I want to know the correct capitalization for black and white, referring to people.. In otherwords, if I say, "He is Black and she is a white woman," is that capitalization correct? Whites and Blacks are the same except for different skin color. If you refer to Blacks or Whites as a noun, do you capitalize then, but if you use it as a adjective, then it is not capitalized? Also, is it biracial or bi-racial? Thanks
The correct spelling is "bi-racial".
I would not use a "color" to describe a person. Unless you are being asked about ethnic background,then that comment would be indicative of bias. If one has to use it, then it would be as an adjective and would not be capitalized.
When referring to racial or ethnic groups, the capitalization norms can vary, and there isn't a universally agreed-upon rule. However, I can provide some guidance.
1. Capitalization: Both "Black" and "white" can be capitalized or written in lowercase, depending on the style guide or preference of the writer. It is common to find both forms used in different contexts. Some prefer capitalizing "Black" to acknowledge it as an important aspect of identity, while keeping "white" in lowercase to denote it as the absence of color.
2. Nouns vs. adjectives: As you mentioned, if you use "Black" or "white" as a noun to refer to a specific racial or ethnic group, the convention is to capitalize them. For example: "They organized a conference for Black leaders." However, if "Black" or "white" is used as an adjective to describe someone or something, it is typically not capitalized. For example: "She is a white woman."
3. Biracial vs. bi-racial: The preferred term is "biracial" without a hyphen. The word "biracial" is used to describe individuals with parents of different racial backgrounds. So you can say, "He is biracial," meaning he has parents of different races.
Remember that language conventions and preferences can change over time, and what may be considered acceptable today could be different in the future. It's always a good idea to be respectful and sensitive to different cultural perspectives and preferences regarding language usage.