The Library of Congress > Linked Data Service > LC Children's Subject Headings

Black people


  • Here are entered works on Black people as an element in the population. Theoretical works discussing the black race from an anthropological point of view are entered under [Black race.]
  • Works on Black people in countries whose racial composition is predominantly black are assigned headings appropriate for the country as a whole without the use of the heading [Black people.] The heading [Black people] is assigned to works on such countries only if the work discusses Black people apart from other groups in the country.
  • URI(s)

  • Variants

    • Black persons
    • Blacks
  • Broader Terms

  • Earlier Established Forms

    • Blacks
  • Sources

    • found: Taylor, Theodore. The cay, 1969(DLC)2010413848
    • found: LCSH, viewed February 27, 2022(Black people (May Subd Geog); Here are entered works on Black people as an element in the population. Theoretical works discussing the black race from an anthropological point of view are entered under Black race. Works on Black people in countries whose racial composition is predominantly black are assigned headings appropriate for the country as a whole without the use of the heading Black people. The heading Black people is assigned to works on such countries only if the work discusses Black people apart from other groups in the country. UF Black persons, Blacks [Former heading], Negroes [Former heading]; BT Ethnology; SA subdivision Black people under individual wars, e.g. World War, 1939-1945--Black people; and headings beginning with the word Black)
    • found: Merriam-Webster WWW, viewed on May 20, 2021:("Black or less commonly black : a) : a person belonging to any of various population groups of especially African ancestry often considered as having dark pigmentation of the skin but in fact having a wide range of skin colors ... b) : African American ... Note: Use of the noun Black in the singular to refer to a person is considered offensive. The plural form Blacks is still commonly used by Black people and others to refer to Black people as a group or community, but the plural form too is increasingly considered offensive, and most style guides advise writers to use Black people rather than Blacks when practical.") - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black
    • found: National Association of Black Journalists. Style guide WWW, viewed on June 28, 2021:African, African American, Black ("In news copy, aim to use Black as an adjective, not a noun. Also, when describing a group, use Black people instead of just 'Blacks.'")
  • General Notes

    • Here are entered works on Black people as an element in the population. Theoretical works discussing the black race from an anthropological point of view are entered under [Black race.]
    • Works on Black people in countries whose racial composition is predominantly black are assigned headings appropriate for the country as a whole without the use of the heading [Black people.] The heading [Black people] is assigned to works on such countries only if the work discusses Black people apart from other groups in the country.
  • Example Notes

    • Note under [Black race]
  • History Notes

    • [Heading changed from Blacks to Black people in March 2022.]
  • Instance Of

  • Scheme Membership(s)

  • Collection Membership(s)

  • Change Notes

    • 1996-04-30: new
    • 2022-11-17: revised
  • Alternate Formats