When writing a book, if one of the characters is of african descent, is it ok to use the word 'black' to describe him?
by 
MadMike
ANSWERS: 4
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It depends what kind of book you are writing. If it is fiction, you can use it, especially if a character in the book says it. You don't have to be politically correct either.
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I suppose it depends on what country you are in, it is okay in some countries (such as the UK) but some other countries may have a problem with it.
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When writing a book, it's ok to use any words you want. They're just words. It's the thoughts that the words invoke that counts.
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You should go by how the character would describe himself in a dialog. What is his socioeconomic status? Would it be more natural for him to say "I'm black" or "I'm African American" or would he refer specifically to some African or tribal nationality? Your novel is going to read more naturally if you honor the character's personality.
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