I'm black, grew up in the Caribbean, now living in the UK and I like to be referred to as the Caribbean Queen black

I consider myself to be Nigerian, specifically, or Black generally. I don’t really identify with any other terms.

I don't relate to any of those terms.
No family overeas.
All UK born here, going back generations, Black.

I identify as Black.

I call my daughter Mixed Ethnicity - as both her parent are mixed ethnicity even though we identify as black and white.

I am black. I was born in England, parents are from The Caribbean. Just asked my children who also have a white British parent and they call themselves mixed (secondary school age).

I have always found ‘POC’ to only be used in either academic discourse or by white people. I don’t know anyone who identifies in that way (or, shudder, as ‘BAME’). So, this has been interesting for me to read, as well. Thanks, OP.

I'm Nigerian and British. I don't like the term Black cos I'm not black, my skin colour isn't black. I've never met anyone with "black" skin. I question why the word black in the midst of all the negativity associated with the darkest colour when the skin colour is actually brown. There're Africans with very light skin and also albinism, they're Africans nothing black in their colour either.

I much prefer Nigerian then African. My DH is English and I think I'm fine with our children being identified as mixed race but Nigerian English would be more appropriate.

I think "POC" many years ago had roots in the US, in an attempt to draw different groups together politically.

I agree with PP, I just see it now used by white people to describe Heinz 57 varieties of "others". (Or it turns up on MN often in the weekly goady race thread.)

BAME these days is meh also. But then I worked with a lot of white men years ago, who thought referring to " Ethnics" was a step forward from using the N word.
(Tbh it probably was at the time )

I refer to myself as Black; Black British / Caribbean in the UK; and Black in Germany where I live for a considerable part of the year. I am called African (fine) in Germany, and Coloured (not okay) over here. Was the 'black Brit' (Anglaise Noire) in France. My kids are black in the UK (fine) and annoyingly Jamaican Germans or dark skinned in Germany. The country is about a century behind when it comes to race relations, and if you get annoyed specific about how you should be considered, then they say that you need thicker skin

Delectable Interesting view, it's made me reflect a bit. I'm presuming that you are younger than I, and the world is changing.

Given that there is still discrimination and oppression of people across the world based purely on the colour of their skin, are you saying that the use of the word " Black", in a political sense, should no longer be used?

If so, what do you say instead?

We're in Germany and I am driven crazy by the racism - not towards me (I am white, sorry for invading space), but my family. My now Ex calls himself coloured which equally drove me crazy but it's his right I guess.
All the Black Britons I know are exactly that, Black Britons. My US best friend (white) expects them to use POC but they absolutely will not. Why should they?

Alone I have an aunt (white) in US uses POC.
But, yeah, we are Black British.( I usually say English)
I knew a very elderly man who lived in Manchester, who insisted on being referred to as "coloured". That was way back in the 1980's. He thought being called Black was rude and "coloured " was more polite! Apartheid didn't end in S.A. till much later. I respected his right to call himself whatever he wanted, but my mind used to really boggle with it.

@EchoNan I'm mid 40s so if you're older you're right.
I don't think it's an age thing. I grew up in Nigeria and proudly describe myself by my tribe "Yoruba". Nigerians can identify another Nigerian's tribe by observing phenotypes but it's more difficult for non Nigerians. Outside Nigeria I identify as Nigerian to those not familiar with Nigerian tribes. Years ago in forms that had black as the only suitable option I'll draw a line across and write African or Nigerian. Now the forms say Black African so I tick that.

The Asian continent also has people with same colour skin tone as Africans and peoples of African origin.

@Delectable. Ah, thanks for taking the time to explain to me. I understand what you are saying, you are proud Yoruba first and foremost.
(I'm sixties) But not too old to learn

I don't like my children being referred to as BAME, it feels like they might as well just be called Not White.

Also not keen on mixed race, they aren't part human part Martian. But that seems to be the most acceptable at the moment. My boys are White British/Indian mixed.

I'm really interested to see the responses here.

@Alonelonelylonersbadidea my experience is that by saying to a German that I am from the UK born and bred and second born generation, results with an immediate response that I can't be due to not being white. I can't be bothered to explain to each new person that I meet that there are indeed black people born in the uk. So I leave it and let them call me the African lady. Without me in their workspace/ clubs/ schools/village, they daren't call themselves multicultural or diverse. Now if I could only get them to stop staring, yes, people of two different heritages can be married and have a family and will not self combust. And no, not every black woman around the world is planning to marry a German most of us move there kicking and screaming and negotiating heavily with our managers

People of colour sounds over the top and Ethnic minority sounds derogatory personally.

One of my parents are mixed race. I identify as black.

[quote Delectable]@EchoNan I'm mid 40s so if you're older you're right.
I don't think it's an age thing. I grew up in Nigeria and proudly describe myself by my tribe "Yoruba". Nigerians can identify another Nigerian's tribe by observing phenotypes but it's more difficult for non Nigerians. Outside Nigeria I identify as Nigerian to those not familiar with Nigerian tribes. Years ago in forms that had black as the only suitable option I'll draw a line across and write African or Nigerian. Now the forms say Black African so I tick that.

The Asian continent also has people with same colour skin tone as Africans and peoples of African origin.[/quote]
Agree @Delectable, that would be a good title for discussion: why people of darker skin tones in Asia do not self identify as black, despite being politically considered as such.
This thread may be the pivotal cog that makes other points of interest arise.

@EchoNan you would've noticed a lot of change in the nuances of describing race and ethnicities. Experiences does have a big role in it. Lovely to meet you.

Lovely to meet you too**@Delectable**
Yes, lots of changes, but often same old rubbish, different words!

I've just been reading your very sound dating advice! You are a woman who knows her own mind, respect to you! I've been married over 40 years, I hope that you are as happy, as I have been.
( Your father sounds a very wise and loving man.)

My husband is mixed race with one white/one black parent. He switches between identifying as black or mixed race depending on the situation. For example he is regarded as the "black cousin" when we visit his white family and when we visit black family he's the "light skin" or "mixed cousin". I'm white - apologies for taking up space here but I do enjoy learning from this kind of discourse - and have only really been able to understand the vast differences in cultural and racial identity while I've been with my husband and seen first hand the intricacies of a "non white" heritage (apologies if that's not the right wording but I can't think of another way to put it). A lot of the misrepresentation in society is down to a grave lack of true understanding, education and cultural awareness of different ethnicities and this makes it impossible to cultivate a truly inclusive and representational narrative. I agree that phrases such as "POC" and "BAME" aren't appropriate because they overlook so much and still expect you to elaborate on what kind of "not from here" you are.

I prefer just Caribbean because I feel an affinity to the people of the Caribbean regardless of their skin colour or ancestry. I only tick Black Caribbean because that's what the box saya and I get why it's an important distinction in the UK. But if there isn't a box I just write Caribbean.

@TeaAddict235 oh my word! Exactly this. My colleague just the other day commented on one of the black players on the German team having a German name. She laughed and said, 'can you imagine?' I replied that yes I can, he must be German- which is obvious as he's on the German national team. Her reply, 'but he's black!'. I said he's probably more German than you. Weren't you and your parents born in Poland???
It makes me want to scream.
My daughter really struggles in school and hears the N word on a daily basis. One day I fear she may just lose her shit and walk out.