Professor Kanigel Discusses News Organizations' Recent Decision to Capitalize 'B' in 'Black'

Tuesday, September 08, 2020

HUFFINGTON POST -- Writers of color and alternative style books have long stressed the need for capitalizing Black. Years before the Associated Press decision, The Diversity Style Guide ― which is produced by San Francisco State University Journalism Professor Rachele Kanigel in consultation with some 50 journalists and experts ― recommended capitalizing Black.

“It’s true that Black, unlike African American, Asian American and Italian, is not derived from a proper noun,” she told HuffPost. “But it is an identity and to lowercase it robs Black people of a certain dignity.”

“The widespread move by media organizations, universities and other institutions to capitalize Black restores this dignity to Black Americans, who have had so much taken from them for so many generations,” Kanigel said.

Feed