NABJ Statement on Capitalizing Black and Other Racial Identifiers

For the last year, the National Association of Black Journalists(NABJ) has been integrating the capitalization of the word “Black” into its communications. 

However, it is equally important that the word is capitalized in news coverage and reporting about Black people, Black communities, Black culture, Black institutions, etc.

NABJ’s Board of Directors has adopted this approach, as well as many of our members, and recommends that it be used across the industry.

We are updating the organization’s style guidance to reflect this determination. The organization believes it is important to capitalize “Black” when referring to (and out of respect for) the Black diaspora.

NABJ also recommends that whenever a color is used to appropriately describe race then it should be capitalized, including White and Brown.

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Media Contact: press@nabj.org