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[tc2004]

When I write, I normally refer to people of African descent in the U.S.A. as Black U.S. Americans. However, when I refer to Caucasian Americans I usually use the term white. No capitalization. I have done this out of habit and had not thought about why I capitalize "Black" and not "white" until recently. I have started to wonder what my decision says about me- since I capitalize one and not the other.

I came across this article on why "Black" is capitalized and not "white":
http://diversityinc.com/content/1757/article/3989/

Do you agree or disagree? What do you normally do?

[zharkov]

I take the APA guidelines to say capitalize both.  See:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/592/1/

But I would also generally expect students to use more descriptive and specific terms than "White." 

[prytania3]

According to the Chicago Manual of Style, it is appropriate to capitalize white and black if they are headings of racial or ethnic groups (like a list). They are both lower case when in the context of a sentence.

APA is just weird anyway.

[spyzowin]

I take the APA guidelines to say capitalize both.  See:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/592/1/

But I would also generally expect students to use more descriptive and specific terms than "White." 

Right on, brother. I warn my students that I want specific pantone colors or it's failure city, population: your paper.

[prytania3]

I take the APA guidelines to say capitalize both.  See:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/592/1/

But I would also generally expect students to use more descriptive and specific terms than "White." 

Right on, brother. I warn my students that I want specific pantone colors or it's failure city, population: your paper.

So in a sentence, you'd prefer something like, "The ecru guy..."

[spyzowin]

I take the APA guidelines to say capitalize both.  See:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/592/1/

But I would also generally expect students to use more descriptive and specific terms than "White." 

Right on, brother. I warn my students that I want specific pantone colors or it's failure city, population: your paper.

So in a sentence, you'd prefer something like, "The ecru guy..."

No. I would want it in hex. EG:  That #ddbb88 guy is a dick.

[oldfullprof]

Both, if one.

[stevefoerster]

I don't often write on ethnic issues, but on the rare occasions that I use such terms at all, I simply use "white" and "black".

[frogfactory]

Capitalising the B in Black has always looks weird to me, especially if the author isn't black.  Likewise, capitalising the W in White makes the author look a bit hysterical.  If you're going to do it, make sure you refer to Middle-Eastern and Subcontinental ethic groups as Brown and East Asians as Yellow.

[larryc]

As Pry said.

[dellaroux]

Yes, but anyone editing in APA format will be told to use the caps for both.

Actually, looking through the APA 6th ed. changes, as added to recent previous versions, the discussions on how to handle issues of diversity and respect seem to lay a good groundwork for better written texts in that area.

    On avoiding bias:

      http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/14/

It takes the wider matrix of issues at stake into consideration, rather than simply legislating word uses alone.