noun/adjective (a specific group of people/the descriptor of a specific group of people). Examples: Asian (Race). Caucasian/European (Race) [white is a description and a social construct, NOT a race, FYI, and should not be capitalized]. Latino (Ethnic Group) [the word 'brown' is also a descriptor and NOT a race and should not be capitalized as it can refer to a multitude of non-specific ethnic groups — i.e.: Indian, Indigenous/Native, Latino (Mexican, Brazilian, Puerto Rican, etc.), Arab/Persian, Mixed, etc., and even Black and Asian people].

As most of us (Blacks) are of mixed heritage in this country/continent/hemisphere (North, Central and South America) whether by choice or by force, the term 'Black' includes any and everyone who is a descendant of the African Diaspora in this country and the world at large. The term 'African-American' is an incredibly limiting description of some Blacks in America as an ethnic group, and NOT as a race. As such, we are not truly 'African-American' (capitalized as it should be). We are NOT even all American. We are Black AND American — a completely different and varied cultural experience extending from Afro-Latino to Creole to West Indian to Aboriginal to Melanesians and the like from islands near Australia and in the South Pacific (who are neither African or American but who are indeed Black) to the children of African Immigrants and, finally, to the diluted and diverse descendants of Black African men and women who were enslaved and everything in between (please note how all of those sub-groups are capitalized). "Black", in ethnicity, race and culture, is both a singular entity and a polylith describing a multitude of people sharing a common ancestry. Simply stated, the term Black is all inclusive.

Furthermore, Africa is a CONTINENT and not a country (with more countries and languages, cultures and diversity than any other continent in the WORLD). It is the continent that seeded all others (which is why there are still Black people on remote islands that are not technically African going back tens of thousands of years). Sadly, we don't have the privilege of knowing to which countries, tribes, etc., we trace our origins beyond random and often inaccurate DNA tests (through no fault of ours). Thus, the term "African-American" is not only an inaccurate oversimplification; it is just plain LAZY.

Please strongly consider revising your spelling of the word "Black" as a proper noun EVERY time you use it in any capacity in the future (proper nouns and adjectives are ALWAYS capitalized). Otherwise, any written point you are attempting to make is immediately nullified for many. The implication is to minimize us in step with American (and, world) history and it's consistent dehumanization of us through systematic racism in every facet of our society. It is not acceptable. It reads as a microagression from whites and blatant ignorance from POC. It is not a small thing. And, yes, it matters! 

I am Black: an ethnic group and sub-genre of the African continent with ancestors hailing from four others — a multi-ethnic, multiracial, American ethnic group with it's own unique culture AND part of the African Diaspora and the Black race.

I am NOT black. I AM Black. 🖤✊🏽