Hello,<br /><br />In academic writing is it acceptable to use the phrase "blacks" instead &nbsp; &nbsp;of "African Americans" at times to have word vareity? &nbsp;One of my essasys in the religion class deals with slaves so that is why I ask.<br /><br />I come from Texas where it is generally acceptable to use the word "black" in an academic essay for school (undergraduate level, essay exam so this is not been published or presented at a conference etc).....but I have had a few professors that did not like the term black in academic papers....My professor is new to Texas and teh South ( just came from New York so I am not sure if the cultural difference between TX and NY impacts the answer here)<br /><br />Would you email the prof about his thoughts on it &nbsp;so I don't get docked points off for being too casual in an academic setting...or do you say I should just go with a gut feeling.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br /><br />