negro

Negro is a historical term that was widely used in English to refer to people of African descent. The word derives from the Spanish and Portuguese negro, itself from the Latin niger meaning black. It began to appear in English in the 16th or 17th century and was used across many English-speaking societies to describe broad populations as well as individuals.

In the United States, the term was used in both neutral descriptions and formal titles, but from the mid-20th century its acceptability declined. It became associated with segregation, discrimination, and racial hierarchy, leading many style guides and institutions to drop it in favor of terms such as Black or African American. The decline varied by region and context; in parts of the Americas, the term persisted longer in official names and in older literature.

The term also appears in historical or cultural contexts, such as the Negro Leagues (African American baseball leagues active from the 1920s to the 1950s), Negro spirituals (religious songs created by enslaved peoples and their descendants), and the Negro National Anthem in some references to Lift Every Voice and Sing. Today, usage is generally restricted to historical discussion, scholarly works on race relations, or when quoting or describing historical documents.

Some groups may still use the term in self-identification within certain communities or among older generations, but in contemporary public discourse it is widely regarded as outdated and potentially offensive in many contexts. In non-English-speaking settings, the word may appear in historical texts or in color descriptions, but its racial usage remains sensitive and context-dependent.