Why are white people lower case, and Black people upper case?

[Metaphor]

Many (all?) of the 'social justice'-type websites I visit always capitalise the 'B' in 'Black' (when referring to people), but never capitalise the 'w' in 'white' (when referring to privilege or people). On diversityinc's website, the author even explains about some correspondence:

(Note: The person commenting used a lower case b for Black; we use an upper case B.)

On feministing (I selected a short piece but almost any article on the site will do), we learn that Black women are more than twice as likely as white women to live in poverty after retirement.

Obviously, there seems to be something I'm missing. Why the unequal treatment?

 

[Bronzeage]

I imagine it is an extension of the common practice of capitalizing racial group labels, most of which are derived from a proper noun, e.g. Hispanic, Asian, European, etc. Caucasian and Aryan are always capitalized. Another problem is that "white" is not really a race. We just use it as a convenient label for light skinned people who don't fit into some other category.

 

[jladam]

Why are white people lower case, and Black people upper case?

Because that's the way you wrote it.

Next!

 

[Metaphor]

I imagine it is an extension of the common practice of capitalizing racial group labels, most of which are derived from a proper noun, e.g. Hispanic, Asian, European, etc. Caucasian and Aryan are always capitalized. Another problem is that "white" is not really a race. We just use it as a convenient label for light skinned people who don't fit into some other category.

I can understand why racial/ethnic groupings like "Latina/o" are capitalised, but if "white" is not really a race, then surely neither is "black"?

 

[AthenaAwakened]

When referring to African American people, the word "Black" is capitalized. The reason for this is that in this case, "Black" refers to a nationality or ethnic group, just like "Hispanic," "Romanian," or "Apache." The word "white," when used to refer to "Caucasians" need not be capitalized, since "whites" are not a nationality or ethnic group ("whites" can be American, Mexican, Iraqi, or whatever). When "black" is used to refer to a skin tone, or to the black race in general (all the black people in the world), it is not capitalized, since, just like "white," it does not refer to a nationality or ethnic group, and the imaginary colors of so-called "races" are not capitalized. (Optional alternate rule: Capitalize both "Black" and "White" whenever referring to ethnic backgrounds.)

http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl1311/writingrules.htm

 

[Metaphor]

When referring to African American people, the word "Black" is capitalized. The reason for this is that in this case, "Black" refers to a nationality or ethnic group, just like "Hispanic," "Romanian," or "Apache." The word "white," when used to refer to "Caucasians" need not be capitalized, since "whites" are not a nationality or ethnic group ("whites" can be American, Mexican, Iraqi, or whatever). When "black" is used to refer to a skin tone, or to the black race in general (all the black people in the world), it is not capitalized, since, just like "white," it does not refer to a nationality or ethnic group, and the imaginary colors of so-called "races" are not capitalized. (Optional alternate rule: Capitalize both "Black" and "White" whenever referring to ethnic backgrounds.)

http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl1311/writingrules.htm

The people at feministing and diversityinc certainly don't follow those rules, even though both websites are international in nature (and therefore black people in general are discussed, but 'black' is always capitalised, even when they are ostensibly referring to black people and not African Americans.).

(Also, whoever wrote that guide should have written 'imagined' or 'putative' colors, rather than 'imaginary'. White, black, yellow, red, and brown are not imaginary.)

 

[AthenaAwakened]

When referring to African American people, the word "Black" is capitalized. The reason for this is that in this case, "Black" refers to a nationality or ethnic group, just like "Hispanic," "Romanian," or "Apache." The word "white," when used to refer to "Caucasians" need not be capitalized, since "whites" are not a nationality or ethnic group ("whites" can be American, Mexican, Iraqi, or whatever). When "black" is used to refer to a skin tone, or to the black race in general (all the black people in the world), it is not capitalized, since, just like "white," it does not refer to a nationality or ethnic group, and the imaginary colors of so-called "races" are not capitalized. (Optional alternate rule: Capitalize both "Black" and "White" whenever referring to ethnic backgrounds.)

http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl1311/writingrules.htm

The people at feministing and diversityinc certainly don't follow those rules, even though both websites are international in nature (and therefore black people in general are discussed, but 'black' is always capitalised, even when they are ostensibly referring to black people and not African Americans.).

