Yes, it is true that I am a bit slow on the uptake at times, even in matters relating to the craft I pursued for 30-plus years, almost all of them with great joy and vigor.
It is with that intro that I intend to reveal that I finally understand why media organizations are capitalizing the “B” in “Black” when referring to people.
It started with The Associated Press changing its style. The AP explained it this way: APās style is now to capitalize BlackĀ in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying an essential and shared sense of history, identity and community among people who identify as Black, includingĀ those in theĀ African diaspora and within Africa. The lowercase black is a color, not a person.Ā AP style will continue to lowercase the term white in racial, ethnic and cultural senses.
Explaining AP style on Black and white | AP News
The light bulb came on. What the AP and other organizations are saying is that Black people — those of the African diaspora — have little if any knowledge of their specific heritage. So, the term Black is used as an ethnic reference the way, say, I use the term “Greek” to define my own ethnic heritage.
I get it. I just thought I would share the realization that finally dawned on me and to declare that from this moment forward, High Plains Blogger is going to adopt that style forever.