[yankeedame]

Because the "W" in Whites is. It is a proper collective noun describing an entire race. "Jews" is capitalized, as is "Indian," "European," or "Chinese." Nothing PC, just an old editor's conscience.

As a recovering freelance writer, I question this. This is not to say you are incorrect, but the races/groupings in question are Negro and Caucasian. The words "black" and "white" (modifiers) are colors which, as fair as I know, we don't capitalize*, e.g. the Purple plum, the Green pencil, etc., and yet we (are expected to) write "the Black man", "the White man" quite frankly it's more along the line of "the Black man", "the white man".

This is why I wondered if this practice wasn't rooted in PC-ism.

*(We don't usually capitalize.)

[IronJack]

"Black" isn't capitalized in the AP Stylebook entry. However "Negro," its synonym, is. The Stylebook says "black" is acceptable in all references for "Negro." If the latter is capitalized -- which it always is -- then I believe the former should be as well, since it NOT simply a color, but the informal title for an entire race.

I capitalize it out of respect, then.

And if I were being PC, then this discussion would be academic. I would refer to Blacks as "African-Americans," or whatever tag the chic are using this week.