Army quits using the term ‘Negro’ to refer to blacks in its policy manual

Facing fire, the U.S. Army said it has now dropped the term “Negro” to refer to blacks or African-Americans in its policy manual, AR 600-20.

The term was part of a section in the “Army Command Policy” that instructed how to refer to black troops. But the military tossed the reference less than 24 hours after CNN reported on it.

Lt. Col. Alayne Conway, an Army spokeswoman, apologized for any offense, The Military Times reported.

“The U.S. Army fully recognized, and promptly acted, to remove outdated language in Army Regulation 600-20 as soon as it was brought to our attention,” she said, the newspaper reported. “The Army takes pride in sustaining a culture where all personnel are treated with dignity and respect.”

She also said that the reference was initially aimed at upholding the Army’s commitment to equal and “fair treatment for military personnel and family members without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin,” but that the military nonetheless now “apologize[s] to anyone we offended,” The Military Times reported.