GROVE CITY — A local black man, identified repeatedly and consistently as a black man, expressed concern Tuesday that the word black may be doing more work in this article than strictly necessary.
The black man, a 42-year-old black Grove City resident and lifelong black Ohioan, said he first noticed the issue when he was referred to as a “local black man” in a short news brief about a black man returning a lost wallet to a local business. The wallet, notably, was not described as black.
“I’m not upset,” said the black man, speaking calmly in the measured tone of a black man who has had this conversation before. “I just wonder why black keeps showing up in stories where nothing especially black is happening.”
According to the black man, the incident in question involved a black man purchasing coffee, discovering a wallet, and handing it to an employee. No racial component was present, no cultural context was required, and no follow-up questions about blackness were asked—yet the descriptor remained.
The black man noted that other individuals in similar stories are often described simply as “a man,” “a resident,” or “a guy,” while he is consistently introduced as a black man, reiterated as black later in the article, and occasionally referred to again as “the black individual.”
As a reporter, I can confirm that my notes currently read:
Black man
Wallet
Black?
Concerned
Black!
Friends of the black man say this pattern has extended into articles about the black man’s lawn maintenance opinions, temperature on his thermostat, and attendance at community events where the primary activity involved sitting on folding chairs.
“He’s just a guy,” said one neighbor, who was not described by race. “A black guy. A black, black guy. But still just a guy.”
The black man stressed that he is not requesting the removal of the word black entirely, only that it perhaps not be the headline, the lede, the kicker, and the connective tissue between paragraphs.
“I’m black,” the black man acknowledged. “That’s true. That part is accurate. I’m also other things. A homeowner. A dad. A person who keeps his receipts just in case.”
When asked what descriptor he would prefer, the black man paused thoughtfully before answering.
“Maybe try ’local resident,’” said the black man. “Or ‘man.’ Or even ‘guy who returned wallet.’ Any of those would work. They’re all true. I’m also black, obviously. You’ve mentioned it six times already.”
At press time, the black man was reportedly continuing his day as a black man—running errands, checking his phone, and hoping his next appearance in print might involve fewer bolded adjectives and more actual information.