I'm going to give the US Army the benefit of the doubt here. I'm going to assume that somebody everybody shit the bed on this one and somehow, someway, EVERY motherfucker who read the new regulations somehow either missed or is so non-racist that they couldn't even see what they saw that their eyes had seen. But alas, this happened. According to CNN:
A newly published U.S. Army regulation says a service member can be referred to as a "Negro" when describing "black or African American" personnel. The Army confirmed the language is contained in the October 22 "Army Command Policy," known as regulation AR 600-20. The regulation is periodically updated but the Army could not say how recently the word was added to the document.
In a lengthy section of the document describing "race and ethnic code definitions," the regulation states under the category "Black or African American" that would include, "A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to "Black" or "African American".
Now, I use the term negro on rare occasions. Usually when I'm reading signs that say "Negro Entrance" (I tend to read aloud at times) or when jokingly pretending its 1964. I don't pretend for too long. Those days were no bueno.
One Army official familiar with the document said it's possible the word was added so when forms are filled out, a black or African-American person could "self report" and choose to identify themselves as a Negro.
This Army official is an idiot. I want that on record. When was the last time you met a person who said, "I really wish I could be listed as a "Negro" on the census or anywhere else that people can chose to identify themselves along racial lines." I've yet to meet that person. I don't even think its the worst word ever - there are definitely worse words - but its a relic of a past that this country SWEARS we've moved on from.
Anyway, for all you Negroes out there looking for a job, the Army got you, boo.
Lt. Col. S. Justin Platt, an Army spokesman, said the use of the word comes from an outdated section.
"The racial definitions in AR600-20 para. 6-2 are outdated, currently under review, and will be updated shortly," he said. "The Army takes pride in sustaining a culture where all personnel are treated with dignity and respect and not discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender and national origin."
Somebody tell Lt. Col. Platt that this was a new regulation that stated this. Oh, and about those discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin….yeah, there are TONS of women tapping you on the shoulder about that one too, bro.