1 sometimes offensive : a member of the black race distinguished from members of other races by usually inherited physical and physiological characteristics without regard to language or culture: especially : a member of a people belonging to the African branch of the black race
I noticed that as well, furie. So I went back and read over the two definitions a few times. The above is the part of the "negro" definition that is closest to what you're talking about in the "caucasian" deifnition. What I could ascertain is that "negro" was used specifically to seperate the blacks from the other races, AND to seperate certain blacks from other blacks. Instead of simply being a defining label for ALL blacks, it was just "you must be black, so no matter where you're from, you're black...except for these negroes." Note how it specifically says "without regard to culture or language", so it seems based on certain specific physical differences within the black race, whatever those may be.
Now let's go over the "caucasian" definition again...
2 a : of or relating to the white race of humankind as classified according to physical features b : of or relating to the white race as defined by law specifically as composed of persons of European, No. African, or southwest Asian ancestry
...it just comes across as a far more broad, generalized statement. Note that it is not in disregard to one's language or culture, or "inherited physiological or physical traits", but instead based on basic outwards appearance only, and specifically JUST the skin color. "Caucasian" is also apparently defined here as a much broader term for pretty much ALL "white" people, whereas the "negro" definition states that it doesn't even necessarily apply to ALL black people, but just certain ones based on either their direct African lineage or certain predescribed assumed physical traits.
So from what I could understand, there seems to be a difference. "Caucasian" applies to basically any white person you come across, whereas "negro" technically is only applicable to certain members of the black population. Therefore, the conclusion I can only come up with is that as a broad, generalizing descriptive term, "negro" is wholly inaccurate to begin with, nevermind it's assumed "appropriateness".
<img src=http://publish.hometown.aol.com/gpigking/myhomepage/hey%20you.gif?mtbrand=AOL_US>
VP #2 for the Coalition of Angry Micks, and Minister of Bloody Mayhem.
"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."
This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 1-5-03 @ 6:03 PM