Now it is, sure.
But before 'Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud' etc., it was taken as derogatory. The Black Power chaps reclaimed it, like the benders did with 'queer'.

But only few years ago people started saying 'people of colour' in the US, just to add to the PC minefield.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 1 Sep 2010, 21:48, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

I'd have thought
'people of colour' was offensive now :S

Though I still don't get 'African-Americans' it seems un-necessarily divisive
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 1 Sep 2010, 21:50, Reply)

Halle Berry used it (people of 'color')
at some shitty fucking awards ceremony, I recall.

It's hard to keep up, especially if you're the kind of chap who calls a spade a spade, what?

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 1 Sep 2010, 21:57, Reply)

names are sufficient
*had that beaten in*
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 1 Sep 2010, 22:08, Reply)