A QUESTION.

Sir—I write at the request of a friend, to ask this question:—Why do our friends, as well as our enemies, call us “negroes?” We feel it to be a term of reproach, and could wish our friends would call us by some other name. If you, Sir, or one of your correspondents, would condescend to answer this question, we would esteem it a favor.

I was much pleased with your remarks on the absurd practice of placing the people of color behind all others, in our houses of worship. I, Sir, would have gladly sat among the humblest of my despised race; but have been obliged, for conscience’ sake, to sit with white Christians; and often as I have met the look of scorn, and heard the whispered remark of “This bench is for the black people,”—”This bench is for the people of color,” has the tear gathered in my eye, and the prayer ascended from my heart to God, that he would in his own time take away our reproach; and oh! most firmly do I believe he will. This belief alone is sufficient to keep me in the path of duty.

Allow me, Sir, to return you my thanks and the thanks of my friends, for your unwearied and noble efforts in our cause. May Heaven’s best blessings rest on you, and on all connected with you, for your sake. Words are too poor to express my emotions of gratitude towards the authoress of the lines, entitled “The Black at Church,” for expressing in such beautiful language, the sentiments of my heart.—May the Almighty bless her—

“And in her last, extremest need,
       When soul and body sever,
For this one act may all her sins
       Be blotted out forever.’            ELLA.

Philadelphia, May 25, 1831.

CHANGE OF APPELLATION.

To the Editor of the Liberator.

Dear Sir—I observe in one of your late papers, the complaint of a correspondent, that the term “negro” should be applied to the colored citizens by those who are friendly to them; not aware that from the use that has been made of that term, it is understood among those, to whom it is applied, as an insulting and offensive appellation. The term “colored” is not a good one. There are several objections to it. The most important is, that whenever used, it recals to mind the offensive distinction of color, a distinction which the philanthropist is endeavoring to do away, and should not therefore remind the two parties of, (both white and black,) whenever he has occasion to name the latter. The name of “African” is more objectionable yet, and is no more correct than that of Englishman would be to a native born citizen of the United States. The colored citizen of America is an American of African descent. Cannot a name be found that will express these two facts? I suggest one; and I beg you and your readers to reflect on it, before you reject it as unsuitable or of little importance; and if you approve of it, to do your best to introduce it to general adoption. It is “Afric-American,” or, written in one word, “Africamerican.” I think much may be said in favor of this term. One of its recommendations is, that it asserts that most important truth, that the colored citizen is as truly a citizen of the United States of America as the white. I suggest to the editor of the proposed new philanthropic newspaper in Philadelphia, to exchange the intended title of his sheet from American to Africamerican.

A SUBSCRIBER.

The suggestion of “A Subscriber” is worthy of some consideration, For our own part, we are pleased with it; but, ere we adopt it, we should like to hear from our readers—especially our colored readers, (for we must use this term at present,) on the subject. It is to be regretted that necessity demands a distinctive appellation, by which to designate a portion of our fellow-countrymen; but as this is the case, we think the least objectionable one would be, “Afric-Americans,” or “Africo-Americans,” written as a compound and not as one word. The terms “negroes,” “blacks,” and “people of color,” ought, if possible, to be repudiated.

AFRIC-AMERICAN.

Mr Editor—Your correspondent, “A Subscriber,” has suggested the appropriateness of the term Afric-American, in lieu of the many common names which are made use of, to distinguish us from other American born citizens. It appears to me, that the suggestion is as absurd as the sound of the name is inharmonious. It is true, that we should have, and the time demands, a distinct appellation for us—we being the only class of people in America, who feel all the accumulated injury which pride and prejudice can suggest; but, sir, since we have been so long distinguished by the title, men of color, why make this change, so uncouth and jargon-like? A change we do want, and a change we will have; and when it comes, we shall be called, in common with others, citizens of the United States and Americans. I think we should no sooner subscribe to the term Afric-American, than the descendants of any part of the world, (natives of the United States,) would suffer the name of the country of their forefathers to be linked to the title of their native country.

            With much respect,
A Subscriber and Citizen of the United States. 
  Philadelphia, Sept. 1, 1831.