(Also, whoever wrote that guide should have written 'imagined' or 'putative' colors, rather than 'imaginary'. White, black, yellow, red, and brown are not imaginary.)

Look, you said you wanted to know why.

THAT'S the rule. THAT'S why.

If someone is breaking the rule, take it up with them.

 

[Metaphor]

The people at feministing and diversityinc certainly don't follow those rules, even though both websites are international in nature (and therefore black people in general are discussed, but 'black' is always capitalised, even when they are ostensibly referring to black people and not African Americans.).

(Also, whoever wrote that guide should have written 'imagined' or 'putative' colors, rather than 'imaginary'. White, black, yellow, red, and brown are not imaginary.)

Look, you said you wanted to know why.

THAT'S the rule. THAT'S why.

If someone is breaking the rule, take it up with them.

I'm sorry; I didn't mean to imply that you should defend them.

 

[Bronzeage]

I imagine it is an extension of the common practice of capitalizing racial group labels, most of which are derived from a proper noun, e.g. Hispanic, Asian, European, etc. Caucasian and Aryan are always capitalized. Another problem is that "white" is not really a race. We just use it as a convenient label for light skinned people who don't fit into some other category.

I can understand why racial/ethnic groupings like "Latina/o" are capitalised, but if "white" is not really a race, then surely neither is "black"?

Yeah, but that's the way it's done.

You asked why and I gave you a reasonable and plausible answer. If you have a particular argument that white should be spelled with an upper case w, or Black should spelled with a lower case b, trot it out and show it to us.

For myself, I fail to see any significance in the difference.

 

[Angry Floof]

When referring to African American people, the word "Black" is capitalized. The reason for this is that in this case, "Black" refers to a nationality or ethnic group, just like "Hispanic," "Romanian," or "Apache." The word "white," when used to refer to "Caucasians" need not be capitalized, since "whites" are not a nationality or ethnic group ("whites" can be American, Mexican, Iraqi, or whatever). When "black" is used to refer to a skin tone, or to the black race in general (all the black people in the world), it is not capitalized, since, just like "white," it does not refer to a nationality or ethnic group, and the imaginary colors of so-called "races" are not capitalized. (Optional alternate rule: Capitalize both "Black" and "White" whenever referring to ethnic backgrounds.)

http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl1311/writingrules.htm

The people at feministing and diversityinc certainly don't follow those rules, even though both websites are international in nature (and therefore black people in general are discussed, but 'black' is always capitalised, even when they are ostensibly referring to black people and not African Americans.).

(Also, whoever wrote that guide should have written 'imagined' or 'putative' colors, rather than 'imaginary'. White, black, yellow, red, and brown are not imaginary.)

When I see people misusing initial caps like that, I tend to ignore it. Most people are not familiar with the finer details of these kinds of writing rules. For example, Internet is initial capped (because there's only one of its kind in existence), but intranet is not (there's a bajillion of those).

As a tech writer and editor of nearly 20 years, I don't bother with such things unless I'm paid to, or unless the mistake is funny (think Teabaggers and their signs).

But it doesn't seem like you're in a frustrated Grammar Nazi funk, but object to an ideology. Every ideological group uses language in stupid, disingenuous ways. Why buy into this one?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

So, as a White person, is this another way that I'm being oppressed or not? It's tough to keep track of all the various ways the world is against me these days.

 

[Duke Leto]

Jesus Fucking Christ, does the goddamn Ku Klux Klan have the equivalent of a #GamerGate movement that's targeted this forum?

Why are all the fucking Racists crawling out of the fucking woodwork?

 

[Metaphor]

I can understand why racial/ethnic groupings like "Latina/o" are capitalised, but if "white" is not really a race, then surely neither is "black"?

Yeah, but that's the way it's done.

You asked why and I gave you a reasonable and plausible answer. If you have a particular argument that white should be spelled with an upper case w, or Black should spelled with a lower case b, trot it out and show it to us.

For myself, I fail to see any significance in the difference.

Huh? My argument is not that 'white' should be upper case, or 'black' should be lower case. My argument is that if you capitalise 'Black', you ought also to be capitalising 'White'. Or, you capitalise neither.

To capitalise one and not the other is inconsistent. The motives for this inconsistency I could only guess at.

