Terminology advice needed

Shamrockgreen · Mar 1, 2009

So I have a bit part for a character that is black, however I have seen in some books where now they are using African American....

Should this terminology now be considered correct or is it the author being politically correct. My friends who are of African descent do not call themselves African American, except for my lovely friend Lola who calls herself "brown."

Comments? Do you get rejections because you are not PC? I am so not PC.

Williebee · Mar 1, 2009

I'm thinking that, when you reach that point? The editor will make their own call for you. Write on!

BookStop · Mar 1, 2009

Is pointing out the color of his skin important?

qwerty · Mar 2, 2009

I have a black character in one of my novels and I simply say he is black. An agent who wanted a re-write on a scene referred to it as the scene with the black family and the white family, so she obviously didn't have a problem with either of them being called exactly what they are, and didn't suggest they should be called anything else.

If Political Correctness takes over, so many words will be taboo and fiction is going to become stilted and unnatural. And a whole stack of existing books will have to be removed from shelves in case they offend.

para · Mar 2, 2009

Personally I'd stick with black. If your editor has a problem with it they'll let you know.

Susan Gable · Mar 2, 2009

It depends on what POV you're in. As far as I'm concerned, the term you use should be the term that would be used by the POV character whose head you're in.

Susan G.

Dee Carney · Mar 2, 2009

"African American" is a subset of "black". "Black" encompasses Caribbean American, black Hispanics, etc. They are not synonymous, in other words.

As others have suggested, write what fits. You get rejections for a bad story. Not for being un-PC.

Williebee · Mar 2, 2009

It depends on what POV you're in. As far as I'm concerned, the term you use should be the term that would be used by the POV character whose head you're in.

And there we have the "craft" point. Thanks, Miss Susan!

Shamrockgreen · Mar 3, 2009

Thank you all for your advice...I will stick with what I know and character POV.

Terminology advice needed

Shamrockgreen

A day on the skeet range helps the frustration

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

BookStop

qwerty

exiled Brit

para

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Dee Carney

Bringing sexy back

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

Shamrockgreen

A day on the skeet range helps the frustration