African-American

Speaking of the term "African-American," here's a passage from the 1933 book The Miseducation of the Negro, by Carter G. Woodson, who was the founder of the Journal of Negro History and the Negro History Bulletin:

A participant who recently attended an historical meeting desired to take up the question as to what the race should be called. Africans, Negroes, colored people, or what? This is a matter of much concern to him because he hopes thereby to solve the race problem. If others will agree to call Negroes Nordics, he thinks, he will reach the desired end by taking a short cut.

Woodson eventually concludes by quoting an acquaintance who had said, "I am black and comely. I am black and beautiful. I am beautifully black."

Very interesting, given that this preceded the Black Power slogan "Black is Beautiful" by some 30 years.