The Capitalisation of Black: Examining the Significance and Influence of Thomas Sowell and Style Guides in Defining Black Identity
AP Style Guide enacts the capitalisation of the word 'black' to symbolise a collective identity but states they will not do the same for the word 'white' due to a lack of shared history and culture.
Have you ever wondered why throughout the media and other cultural and political institutions the word ‘black’ is always capitalised when referencing the colour of an individual’s skin? The capitalisation of the word ‘black’ gained widespread usage in the 1960s and 1970s, during the Civil Rights Movement. It is rare now to see any text whereby it does not apply this rule. However, many have forgotten what it means and why it is applied.
The capitalisation was a way to signal solidarity, pride, and unity among African Americans as they fought for their rights and equality. The usage of ‘Black’ rather than ‘black’ served to recognise the collective political and cultural identity of black people and emphasise the significance of their struggle. The capitalisation of ‘black’ has since become a common practice in discussions of race and politics, both in the United States and internationally.
Thomas Sowell touched on the issues of group identity within the ‘black community’ and the problems that arise when a group of individuals are required to conform to a strict set of qualities that pigeonhole a diverse set of people. He explained what happened when an individual from this ‘community’ dare to excel beyond its rigid constraints.
