So what should it be?
I'm all for not offending people, but I've heard lots of ways you can't describe black people, and the acceptable way seems to change over time.

Am I completely wrong to say in the 70's / 80's, 'coloured' was the polite word?

I guess nowadays it's black, right?
(username failed moderation, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 9:23, 1 reply)

It's black now, I think, but it'll probably change in a decade or so.
I've never seen the need to focus on anyone's skin colour, I don't get described as 'that off-white bloke' so I don't see why anyone else should be described by what colour they are.
( BraynDedd Natasha Kaplinsky's labia majora, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 10:06, closed)

Like some newspapers throw age into everything whether relevant or not, in the interests of equality I'd like to see skin colour mentioned at every possible opportunity.
A white, 68 year old Cornwall councillor at the centre of a row over his remark about disabled children has resigned.

Collin Brewer had told a 25 year old black charity worker at an event that disabled children should be "put down" because they cost the authority too much money.

The controversial caucasian made the comments to the Disability Cornwall member, who is of African descent, at a stall at County Hall in Truro in 2011.

Mr Brewer said it was unlikely he would be a candidate in the May elections. "I was wrong, I admit it," he said.

"I will continue to apologise," he added.

Steve Paget, the Asian, 40-something chairman of Disability Cornwall, said: "Finally he's seen sense and resigned. This situation should never have got to this stage.
( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 10:50, closed)

It really should be one or the other.
Whether you care or not about race, it's unhelpful to be left wondering exactly how you should describe someone.

Most of the time, it's not necessary. 'That guy over there' works fine. But sometimes it's relevant and we need to know.
(username failed moderation, Thu 28 Feb 2013, 10:53, closed)