Posted on Nov 2, 2014
Why was this included in the updated AR 600-20 ("Negro")?
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This is in the new AR 600-20, Page 55 dtd 22 October 2014, under Equal Opportunity Policy: (c) Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to "Black” or “African American”. We'll I don't believe I've ever met any black Soldiers who refer to themselves as Negro. So this new regulation allows me to refer to myself as Negro, so what's stopping every and anyone else from referring to me as Negro. This is only a couple of syllables from the other N word. What group is referring to themselves as Negro at this point in time? Why, would this ever even be included in the regulation? It think it's problematic and will only incite additional racial issues in the Army. I personally find it to be offensive! This is my opinion, what is your opinion.
Posted in these groups: 
AR 600-20
AR 600-20
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 40
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I'm not even African American and due tot days of segregation just a few decades ago, I find the term degrading. you can't declare a solider as any thing other than a soldier. We all wear the same damn uniform in one pattern or another. The way I see it, we are brothers and sisters in combat.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Edward Sneed you make some valid points and therefore present yourself as an intelligent person so let me ask this question.
The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) is the doctrinal proponent for all training material related to race relations in the Department of Defense. The are the ones that develop all materials used to train Equal Opportunity Advisors like myself. The majority of the employees there are Black African American or of races other than Caucasian.
So with those facts in mind, why after all these years of them being aware of the word being in the regulation and using it to train people, did they never raise an eyebrow over it?
The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) is the doctrinal proponent for all training material related to race relations in the Department of Defense. The are the ones that develop all materials used to train Equal Opportunity Advisors like myself. The majority of the employees there are Black African American or of races other than Caucasian.
So with those facts in mind, why after all these years of them being aware of the word being in the regulation and using it to train people, did they never raise an eyebrow over it?
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SFC Edward Sneed
SFC (Verify To See), I would have no idea as to why it was not implemented at an earlier phase. That would have been noted and left up to those individuals of the DEOMI. As I was an EO advisor at one time in my career, we did not have the organization DEOMI, and I am unaware of their standards. But, one thing is a definite. . . .it was noted, it was presented as a questionable issue, and it was therefore, addressed, resolved, and removed. When, is not important.
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SFC Edward Sneed
SFC (Verify To See), when I was a PSNCO at a unit in my last duty assignment before I retired, I had identified an error that was made in one of the Army regulations which we used on a daily basis, in my component. Who knows how long this error existed in that regulation. The point was, I identified it, brought it to the appropriate proponents attention, and with the assistance of my CSM, and Battalion CO, the error was forwarded, and the correction was made. So, if you understand my point, you know what I am talking about. It did not involve (social media), nor any civilian related organization.
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CPL Ashley Gochneaur
SFC Sneed, I agree with everything stated above, with one exception. In the first reply, you stated:
"MSG Wirts, apparently you are missing a lot of knowledgeable 'facts' about this issue, and what you call a racial title. Over 200 years, we as blacks were given many different names that defined us, by the Europeans who enslaved us, and by the 'Caucasian race."
Maybe I am reading too much into the wording you used, but I think your knowledgable facts needed a bit more clarification. In doing this, I am assuming you are referencing the Atlantic Slave Trade as we are discussing an issue regarding verbage in an AR that directly references African-Americans. The majority of slaves from Africa to the United States involved Europeans buying slaves from African slavers. These slaves were often members of other conquered tribes or criminals. So the verbage used stating "the Europeans who enslaved us" wouldn't be entirely factual.
But again, I might just be getting caught up on the words used.
"MSG Wirts, apparently you are missing a lot of knowledgeable 'facts' about this issue, and what you call a racial title. Over 200 years, we as blacks were given many different names that defined us, by the Europeans who enslaved us, and by the 'Caucasian race."
Maybe I am reading too much into the wording you used, but I think your knowledgable facts needed a bit more clarification. In doing this, I am assuming you are referencing the Atlantic Slave Trade as we are discussing an issue regarding verbage in an AR that directly references African-Americans. The majority of slaves from Africa to the United States involved Europeans buying slaves from African slavers. These slaves were often members of other conquered tribes or criminals. So the verbage used stating "the Europeans who enslaved us" wouldn't be entirely factual.
But again, I might just be getting caught up on the words used.
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Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings but I am confused why we put anything before American. If you are an American citizens shouldn't you be called American? Not Mexican-American, Africa-American, Japanese-American...... and on and on.
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SFC Edward Sneed
Exactly, SSG Foreman. We are American Soldiers and nothing else. I never understood that either.
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SSG (Join to see)
I am an a American... But still a SOLDIER.. I was taught the only color in the military is green.. A good friend of mine is from South African and she gets offend when people say that they are African American.. She says.. everyone leaves their Country to become AMERICAN.. so just be AMERICAN...
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MSG Darren Gaddy
I do not believe the AR 600-200 is encouraging anyone to use the term "Negro"; it is simply identifying other terms that can be used, in addition to Black and African-American. I think it is simply following suit with the action taken in 2010 with the US Census, which included the term "Negro" alongside "Black" and "African-American", because some older black Americans still identify with that term.
I, for one, do not see anything derogatory about the term "Negro". That term superseded the term "Colored" as the most polite terminology, at a time when "Black" was considered offensive. Martin Luther King used the term "Negro" to identify his own race in his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. Surely, he was not trying to be offensive by using that word.
The word/term "Negro" is still used in historical context, such as in the name of the "United Negro College Fund" and the "Negro League" in sports.
The term "Negro" is just another name used to identify members of the black race, just as "Colored" was once commonly used. The "popular" terms now appear to be "Black" and "African-American". I predict that those too will change over time. Just because they change in popularity, it does not (or should not, at least) make them offensive.
None of these terms are like the "N Word" in that none were used to defame or ridicule the black race.
My recommendation, MSG Gaddy, is to not wear your heart on your sleeve and look for a subversive motive that is not there.
You asked for an opinion ... That's mine.
I do not believe the AR 600-200 is encouraging anyone to use the term "Negro"; it is simply identifying other terms that can be used, in addition to Black and African-American. I think it is simply following suit with the action taken in 2010 with the US Census, which included the term "Negro" alongside "Black" and "African-American", because some older black Americans still identify with that term.
I, for one, do not see anything derogatory about the term "Negro". That term superseded the term "Colored" as the most polite terminology, at a time when "Black" was considered offensive. Martin Luther King used the term "Negro" to identify his own race in his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. Surely, he was not trying to be offensive by using that word.
The word/term "Negro" is still used in historical context, such as in the name of the "United Negro College Fund" and the "Negro League" in sports.
The term "Negro" is just another name used to identify members of the black race, just as "Colored" was once commonly used. The "popular" terms now appear to be "Black" and "African-American". I predict that those too will change over time. Just because they change in popularity, it does not (or should not, at least) make them offensive.
None of these terms are like the "N Word" in that none were used to defame or ridicule the black race.
My recommendation, MSG Gaddy, is to not wear your heart on your sleeve and look for a subversive motive that is not there.
You asked for an opinion ... That's mine.
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PO3 Shaun Taylor
SFC Clark Adams I know you were being sarcastic but I really do think race should be removed from the publications.
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SFC Clark Adams
I was being more sardonic than sarcastic, but remove one racial category, remove them all. I think one's race needs to only be in medical records, no DA pictures, no ethnic group identifies in any personnel documents other than medical files.
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