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Just when African Americans appeared to have settled into accepting the fact that Black is beautiful, here comes some ill inspired misdirected re-examination of what-shall-we- call-ourselves-now movement.  John Ridley
Who are these people intent on denying, Black as a color designation, or African American as our geographical heritage? These folk have apparently been waiting quietly and patiently for quite a while to get “Colored” back in and “Black and African American” out. Good try John but it ain’t gonna work.
The first I heard of this “people of color” thing being promoted was soon after the firing of Imus by MSNBC, during the musical chairs auditions to fill the Imus time slot. Joe Scarborough, former Florida Republican Congressman and now a cable TV talk show host, was one of the candidates. After the all White boys club “Imus in the Morning” show’s racial controversy that ended in Imus’ dismissal, no replacement on MSNBC would be without an obligatory Black face. Enter John Ridley.
John Ridley was one in a parade of African Americans who gained exposure during Imus’ “Nappy headed Ho’s “ week, in the successful campaign calling for Imus’ head. It worked out pretty well for John, because Joe Scarborough, who seems to have won the tryouts for Imus’ slot, included Ridley as a member of his posse.
In his first contribution bringing White folks current on what’s happening with African Americans, Ridley informed Joe and the audience on the latest politically correct way to refer to Black people. He announced that no longer is African American or Black acceptable. The new label is “People of Color.”
During the Wimbledon tennis tournament I heard Billie Jean King referring to Althea Gibson being the first “Woman of Color” to win the coveted trophy. At that point it became clear this, “People of Color,” thing has legs.
Actually we’re all “People of Color.” All races can claim membership. White people are not really White and Black people are not truly Black. All people are of some color across the spectrum. Black or African American is far more specific and exclusive.
It’s scientifically accepted that people are broken down into racial groups, Caucasians are considered White and Negroid is considered Black. I for one don’t understand this effort by some  James Brown
Okay so there are far more important issues, like global warming and world hunger, but here’s the point: we’ve been here and moved on, and someone needs to call it before more people buy into this earlier reject. Ironically, the liberating and empowering acceptance of “Black” and “African American,” for reasons not explained by Ridley, is being rejected for a variation on a label long ago considered unacceptable. “Colored people ” is now being eased back in this thinly disguised “do over.” as “People of Color.”
According to Ridley, “Negro can only be used when referring to “Negro Spirituals.” Colored is reserved for the “C” in the NAACP.” Amazingly, in explaining the history and the appropriate use of the earlier labels no longer in use, he fails to see the contradiction
Black people around the world have always been accepting and proud of their color and heritage and have not gone through the same schizophrenic self-identity search as American Blacks. Granted, part of this is attributed to the history of having been slaves with little control on how we were being described by slave owners and the mainstream news media. However, as we gained more control over our existence we have had these periodic label movements over what to be called. It took us a while to arrive at accepting “Black” which has so many negative connotations in our society. However thanks to the civil rights movement and the God Father of soul “Black” was embraced, but apparently not by the “John Ridley’s” in America.
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