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Jesus Fucking Christ, does the goddamn Ku Klux Klan have the equivalent of a #GamerGate movement that's targeted this forum?

Why are all the fucking Racists crawling out of the fucking woodwork?

What?

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I imagine it is an extension of the common practice of capitalizing racial group labels, most of which are derived from a proper noun, e.g. Hispanic, Asian, European, etc. Caucasian and Aryan are always capitalized. Another problem is that "white" is not really a race. We just use it as a convenient label for light skinned people who don't fit into some other category.

Exactly. You capitalize proper names. In this context, "Black" is a proper name, "white" is not.

 

[Metaphor]

When I see people misusing initial caps like that, I tend to ignore it. Most people are not familiar with the finer details of these kinds of writing rules. For example, Internet is initial capped (because there's only one of its kind in existence), but intranet is not (there's a bajillion of those).

The 43rd President of the United States of America proves you wrong.

Information is moving—you know, nightly news is one way, of course, but it's also moving through the blogosphere and through the Internets.

But it doesn't seem like you're in a frustrated Grammar Nazi funk, but object to an ideology. Every ideological group uses language in stupid, disingenuous ways. Why buy into this one?

Actually, although I object to much of the reasoning, arguments, and gross misuse and abuse of data and statistics contained in many articles on those websites and other similar ones, I'm also a 'grammar Nazi' too.

But it does seem to me that the consistent capitalisation of 'Black' and the non-capitalisation of 'white' on websites of the kind is a deliberate device to disrespect white people and experiences.

 

[Derec]

Many (all?) of the 'social justice'-type websites I visit always capitalise the 'B' in 'Black' (when referring to people), but never capitalise the 'w' in 'white' (when referring to privilege or people). On diversityinc's website, the author even explains about some correspondence:

(Note: The person commenting used a lower case b for Black; we use an upper case B.)

On feministing (I selected a short piece but almost any article on the site will do), we learn that Black women are more than twice as likely as white women to live in poverty after retirement.

Obviously, there seems to be something I'm missing. Why the unequal treatment?

- - - Updated - - -

THAT'S the rule. THAT'S why.

Is that kind of like that made up rule that only Whites can be racist, but Blacks can't, not even in jurisdictions where they are majority and have all the political power (like Atlanta, GA)?

- - - Updated - - -

Huh? My argument is not that 'white' should be upper case, or 'black' should be lower case. My argument is that if you capitalise 'Black', you ought also to be capitalising 'White'. Or, you capitalise neither.

But according to SJW Newspeak being in favor of equal treatment is "racist".

 

[Metaphor]

So, as a White person, is this another way that I'm being oppressed or not? It's tough to keep track of all the various ways the world is against me these days.

I wouldn't call it 'oppression', no. I don't think women were oppressed when instructional manuals (and almost everything else) referred to generic people as 'he', but doing so did exclude and diminish women and girls, and it's a good thing more inclusive language is now used.

So, I don't think white people are 'oppressed' by capitalisation practices that elevate (for want of a better word) blacks over whites, but it's a deliberate inequality and it seems exclusionary to me.

 

[Derec]

Exactly. You capitalize proper names. In this context, "Black" is a proper name, "white" is not.

Black is a proper name when it comes to Lewis Black or Edmund Blackadder but how is "black" as an ethnic/racial descriptor any more a proper name than "white"?

 

[Bronzeage]

So, as a White person, is this another way that I'm being oppressed or not? It's tough to keep track of all the various ways the world is against me these days.

I wouldn't call it 'oppression', no. I don't think women were oppressed when instructional manuals (and almost everything else) referred to generic people as 'he', but doing so did exclude and diminish women and girls, and it's a good thing more inclusive language is now used.

So, I don't think white people are 'oppressed' by capitalisation practices that elevate (for want of a better word) blacks over whites, but it's a deliberate inequality and it seems exclusionary to me.

It's not exclusionary. It's just a distraction from the real problems of the world. It's sort of like a lactose intolerant person who complains someone else got two scoops of ice cream and they got only one.

 

[bilby]

Jesus Fucking Christ, does the goddamn Ku Klux Klan have the equivalent of a #GamerGate movement that's targeted this forum?

Why are all the fucking Racists racists crawling out of the fucking woodwork?

FTFY.