It is always interesting to hear the take on what black people in America should call themselves.

We have had a variety of names over the past few centuries, all of which violate the mandate of historian John Henrik Clarke that says a people’s name should indicate their land, history and culture.

We have heard modern celebrities like Pharrell Williams come out and say he is part of the “New Black” culture. This seems to indicate the money and access has allowed them to surpass race, color and their relations in this country, or rather just ignore it all together.

When award Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr sat down with TheGrio to discuss his role in the mini-series, The Book of Negroes, we got to hear how he addresses himself and it makes for interesting discussion.

Speaking about film addressing slavery, Gossett says:

“It’s nice to be Moses and Fiddler and all that stuff … to know about our roots, because I think we all should know, because there’s so much more to tell. I think it’s a blessed journey to play all these significant characters during an almost 60-year career. It’s only the tip of the iceberg in our history. We need to do it, regardless of the Oscars and stuff.”

Gossett Jr. also discussed the somewhat provocative title of his new mini-series, which uses the dated term “negro.” He believes eventually black Americans won’t have to use labels defining their race.

“Eventually [labels] will go away. But until that time, the British chose [negro] and that was the word they used.

“I call myself an American Negro, not an African-American, I’m American African,” Gossett Jr.

said. “I’m an American.”

Source: The Grio

SOUND OFF: What do you think of Louis Gossett Jr referring to himself as ‘American Negro’ instead of other terms used currently and in the past?